ExpatMoney Mariposa Hero Image

Official U.S. Partner for ExpatMoney® U.S. Document Authentication, Done Right the First Time

A Direct U.S. Partner You Can Rely On.

Mariposa Professional Services, Inc. is the U.S. partner for ExpatMoney® clients handling document authentication for international use.

International document paperwork is often the slowest part of a global move. In the U.S., requirements for authentication are decentralized. Processing varies not only by state but by specific jurisdiction, such as the U.S. Department of State versus individual Secretaries of State. This makes it easy to submit the wrong paperwork and lose weeks of progress.

We act as your U.S. document handling partner. We specialize in the controlled processing of Apostilles, Federal Authentications, Certified Translations, and FBI Fingerprint Logistics. Whether you need a 2-Day Express Florida Apostille, a Federal Authentication in D.C., or Vital Record Apostilles from any of the 50 states, your documents are reviewed for proper execution and routed through the correct legal channels without unnecessary delays.

Document Inspection & Review

Upload your files or describe your situation below. Our team will manually review your submission and provide a clear, correct action plan via email, phone, or WhatsApp before any processing begins.

Use the comments section to explain your specific goals or timelines.

How We Handle Your Documents

Our structured workflow ensures your sensitive records move through the correct federal and state channels with zero guesswork.

Phase 01

Expert Review & Logistics

Your documents are reviewed for required notarizations and proper execution before any fees are paid. For FBI Background Checks, we provide clear instructions to capture compliant fingerprints—in the U.S. or abroad—and move them into our FBI Channeling System.

Phase 02

Routing & Translation

We route documents through the correct legal channels, whether the U.S. Dept. of State in D.C., Florida 2-Day processing, or individual Secretaries of State. When required, we coordinate Certified Translations so your documents arrive ready for local use.

Phase 03

Secure Delivery

Completed documents are shipped via tracked courier with full visibility. Delivery can be directed to you, or to a designated attorney, bank, or residency office anywhere in the world, with controlled handling throughout the entire process.

U.S. Security & Compliance

Your sensitive legal and personal records are handled through controlled workflows with direct access to federal and state processing channels.

  • ✓
    FBI Channeling Access

    Fingerprint submissions are processed through an approved FBI Channeler under a direct operational relationship, ensuring secure and compliant transmission.

  • ✓
    Procedural Accuracy

    Each document is handled in accordance with the specific requirements of the issuing authority, whether at the state or federal level.

  • ✓
    Established 2014

    Over a decade of experience navigating Florida, state, and federal authentication processes.

“We don’t just process paperwork. We provide a bridge for U.S. citizens to the rest of the world, ensuring your legal identity and history are recognized without question by foreign authorities.”

The Mariposa Professional Services Team

Global Logistics

All document shipments are handled through tracked, secure couriers with controlled routing. Whether domestic or international, your documents remain within a monitored chain of custody from intake through final delivery.

Direct Support

Our team is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET. You will have direct access throughout your process via:

Email • Phone • WhatsApp

Our Commitment

Accuracy is prioritized at every stage to prevent rejections and delays. After submission, your information is reviewed and you are given clear, correct next steps so your documents are accepted without unnecessary setbacks.

Transparent Service Fees

Our flat-rate concierge pricing includes expert document review, professional logistics, and government fees for Florida and Federal processes.

Service Category First Document Additional Items
Florida Apostille (2-Day Express)
Business forms, POAs, Affidavits, and notarized copies of IDs or Passports. Includes all government fees.
 $199 $99 each
U.S. Department of State (Federal)
FBI IdHS Reports, Naturalization, and Federal Court docs. Includes all government fees.
 $199 $125 each
Out-of-State Vital Records**
Certified Birth or Marriage certificates from states other than Florida.
 $199** $99 each
Online Notarization (RON)
Secure remote notarization for affidavits, POAs, and international forms.
 $30 $25 each
FBI Channeling & Cardscanning
Includes FBI-certified scanning and Secure Retrieval Service* for offshore clients.
$120
International
$70
U.S. Domestic

* Secure Retrieval Service

For clients abroad, we bypass IP/2FA restrictions by providing mandatory direct retrieval. Your report is delivered via a 2FA-encrypted secure link, ensuring complete privacy before we initiate the apostille.

** Out-of-State Records

Vital records issued outside of Florida are subject to varying government fees and state-specific handling requirements. Final all-inclusive pricing is confirmed immediately upon document review.

Baseline fees for Florida and Federal processes include all standard government fees.

Worldwide Logistics

U.S. Domestic

Complimentary FedEx Express 2-Day shipping included for all return addresses within the United States.

Global Priority

Tracked FedEx or DHL international shipping priced by destination and available to over 200 countries.

Certified & Sworn Translations

Ensure total acceptance. We coordinate certified translations of your U.S. documents and Apostilles into the local language of your destination country.

95

Global Languages

Comprehensive certified coverage for your Apostille and underlying document.

  • ✓ Digital PDF delivery for immediate local printing.
  • ✓ Coordinated precisely with your authentication process.
  • ✓ Accepted by foreign consulates and government agencies.

Billing & Delivery

Translation costs may be included in your primary service invoice or billed separately. All completed translations are delivered as high-resolution digital PDF files, allowing you to proceed without waiting for international shipping.

Guidance & Clarity

Expert Insights

U.S. document authentication requirements vary depending on the document and where it will be used.

Whether you are moving for work, retirement, or residency, the correct process depends on both your destination country and the type of record involved.

Below are answers to the most common questions we receive. If your situation is not covered, we will identify the correct path based on your specific documents and requirements.

U.S. Document Authentication — Frequently Asked Questions

We provide the specialized U.S. boots-on-the-ground logistics that international clients need to fulfill the residency and legal requirements discussed in the Expat Money ecosystem.
An Apostille is a specialized certificate issued by a Secretary of State or the Federal government that authenticates a U.S. document for use in another country that is part of the Hague Convention.
Apostilles are for Hague Convention countries (like Panama Paraguay). Authentication (and Embassy Legalization) is the multi-step process required for non-Hague countries (like the UAE or Vietnam).
A notary only witnesses a signature. For international use, that notary's authority must be "chained" up to the State or Federal level to be recognized by a foreign government.
DIY submissions are often rejected due to formatting, seal, or jurisdiction issues. A single error can result in your documents being returned weeks later, effectively doubling your processing time. We use direct submission channels and expert pre-reviews to ensure your filing is accepted the first time.
It is a federal criminal background check often required for residency visas, work permits, or "Golden Visa" applications.
As an authorized partner, we submit your fingerprints directly into the FBI’s secure portal, receiving results in hours rather than the weeks it takes for manual mail-in processing.
Yes. We specialize in "Cardscanning." You get fingerprinted locally (wherever you are), mail the physical cards to us, and we digitize them for federal submission.
Per CJIS compliance rules, accessing your FBI report from outside the U.S. is restricted. For our clients currently abroad, we provide a secure retrieval service. We access the report through our secure domestic portal and provide it to you via an encrypted link with Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
Almost always. Most foreign banks and residency offices will not accept the PDF alone; it must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in D.C.
Most countries require the report (and the Apostille) to be less than 90 to 180 days old at the time of your application.
No. Vital records (Birth, Marriage, Death) must be original, "long-form" certified copies issued by the State or Health Department. We cannot Apostille a photocopy.
Many countries (like Italy or Spain) require vital records to be "fresh" (issued within the last 6–12 months). We can help determine if you need to order a new copy.
Yes. While we have a 2-Day hub in Florida, we have established workflows for Secretary of State filings in every U.S. jurisdiction.
Yes. While these are federal letters, the U.S. Department of State does not Apostille them directly. We facilitate this through our Florida hub using a notarized "Custodian Affidavit of True Copy," which allows for a rapid Florida Apostille.
Yes. We can facilitate the notarization (including Remote Online Notarization) and then Apostille the document so it is legally binding at your destination.
Use our "Document Inspection & Review" form. Upload your files, and a concierge will review them for free to ensure they are "Apostille-ready" before you pay.
Absolutely. We use government-standard encryption for all digital files and maintain a strict chain of custody for all physical documents.
We use tracked, high-priority couriers (FedEx/DHL). We can ship to your home, your attorney’s office, or directly to a foreign residency department.
Our "Accuracy First" review is designed to prevent this. If a document is rejected due to a clerical error on our end, we fix it at our expense.
No. We never require your original physical identity documents. We work exclusively with high-resolution scans or notarized "True Copies" to facilitate your authentication needs.
If you are moving to a non-English speaking country, the local officials cannot read your U.S. documents. They require a translation that is legally "sworn" or certified.
Yes. Our translations cover the entire "stapled" packet, including the underlying document and the government’s authentication certificate.
Yes. All translations are provided as high-resolution digital PDF files. This allows you to print them locally and keep your application moving without waiting for additional mail.
Yes. We can notarize your signature via a secure video session for any legal requirement, regardless of where you are in the world. Whether it is part of your authentication workflow or a standalone document, we are your go-to U.S. notary for all international needs.
Florida Apostilles are typically processed in 2 business days. For Federal (D.C.) documents like FBI reports, we bypass the standard 6-week mail-in backlog and complete the process in approximately 10 business days.
Public mail-in requests are processed in the order received, often sitting for weeks in a mailroom. We utilize professional couriers for direct hand-delivery to the U.S. Department of State, which allows us to monitor the process and ensure a rapid turnaround that isn't possible through the standard DIY mail route.
Our standard pricing for Florida and Federal (D.C.) processes includes all government fees. While this is true for most states, some jurisdictions have wild variations in their fee schedules; in those rare cases, the final quote may depart from our baseline pricing.
While kiosks at drugstores or shipping centers exist, the rejection rates are significantly higher due to poor print quality and inexperienced staff. Furthermore, using a third-party kiosk removes you from our secure concierge ecosystem. We recommend having two sets of FD-258 cards professionally rolled at a local police department or by a certified technician, then mailing those cards to us. This ensures your prints are accepted the first time and kept within our monitored chain of custody.
Generally, no; there is no direct digital Livescan transmission to the FBI from outside the United States. While Mariposa partners operate several specialized Livescan centers in Spain and Portugal to bridge this gap, for all other international locations, physical FD-258 fingerprint cards are the mandatory standard. You must have your prints rolled locally and then utilize our cardscanning service to transmit them to the FBI.
To bypass the time and expense of international shipping, we can accept high-resolution digital scans of your physical fingerprint cards. However, this is a technical process: the cards must be scanned on a professional, photo-quality flatbed scanner at a 1:1 ratio using true 1200 DPI. Standard home or office scanners cannot achieve this. We typically recommend visiting a professional photo shop or high-end print studio to facilitate this.
Once your cards arrive at our Florida office, we utilize FBI-certified equipment to convert your physical prints into a secure digital format. We then submit them directly into the FBI’s channeling system, which typically generates results in a matter of hours.
Even with professional rolling, occasionally a specific finger may have a "low-count" or blurred ridge. By providing two sets of cards, our technicians can select the best individual prints from each card to create a composite "master" file. This secondary set is your insurance policy against government rejection and lost time.
Yes. You can use our Document Inspection & Review form to have your situation evaluated before placing an order. You may upload documents if available, or simply describe what you are trying to accomplish. Our team will identify the correct process and confirm whether your documents are ready before you spend any money.
Documents that are incomplete, improperly notarized, or missing required certifications cannot be Apostilled. Photocopies of vital records (such as birth or marriage certificates) are not accepted, and certain federal documents must follow specific authentication procedures. If you are unsure, our review process will identify any issues before submission.
It depends on the type of document. Vital records and certain government-issued documents are Apostilled as certified copies and do not require notarization. Personal documents, affidavits, and many business records must be properly notarized before they can be authenticated. We will determine the correct requirement during your review.
Yes, but processing times vary by state. Florida and federal (Washington, D.C.) documents are our fastest workflows, while other states may have longer processing times depending on their internal procedures. We will provide a realistic timeline based on your document’s origin.
Once your documents are Apostilled, they are ready for submission to the foreign authority that requested them, such as a residency office, bank, or government agency. If translations are required, they should be completed before submission. We can advise you on the next step based on your destination country.
Acceptance depends on the specific requirements of the destination country and the agency receiving your documents. Each country has its own rules regarding document type, age, translation, and authentication. Our role is to ensure your documents meet U.S. authentication standards so they are positioned for acceptance abroad.
Some documents require original certified copies, while others can be processed using high-quality scans or notarized copies. For example, vital records must be original certified copies, while certain personal or business documents can be handled digitally. We will confirm exactly what is required before you send anything.