notary

[reyan]

for those who had their documents notarized in the US embassy --

is there a fee for this? do you have to schedule this with them or did you just show up there and where exactly did you go?

have anyone tried the local notary public? is this acceptable?

[Hoss]

Notary fees are $30.00 or @ 1380p

FROM THE US EMBASSY MANILA WEBSITE:

General Information Notarial hours: Embassy, Manila: Monday through Friday 7:30 - 10:00 a.m. Consular Agency, Cebu: Monday through Friday 9:00 - 11:00am

Documents used for legal purposes in the United States may require notarization by a US Embassy notarizing official. The individual who needs to sign the document must appear in person at the American Citizens Services Section, present proper identification (a valid passport, or three valid official IDs such as a driver's license) and pay the appropriate fee. There is no charge for documents required by the U.S. government, such as the statement of consent for issuance of a US passport to a minor under age 14. If witnesses are required, you must bring your own. Do not sign the document until requested to do so by the notarizing officer. Depending on the nature of the document, the notarizing officer will either take an acknowledgement that your signature was done freely and with an understanding of the document's contents, or administer an oath whereby you swear or affirm the contents of a document are true. (Note: Notarizing officers do not certify that the contents of submitted documents are true. A notarizing officer only certifies that you have signed and sworn or affirmed under oath that the contents are true.) Notarizing officers are prohibited from offering legal advice regarding the form or content of documents to be notarized. BACK TO TOP

Affidavits

An "affidavit" is a written declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the party making it, taken before an officer having authority to administer such oath or affirmation. Affidavits require the personal presence of the individual signing the document in order for the consular officer to administer the oath. Please bring a valid passport or three valid official identity documents that contain your name, signature, and photograph.

Fee: $30 (or its peso equivalent) per transaction* BACK TO TOP

Acknowledgements An "acknowledgement" is to "acknowledge", to admit, affirm, or declare; to recognize one's acts, assuming obligation or incurring responsibility. For example, if you sign a deed before a notarizing officer, you acknowledge your signature. Acknowledgements require the personal appearance by the person who signed the document in order to confirm that the individual signed the document. Please bring a valid passport or three valid official identity documents that contain your name, signature, and photograph. Fee: $30 (or its peso equivalent) per transaction* BACK TO TOP

Authentications The primary purpose of an authentication, which is a governmental act by a U.S. consular officer, is to certify the official seal, signature and/ or authority of foreign officials who perform an official act with regard to a document that is to be used in the United States. On December 11, 2006, U.S. consular officers will no longer authenticate the seals and signatures of any accredited Philippine notaries public. Also, the U.S. Embassy will no longer offer to the public a list of registered Philippine notaries public for whom the Embassy maintains such information. Only authentication requests for originally signed documents from key Department of Foreign Affairs and National Statistics Office officials will be authenticated.

Individuals seeking acknowledgments of signatures on documents for use in the United States, or who wish to execute an affidavit before a notarizing officer, may find it easier to go directly to the Embassy in Manila or to the Consular Agency in Cebu. If an individual insists upon authenticating the signature of a Philippine notary public he or she may do so by obtaining certification of the notary public from the accrediting court, followed by certification by the Malcanang Records Office, followed by certification from a Department of Foreign Affairs official. An Embassy consular officer will then be able to authenticate the seal and signature of the Department of Foreign Affairs official.

A consular authentication of a document to be used in the U.S. in no way attests to the authenticity of the contents of a document but merely to the seal and signature of the issuing Philippine government official.

Fee: $30 (or its peso equivalent) per transaction* BACK TO TOP

Refusal of Notarial Services

Notarial services may be refused under the following conditions; it is prohibited by treaty or foreign Law; it is prohibited by U.S. law; the notarizing officer believes the document will be used for a purpose patently unlawful, improper or inimical to the best interests of the United States; the document is blank; the individual does not appear to be capable of understanding the nature or language of the instrument; the individual is unable to comprehend the significance of the act and/or is acting under duress; the individual has invalid, inadequate or insufficient proof of identification; the proof of a corporate title or position is lacking or inadequate; and/or the service is a medallion signature guarantee. (Only financial institutions can provide a signature guarantee/medallion guarantee service.) BACK TO TOP

[suzanne4, RN]

Do not use any of the local notaries if you wish to make sure that your documents are accepted in the US. That is the only to make sure that they are accepted if they need to be notarized.

[suzanne4, RN]

And the fee is for each item that needs to be notarized.