(a) If the Secretary of State finds that an application for a certificate of authority conforms to the filing requirements of this chapter and all requisite fees and any penalty due pursuant to Code Section 14-11-711 have been paid, he or she shall:

(1) Stamp or otherwise endorse his or her official title and the date and time of receipt on the application;

(2) File the application in his or her office; and

(3) Issue a certificate of authority to transact business in this state.

(b) The certificate of authority must be returned to the person who filed the application or such person's representative.

(c) If the certificate of authority is issued by the Secretary of State, a foreign limited liability company shall be deemed authorized to transact business in this state from the time of filing its application for the certificate of authority.