Posted by Melissa Algaze on 8/6/06 8:11am
Msg #137316

notarised copy of sponsor’s passport

We are in the process of applying for a visa to go live in Australia and the instructions mention needing to supply a notarised copy of sponsor’s Australian passport.

I was under the impression that the only copies of things we could notarize are Powers of Attorney.

Does anyone have experience with notarizing copies of passports?

Reply by Dave_CA on 8/6/06 8:33am
Msg #137318

Re: notarized copy of sponsor’s passport

As you said we can't notarize this in CA but I would think that, as your sponsor must live in OZ, they would need to have this done there and Australia may allow it.
If your sponsor is here then perhaps they could get it done at the Australian consulate or you could check and see if they will accept a copy with a notarized " California copy certification by document custodian"

We lived in Sydney for 2 years and loved it but it is a VERY long way from anywhere.
Good luck with your visa.

Reply by ewing2surf on 8/6/06 9:30am
Msg #137322

I have quite a bit of "hands on"experience with this request

OB, where I live is a world famous surfing destination and lots of Australian Surfers "flow" through here. Some of the top surfers in Australia have been my clients. I have 100% success with this method. Remember that telling someone that you can't notarize the copy but you can notarize a letter regarding authenticy of that copy is not UPL. Writing it for them is. So If this is a rush (and it always is) then just have the person write out a simple statement regarding the trueness of the copy; dated, sworn and signed in your presence. You can Notarize that with your Jurat stamp and Notary Seal. Raised Seal Embossers are handy for this service and I have not done one without using an embosser.


For future requests you can purchase a pad of 50 "California Copy Certification by Document Custodian" forms from the "Notary Esentials" supply list put out by one of the Notary Associations. Make sure it has the correct Jurat. When I started out as a Notary I purchase a pad of subscribing witness statements from them. Eight years later I have yet to use one

Reply by Diga2Lin/FL on 8/6/06 10:39am
Msg #137326

Re: I have quite a bit of "hands on"experience with this request

Question - since this is her/her family's own personal visa application and the passport of her/her family's sponsor, can she notarize the copy of that sponsor's passport or does the sponsor need to find an impartial notary to do this?

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 8/6/06 10:41am
Msg #137328

As mentioned already, the sponsor would probably need to get a notarized copy in Australia.

As far as US passports are concerned, there is a notary certificate:
Certification of Copy by United States Passport Holder/Document Custodian.

As the passport holder possesses the original, it is not the same as a vital record where you have to get a certified copy from the Clerk. So, it is permissable to do a certification of copy by the passport holder. They would make the copy and certify it is a true, exact, complete and unaltered copy of the passport.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 8/6/06 10:41am
Msg #137329

As mentioned already, the sponsor would probably need to get a notarized copy in Australia.

As far as US passports are concerned, there is a notary certificate:
Certification of Copy by United States Passport Holder/Document Custodian.

As the passport holder possesses the original, it is not the same as a vital record where you have to get a certified copy from the Clerk. So, it is permissable to do a certification of copy by the passport holder. They would make the copy and certify it is a true, exact, complete and unaltered copy of the passport.

Reply by Melissa Algaze on 8/6/06 6:52pm
Msg #137374

Sorry, more detail.

My sponsor is here in the US (he's my husband and we are moving back together). I realize I personally can't notarize any of this stuff since it's all related to my life. Thanks for your replies.