Dear AYUSA Student,

Congratulations on your successful year as an AYUSA student! You are getting close to the end of your school semester and it is time to plan for your return home.

In order to have your academic work from your American high school valid in your home country, your Official Transcript of Grades must be authenticated. Please note that you are responsible for getting your transcript authenticated. If you have any questions concerning this process, please ask your local representative.

The process is quite simple if you just follow the instructions below:

• Ask your Guidance Counselor or Registrar for two copies of your Official Transcript of Grades.


• Ask your Principal or School Registrar to:
1. Print their name on the transcript
2. Sign the transcript
3. And, stamp the transcript with the school's dry seal or stamp


• Ask the Principal or Registrar to write a letter on school letterhead including the following (click here for a sample letter):
1. Certification that the transcript is authentic
2. Explanation of the school's grading system
3. The school's minimum passing grade
4. Certification that you have received passing grades in each of your subjects


• Have the transcript notarized by a Notary Public.


• If you are from Spain or Mexico send the following papers to your Secretary of State (click here for a list of Secretary of State addresses). If your state requires you to send your transcript first to the County Clerk's office, (click here for a sample letter).
1. Cover Letter to the Secretary of State (click here for a sample letter)
2. Official Transcript of Grades signed by school official
3. Letter from the School Principal or Registrar
4. Money Order made payable to the Secretary of State (click here for a list of Secretary of State addresses)
5. Stamped envelope with correct postage addressed to:
   Your Home Address in Your Home Country


• If you are from Italy, send the following papers to your Secretary of State (click here for a list of Secretary of State addresses). If your state requires you to send your transcript first to the County Clerk's office, (click here for a sample letter).
1. Cover Letter to the Secretary of State (click here for a sample letter)
2. Official Transcript of Grades signed by school official
3. Letter from the School Principal or Registrar
4. Money Order made payable to the Secretary of State (click here for a list of Secretary of State addresses)
5. Stamped envelope with correct postage addressed to:
   Your Host Family Address in the U.S.
6. The Secretary of State will return your transcript to you at your host family's address. At this time, you will send your notarized transcript with the apostille to the Italian Consulate closest to you. You need to translate all the documents (letter to the Consulate as well as the letter written by the principal) into Italian before sending it on to the consulate. You should also include a stamped envelope with the correct postage addressed to (your Home Address in Italy) with your transcript and apostille.



• If you are from Brazil, send the following papers to the Brazilian consulate nearest to you (click here for a list of Brazilian Consulates).
1. Cover Letter with instructions (click here for a sample letter)
2. Official Transcript of Grades signed by school official
3. Letter from the School Principal or Registrar
4. Money Order made payable to the Brazilian Consulate for $5.00
5. Stamped envelope with correct postage addressed to:
   Your Home Address in Brazil


• If you are from Ecuador, send the following papers to the Ecuadorian consulate that corresponds to your host state and community (click here for a list of Ecuadorian consulates).
1. Official transcripts signed by school official
2. Official transcripts notarized by a notary public
3. Check or money order made payable to the Ecuadorian consulate for $10.00 per transcript
4. Stamped envelope with correct postage addressed to:
   Your Home Address in Ecuador


• When you return home, bring the extra copy of your transcript with you.

The Secretary of State or Consulate will return your transcript to your home address in your home country. The time period for this process varies and takes approximately 4-8 weeks.

We wish you the best of luck for the remainder of your program and in the future!

Sincerely,

AYUSA International

*Note: It is very important that you have the correct postage for an airmail package. We suggest sending your transcripts to your home country via Priority Mail to secure a safe arrival. Call your post office to find out how many stamps you need to add to your envelope.
Please note that it's always a good idea to make copies of your signed and notarized transcripts for your own records