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I imagine that they'll all need to be apostilled and then translated into Bulgarian and certified.

I will get it translated and certified here, but will the custodial certificate work as I am not in the US to get it notarized and it is not the original letter sent to me but an uploaded version. Hence, the custodial certificate for verification and legalization. Just don't wanna go thru it, pay for it, only to have it rejected.

If it's just an uploaded version, then only the fact that it's a faithful translation of the text can be certified.  Without an apostille, it's basically worthless, since there's no way to certify the authenticity of the original document.  However, "this is Bulgaria" so you may well find that some notary somewhere will accept it at face value.  We long ago learned not to waste time and money at notaries' offices without first sending them copies of every document relating to the matter in hand and having them confirm that they're happy with everything they see.  Even so, we have a couple of times been at the receiving end of "Which idiot notarised this rubbish?" conversations.

Do remember that any screw-ups in notarised documents USUALLY can be fixed, but the notary in question will disclaim all responsibility and YOU will get to foot the bill.  Some of course CAN'T be rectified, especially if the other party is a foreigner and has left the country/can't be traced. 

That's why everyone should very carefully read and understand what they are going to sign: that signature is your agreement with whatever the document contains.

@RexTechGuy

Hi Dude :

I have done mine in USA last year.

What I did was, I went to the local UPS office, notarized it with my own signature, then

sent a copy of the original to my local apostille service. They apostilled it with one

CA state service and mailed to me the original plus one apostilled copy.

This by suggestion of my apostille service i the USA. I used it last year both to get my D visa,

then also to get my one year resident card in Bulgaria.

If using it in other country, you need to have the APOSTILLED document original

copied, translated and notarized in the country you are going to. Then give it there

your copy, translated and notarized. Keep the original.

If for your visa D, give them one copy of the apostille document, and also show them the original.

In another country, better to have the help of an immigration lawyer. Sometimes not easy

to find.

Check all the document requirements for anything you are going to do carefully.

This year I am living in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

I am getting the paperwork ready to renew my permanent resident card.

After doing it for 5 years, then I should be a Bulgaria resident for life.

I would contract your apostille service and ask what they need in your SSA

benefit letter in order to apostille it.

You could also go to your local SSA office, wait there till you can talk to someone.

Then ask anyone at the SSA local office to stamp your letter, sign it and print

the name of the employee who did it.

To notarize it is easier. Also, the SSA office might not like to do it, and they might not

know things well here. Me think the SSA employees should do that to anyone no matter what.

For me, once they did it, next time not. Them I talked to my apostille service, then used the

UPS to notarize it. It was OK to be apostilled.

Anything else please post or email me.

Ralph Nord.

Hi RexTechGuy :

Sorry, just now noticed you are not in the USA.

You can have it notarized in the USA and have the original mailed to you

in Bulgaria. I am looking into this right now. It might take some time, so

better check how long it would take. And not cheap also.

Search for something like "SSA benefit letter notarized in USA" or something

like that. And as soon as you have it in Bulgaria, then you need to present

the original to a notary, to have it copied, translated and notarized.

You should have then, a copy of the original in English, notarized in the USA.

Plus a notarized translation in bulgarian.

Keep the original, give the copies to wherever you want present the documents.

Also, you might not need to go to Sofia or any other big center. Look for your

local passport office. There are many all over Bulgaria.

They should have a migration center. Better if you know bulgarian though, or have

the help of someone that knows it.

Ralph Nord.

I already have it. Use OneSourceProcess. I had it in a few days start to finish. They offer a custodial certificate for notarization, and did the apostille. FedEx to me. Picked up in Burgas. Not cheap, but had it extremely fast.

@RexTechGuy

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