What is Level 4 Notarization?

Level 4 notarization, also known as Level 4 certification or consular authentication, refers to the notarization and authentication procedures of the local security officer, county, state secretary, and Chinese consulate. According to international practice and Chinese consular practice, the purpose of Level 4 certification/notarization is to enable notarial certificates and other documents issued by one country to be recognized and legally binding by relevant departments in another country, so as not to affect the legal validity of the document due to doubts about the authenticity of the seal and signature on the document.

Level 4 Certification Program

• First-level notarization (notarization by local notary public): The procedure for level 4 certification is that the document is first notarized by a local notary public (Notary Public, commonly known as a "local notary public"), or a "certified copy" is issued by an authorized authority.

• Second level notarization (district and county notarization): Take the notarized document to the county where the land officer is registered, and have it certified by the County Clerk. There are 9 counties in New York City that can do second level certification, and the notary needs to provide the address of the county where he is registered. The second level certification will add a page of pink certification paper in front of the document.

• Third-level notarization (notarization by the Secretary of State): Take the document certified by the County Clerk to the New York State Secretary for third-level certification. The essence of the Secretary of State certification is to prove that the local notary or clerk is registered, qualified, and authentic with the state government.

• Level 4 Notarization (Chinese Consulate Notarization): Level 4 certification is handled at the Chinese Consulate. The essence of consular certification is to prove that the seal of the state government and the signature of the Secretary of State are authentic. After the above four levels of notarization/authentication, consular certification is completed. Therefore, consular certification is actually level 4 certification.

Common materials for Level 4 notarization

Common materials for Level 4 notarization : various power of attorney (such as power of attorney for the sale of real estate, stocks, etc., power of attorney for household registration, power of attorney for law firm); various declarations (such as giving up inheritance rights, passport renewal, holding multiple identity documents); various documents issued by American institutions (such as American birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, death certificates, court judgments, passports, green cards, degree certificates, criminal records, doctor's licenses, employment certificates, medical records, etc.); translations of various documents.