Courier documents to USA from India — transcripts, ECFMG, apostille and charges
Rules & rates last verified: 13 July 2026 · by Mrs. Madhu Satija, Managing Director, CargoCharges
Yes — documents are the fastest, cheapest thing we ship to the USA: university transcripts, ECFMG medical credentials, visa paperwork, legal documents. US universities usually demand transcripts in the institution's SEALED envelope — we ship the sealed envelope intact and never open it. Legal documents for US use need an MEA apostille (India and the USA are both Hague members), not embassy attestation.
The rules that apply
University transcripts: most US admissions offices require the registrar's SEALED, stamped envelope — we carry it unopened inside our courier flyer; you keep photocopies separately.
Medical graduates: ECFMG accepts documents via courier to its Philadelphia office — use your USMLE/ECFMG ID on the address label, which we print for you.
Legal/personal documents (PoA, birth certificates) for US use need an MEA APOSTILLE, not embassy attestation — the USA is a Hague Convention country.
No customs duty on documents; no commodity premium — document envelopes ship at the flat document rate.
Charges: document envelope rates
Your parcel is charged at the normal USA rate for its weight — from the carriers that accept documents on this lane (DHL, FedEx, UPS, Prompt) — with no commodity premium for documents. Worked example: 0.5 kg document envelope ≈ ₹2,703 (UPS), excl. 18% GST. Express transit: 2-3 Working Days from Delhi dispatch, with free pickup across Delhi NCR.
Documents you need
The documents themselves (sealed envelopes stay sealed)
Receiver/institution address exactly as specified (ECFMG ID, university application number on the label where required)
Sender ID (Aadhar/PAN) for the airway bill
Limits & what is not accepted
Documents only — no merchandise, gift cards, or currency inside document envelopes (carriers X-ray them)
Apostille must be obtained BEFORE shipping (MEA counters/authorised agencies) — we ship, we do not apostille
Cheques and signed originals ship fine; cash never
📞 Unsure about your specific items? Send us the list on WhatsApp +91 97186 61166 — we confirm shippability before you pack, free.
Documents to USA — FAQs
Will my university transcript envelope stay sealed?
Yes — the registrar's sealed envelope travels unopened inside our courier flyer. Admissions offices reject opened envelopes, so we never inspect inside sealed institutional envelopes; the X-ray screening is external.
How do I address a document shipment to ECFMG?
To ECFMG's Philadelphia address with your USMLE/ECFMG identification number on the label — we print the label from your ID to avoid mailroom misrouting. Same-day dispatch before the 1:30 PM cutoff.
Do US-bound legal documents need embassy attestation?
No — the USA is a Hague apostille country: an MEA apostille in India is the complete legalisation. Get the apostille first, then ship; embassy attestation is a UAE/non-Hague process, not a US one.
What does a document courier to the USA cost?
For example: 0.5 kg document envelope ≈ ₹2,703 (UPS), excl. 18% GST. No commodity premium applies to documents; 18% GST applies on the bill.
Mrs. Madhu Satija — Managing Director, CargoCharges. 25+ years in international logistics; these rules reflect what our carriers and customs partners enforce on real shipments, updated as carrier policy changes.