If your home country requires that you receive an apostille or authentication certificate for your Tarleton transcript or diploma, follow the steps below.

1. Get your transcript or diploma notarized by a Texas Notary Public. Instructions detailing how to obtain a notarization are available here.
2. Complete Form 2102.
3. Mail your notarized document(s), $15 payment (per document), and self-addressed stamped or pre-paid envelope to the mailing address provided on Form 2102.
4. Please allow at least 25 business days for processing your request. You can check current processing times here.

You will receive an apostille if your home country is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention. If not, then you will receive an authentication certificate. You can find a current list of member countries here.

Please go to the Texas Secretary of State’s website for more information.

Public transportation in Stephenville is limited. Students often use bicycles or rely on walking to get around. Obviously, this makes living on campus, or close to campus, essential. Campus itself is relatively compact with virtually anywhere on campus within a 10-minute walk.

Below are transportation services provided by Tarleton for international students and options available in the Stephenville area.

Shopping Shuttle

Throughout the year International Programs provides international students a free ride to the shopping centers in the Stephenville area.

All international students at the Stephenville campus will receive an email with a sign-up link. Be sure to check your email to reserve your spot.

Taxi Services

• City and Rural Rides (CARR): A government-subsidized transportation service in Stephenville and the surrounding area, C.A.R.R.. provides rides anywhere in the area by calling to make a reservation two business day in advance. For more information call 800-710-2277 or visit CARR’s website.
• LYFT: Lyft matches drivers with passengers who requests rides through the smartphone app. Passengers pay automatically through the application as well. For more information, please visit the Lyft website. Note: There are very few Lyft drivers in Stephenville, so we recommend using the schedule option to schedule a ride in advance.
• TAXIVILLE: Taxiville is a 24-hour taxi service for Stephenville and the immediate area in Erath county. They also provide shuttle services to the DFW International Airport. For more information call 254-434-8998 or visit Taxiville’s website.

Sharing a living space with another person is often a good way to cut expenses, divide household chores, and find a friend. However, you may find yourself living with someone with different cleaning standards, sleeping habits, and lifestyles. Get to know your roommate. Be frank and open about your preferences and expectations. Come to clear agreements about such things as the division of expenses and household chores, the use of shared spaces, and guest policies. It is highly recommended that you use a Roommate Contract. The Roommate Contract is a legal document that prescribes in writing each roommate’s responsibilities and obligations. It can be used in a court of law if one roommate moves out, leaving the other to pay all of the rent and other expenses. The Roommate Contract is also a good way to find out about your roommate and come to an agreement about arrangements so that do not become problems in the future. Advice on how to write a Roommate Contract can be found here. Most non-student apartment complexes will not rent separately to roommates, so each roommate is responsible for the total expenses of the apartment. Thus, if one roommate moves out, the other roommate(s) will have to provide the missing portion of the rent and utilities. Additionally, if one roommate’s name is not on the lease, that person cannot be held legally responsible for the rent. Therefore, make sure that all roommates are listed on and sign the lease.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a U.S. federal government agency aimed at protecting consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. One of their strategic goals is to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices. The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. The FTC’s Consumer Information website (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/) contains a significant amount of helpful information related to both preventing and responding to incidents like financial scams, immigration scams, identity theft, and many other consumer complaints. ISS encourages all international students to review the information at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/ so they are better informed and prepared to identify issues. If you believe you have been subject to any form of scam or identify theft, ISS strongly recommends you review the information at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/ in detail and take the action(s) recommended by the FTC. Some of the most relevant FTC webpages that may be of interest to international students include the following:

1. Ensure that the attorney is experienced in immigration law and that he or she devotes a majority, if not all, of his or her practice to immigration matters.
2. Interview a minimum of two attorneys before making your decision—be weary of attorneys who will not take the time to meet with you before taking your case.
3. Ask friends and colleagues if they have suggestions or experiences with the attorneys you are considering.
4. Discuss the fee up front and in detail; do not hire an attorney that will not provide you with a detailed, written, fee agreement.
5. For immigration matters, it is usually customary and preferable to negotiate a fixed fee for service.
6. Be concerned if the proposed attorney fee is too low as it may indicate that the attorney may not be providing all necessary and customary services.
7. Remember that you are hiring the attorney and that you have the right to ask questions about his or her professional credentials and practice experience.
8. Hire an attorney that communicates with you well on both a personal and professional level.
9. Avoid making your decision based on cost alone—the best attorneys will generally not charge the lowest fees.
10. Prepare for your initial interview in advance & be punctual: bring your immigration documents; a list of questions, and prepare a written narrative of your situation (the narrative should be fact-based, clearly indicate in the body that is intended for communication with your attorney).

1. How many years of experience does the attorney have practicing immigration law and what percentage of his or her practice is devoted to immigration cases?
2. Does the attorney have specific experience with your type of immigration case?
3. Is the attorney Texas Board Certified in immigration law?
4. Is the attorney a member of the America Immigration Lawyers Association?
5. What is the attorney’s Martindale peer review rating?
6. Does the attorney charge by the hour or by a fixed fee; how much will he or she charge to take my case; is the entire fee or a percentage required up front; does the fixed fee include an appeal if my petition is denied by USCIS?
7. What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case and what are the chances of my success?
8. Will my case be delegated in whole or in part to a paralegal or an associate attorney?
9. How long does the attorney estimate it will take to resolve the case?
10. How will the attorney and his or her support staff communicate with me about the status of my case?