4.06.2009

By The Power of Attorney! I Have THE POWER!

My mother needs to have a Power of Attorney attested to by the Pakistani Embassy. After getting zero help from the Pakistani Embassy (whose enviable hours are 09:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. M-F) on instructions, I called the U.S. State Department and here are the following steps to take to have the Power of Attorney attested by everyone under the sun:

1. Fill out and notarize a Power of Attorney (POA).

2. Send the notarized copy of the POA, a cover letter, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to your state's Office of Secretary of State, Authentications Department. The cover letter should include: your name, address, phone number, email address, indication that the notarized Power of Attorney is enclosed and that you require attestation in order to have the document attested for use in Pakistan. If there is a fee, be sure to include it as well.

3. When that comes back to you, send the notarized and attested copy of the POA, a cover letter (can be the same as above), and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
US Department of State
Authentications Office
518 23rd Street, N.W.
SA-1
Washington, DC 20520
Also include the $8 fee by check or by money order made out to "Department of State". Turnaround time is 5 to 7 business days. Phone# 800.688.9889

4. When THAT comes back to you, send the notarized and double attested copy of the POA, a cover letter (can be the same as above), your National Identity Card or Pakistani passport and $8 (see below) to:

Consular Office, Embassy of Pakistan,

3517 International Court NW

Washington, DC 20008.



Also include the $8 fee by cashier's check or by money order payable to the Embassy of Pakistan. Send one extra copy of the Power of attorney for the embassy's record if you like. Turnaround time is 7 business days. The application must only be accompanied by US Post Office self addressed pre-paid express mail envelope. Please use the flat rate envelope (current cost : $ 16.50). Do not use Metered stamps. We do not accept any other form of return mail. PH. 202-243-6500, FAX: 202-686-1534

There. I've done my pro bono work for the day.

10 comments:

Ayesha said...

What the chicken soup!!!

we have to get a power of attorney attested... soonish.

i am already dreading it. i 'll have to deal with pakistani embassy AN?D go through all that drama?
yuck..yuck yuck!


(thanks for info though bajster)

Zee said...

Greyskull is hurt by your entry title.

Anonymous said...

I had to do this for myself and the rest of my family. It is MUCH less complicated. All you have to do is have a power of attorney, notarize it, and take it to the embassy (I did this in NYC) along with passports (and if you are a paki citizen, your SHANAAKHTY CARDDDDD - TANTANTAAAAAN [i love that word so I had to add a soundtrack]). They will stamp the POA and you can send it to wherever your heart desires.

None of this pomp and circumstance that you describe is required in any way, shape, or form.

Saady said...

:)
*waves*

haha @ the amazing hours they have. that was the first thing i noticed when i visited their website years ago.

Glad you are doing ok Baji.
Take care

baji said...

aysh - is the POA you need just for use in the U.S. or for some business in Pakistan? b/c if it's just the U.S. stuff, a simple notary can take care of it.

owl - grayskull is thankful that anyone even remembers it in this day and age. high five on catching the reference. :D

soph - perhaps you should talk to the PK embassy in DC but that is NOT what is written on their website. these were the instructions i got from their website as well as a conversation with the US State Dept. maybe b/c you were in NYC, they could do all of it for you (the NY Sec. of State, the US State Dpt. and the PK embassy in NY), but i don't think it's the case for everyone - especially those living in the boonies known as the midwest.

sd - *waves back* wouldn't you just LOVE those work hours? hope you are doing well!

yasmine said...

(and if you are a paki citizen, your SHANAAKHTY CARDDDDD - TANTANTAAAAAN [i love that word so I had to add a soundtrack]).

am laughing - so hard - into my hands here at work. hahahaha! i lowve the 'shanakhty card' phrase, too!

also? the grayskull reference? SO ROCKING.

that is all.

yasmine said...

oh, PS: when the ummy was going to the motherland last year, i had the enviable task of renewing her pakistani passport for her. the pakistani consulate SUCKS (we have to deal with the one in LA) - i could never manage to get proper, detailed information from the people i spoke with, and each of them gave me conflicting info. and promised to call me with other info, and never did, and professed ignorance when i called back. and ALSO, yes, their hours of operation pissed me off.

the end.

baji said...

the only success i've had when dealing with the pk consulate is when i show up in person. luckily, the HQ is about a mile away from us. :)

Ayesha said...

its for some use in Pakistan.

i so wish sophister's way work out for me too. how long ago was that dude?

and i'll have to deal with consulate in LA.

double gah!

baji said...

you should call them first and see what they say. maybe each consulate handles things differently.