​Your Guide to Power of Attorney signing with an Interpreter at the Greek Consulate

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Location
Your appointment will not be at the Greek Embassy, but the Greek Consulate (right-side entrance). The Consulate deals with this type of administrative issues. The Embassy is the diplomatic sector. They are at the same address, but different entrances. The Consulate has a side entrance. Clients are met outside, on-street, and we walk in together.

 

Check in process 
Please make sure you have your passport with you and that your application form is filled in and ready.
 

Waiting time
There is often waiting time which can be up to one hour or more. During that time we can walk through your POA together so that we can walk in the appointment ready and cross-check your personal data and sign. This minimises additional time spent. Keep in mind as a guide that the whole process may take from 1,5hrs to 2hrs.

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Cost
I am a professional, qualified, and certified interpreter, registered with the Greek Consulate, specialising in POAs. I will enhance communication between all parties involved meaning you and the Consulate officials, accurately, impartially, and fully, and I will provide support before, during and after the appointment.
 
This type of job requires me to arrive earlier than the appointment time to ensure everything starts on time. We are allowed in only 10 minutes before the appointment time. This is to reduce the amount of people in the waiting area. Only the required individuals will be allowed in the appointment room. 

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Any English documents you have with you may be used for reference purposes only but do not replace the professional interpreter/translator and have no legal validity.  

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You will not be signing the document you email to the Consulate, but the edited version that the Consulate will produce and prepare on the day and during the appointment. The powers of the POA should not be amended materially by the Consulate. The Consulate inserts the introduction and closing statements to the document from a template. These are standardised typical clauses. 

Once we walk in the appointment, I will sight translate from written legal Greek (POA) into spoken/oral legal English in real time. This task takes energy and requires great attention. Please try to minimise noise during this time. Ensure you listen to everything carefully and that your personal data is correct. 

My personal data will be included in your POA as your interpreter on the day and I am required to co-sign the document and all its pages with you. This means I will sign every page and the end of the POA, next to your signature. The Consulate official will be editing your POA to include my details. If you decide to book me, please email the Consulate and tell them that I am your interpreter.

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Overall, this type of appointment requires me to be away from my desk for you roughly 4 hours on the day which include travel and time spent at the Consulate in addition to the time spent preparing for the appointment. The quote reflects that as well as the accumulated experience in executing the job smoothly without issues. 

 

Documentation
You need to fill this form in advance. Please download it and fill it in. You can email it to me to fill in in Greek after you’ve filled it in in English. I will ensure it is correct. Please do not sign or date the form. This needs to be done on the day.

The Consulate will need to have your final, most up to date POA in advance of the appointment so that the Consular officer can edit the file. Please ensure this is emailed to them in advance. Also email them the above form. This is very important. The email address for this is poa.lon@mfa.gr You can copy me in as your interpreter.

 

Practicalities 
For Consular fees please see here. The word ‘sheet’ refers to one double-sided page. Please note fees can change anytime. Furthermore, the number of pages may change on the day of your appointment. For the latest fees, please ensure you have checked the Consulate’s website. I am registered with the Consulate. I do not work for the Consulate. My fee is paid separately in advance to me. 

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You will not receive an English Power of Attorney written document. If you want to have one for your records, please email me the final, signed Greek Power of Attorney (you can scan the copy you take away with you on the day of your appointment and email it to me) and I will quote you for translating that into English. This is so that you can have a record of what you’ve signed for future purposes if you wish.

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On the day you walk away with a Greek certified POA copy. It is wise to keep a digital record of that and you are responsible for securely mailing it to Greece to your representative.

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To receive  a quote, please email your POA draft, the date and time of your appointment.

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If you don't have an appointment with the Consulate yet, book it here. 

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There are many useful articles on the blog answering your most common questions. Please see below.