Update: My brother is yet to go to the US embassy to get the form and affidavit notarized. Will keep whover is interested posted as the story unfolds.
Hope it doesn't become too much of a "story".
Update about this:
My brother got the papers notarized at the US embassy in Buenos Aires (actually the guy crossed out the word "notary public" and instead he used his stamp that says "vice consul", BH they accepted it). I think he had to pay around $50.
I submitted the papers to Apple Bank about a month ago. A week later the requested more of a lengthy statement regarding how the events of the theft took place.
Earlier this week I got a call from the local branch manager that I should come pick up the check. I was there this morning and among other thing he tells me: "We decided to terminate our relationship with him" (LOL as if we would EVER do any business with them again) he claims that my brother "neglected the checks" and was "inconsistent" and on his report and that they think he knows who stole it. Blah blah blah, because my brother has no clue who the heck stole it and he has different people working as cleaning ladies as he doesn't have a steady one.
I asked him if he would make the check out on my name so that I could endorse it and deposit it instead of having to send it half way around the world to get it endorsed and back and he said that his signature is their proof of payment so it has to be on his name.
In any case, I already gave it to someone who is flying there tonight and returning after Shabbos so that should work out nicely IYH.
I'm curious about the legalities of this, because if they really thought that my brother was inconsistent or neglected the checks, they would have had a case against him and an excuse not to refund the checks...