Posted by RJE/MI on 5/19/10 11:51am
Msg #337125

Am I missing something?

I just returned from an appointment with a young man that needed an I-9 notarized. The document wanted me to notarize the fact that I identified him as the person he says he is by looking at the required ID. Drivers license and SS card. There was no place on the doc for his signature. The company requesting this document was ICON who must have contracted with Amway Corp.

I called Icon and asked them if they were sure that is what they wanted from me. I told her there was no place on the form for the person being ID to sign. She said right you are just notarizing the fact that his Drivers License and SS card are genuine and do adequately identify him as who he claims to be.

Anyway I obviously didn't do it but I feel like I was missing something because I cannot believe a company as large as Amway is sending out possible future employees with this type of request since this is not a notary act.

The young man had about 50 papers with him and asked me if I wanted to go through those docs to see if that would make it all right to complete the notarization. However, the instructions to the notary were to check the original ID's and then notarize.

The only reason I'm second guessing myself is because as I said earlier this is a large Corporation and I would think they would know that this cannot legally be done.

Thanks for any help.

Reply by Notarysigner on 5/19/10 11:55am
Msg #337127

Did he sign your Journal (if you're required to have one of course)?

Reply by Ronnie_WA on 5/19/10 12:00pm
Msg #337128

Here in WA, the only thing we do is certify a copy of the DL that it is "certified to be a true and correct copy of the original document in possession of John Doe on May 19, 2010". Nothing further can be done. Not sure how your state works.

Reply by RJE/MI on 5/19/10 12:04pm
Msg #337130

A Journal is not required but I still keep one. We had not gotten to that point yet so no he did not.

This document required my signature as a notary public and my seal.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 5/19/10 12:28pm
Msg #337135

RJE/MI

I do a fair number of I-9 verifications. You're not notarizing a signature, just verifying that you were provided with necessary ID. Since you weren't comfortable you did the right thing by not doing it but you may want to reconsider next time. More and more large employers are adhering to this federal requirement. Once you do one for one employee/employer, they'll send new hires your way.

I don't apply my notary seal to the I-9 Form. It isn't required.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 5/19/10 12:38pm
Msg #337137

Same here Michelle

I never apply my stamp to a document without the signature of the person who is appearing before me.
Most people/companies don't realize that you are not notarizing a document, but notarizing a signature, after identity has been verified.
And the I-9 has no place for a notarization. I always sign them, and under "title", I write in
"Notary Public".

Reply by DaveCA/CA on 5/19/10 12:41pm
Msg #337139

In CA, cannot write "Notary Public" unless notarizing.

I haven't done one of these yet but it sounds interesting. Thanks for the info about it.

Reply by RJE/MI on 5/19/10 12:40pm
Msg #337138

Re: RJE/MI

Thanks for the advise Michelle. Instructions stated my seal was required and person from ICON said that indeed I needed to place my seal in the box provided at the bottom of the form.

I would think if they were not identifying me as a Notary Public and not requiring my seal but maybe as a Consultant or something else I would not have had a problem completing this form.

Thanks to your help I will now be better able to ask the right questions if this type of request comes my way again.

Reply by PAW on 5/19/10 12:55pm
Msg #337148

Re: RJE/MI

>>> I needed to place my seal in the box provided at the bottom of the form. <<<

There is no box for a notary seal on an I-9, at least not on the ones I have or have done.

Reply by RJE/MI on 5/19/10 1:54pm
Msg #337165

Re: RJE/MI

There was definately one on this one. The icon rep also pointed it out to me to make sure I didn't miss it.

Reply by PAW on 5/19/10 12:43pm
Msg #337140

Michelle has it exactly right ...

"I don't apply my notary seal to the I-9 Form. It isn't required."

You are acting as a representative of the hiring company. The I-9 has a statement for the rep to attest that the ID presented in that of the person and it properly identifies the individual. Just sign it, don't apply a seal or notary certificate to it.

Note that the signature block states: Signature of Employer or Authorized Representative.

Often, you will find a Letter of Authorization naming you as their "Authorized Representative".

Reply by Notarysigner on 5/19/10 12:45pm
Msg #337142

Re: Ditto n/m