California Notary Public ExamIdentification of SignersMedium
A Notary Public is asked to notarize a document. The signer presents a foreign passport that does not have a stamp from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The passport is current and appears valid. What must the Notary do?
- ARefuse the foreign passport because it lacks the required USCIS stamp.
- BAccept the foreign passport and make a note in the journal that the USCIS stamp was missing.
- CAccept the foreign passport if it contains a photograph and signature, as the USCIS stamp is only required for passports issued more than 5 years ago.
- DAccept the foreign passport if the signer can also provide a secondary form of identification, such as a credit card.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Refuse the foreign passport because it lacks the required USCIS stamp.
For a foreign passport to be accepted as satisfactory evidence of identity in California, it must contain a stamp from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Without this stamp, the foreign passport is not an acceptable form of identification.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This is incorrect. The Notary must refuse the ID; merely noting the deficiency does not make it acceptable.
- C. This is incorrect. The USCIS stamp is a mandatory requirement for all foreign passports, regardless of their issuance date.
- D. This is incorrect. A secondary non-statutory ID cannot validate a non-compliant primary ID.
Foreign Passport Requirements
A foreign passport used for identification must be current, contain a photograph, physical description, and signature, and crucially, bear a stamp from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Must be current or issued within the last 5 years.
- Must have a photograph, description, and signature.
- The USCIS stamp is non-negotiable for acceptance.
- Without the stamp, it cannot be used as primary ID.
Memory trick: Foreign passport needs a 'USA entry' stamp to pass.