Immigration Documents, Notaries and “Notario” Fraud

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By the notaries at Mar Vista Cheap Mobile Notary, commissioned by the California Secretary of State · Updated October 26, 2026 · Sources: California Notary Public Handbook (Secretary of State, 2026), Government Code § 8223, Government Code § 8219.5, Business and Professions Code § 22440, Government Code § 8230

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What a notary can do

• Notarize your signature on affidavits and sworn statements used in immigration matters, such as letters from friends or family describing a relationship, or affidavits of support from sponsors when an agency asks for notarization
• Notarize signatures on powers of attorney, consent letters and other documents that support an application
• Charge the normal notary fees for those notarizations

What a notary can’t do

• Choose immigration forms, fill them in, or advise you about them. Only an attorney, a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice, or a person registered with the Secretary of State and bonded as an immigration consultant may assist with completing immigration forms (Business and Professions Code § 22440).
• Advertise as a notary while promoting themselves as an immigration specialist or consultant (Government Code § 8223).
• Charge more than $15 per individual for each set of immigration forms (for data entry by a bonded consultant), plus normal notary fees for any notarization.

“Notario público” is not a California notary

In much of Latin America, a notario público is a highly trained attorney. A California notary public is not a lawyer, and can’t give legal advice about immigration or anything else. To prevent confusion, California law (Government Code § 8219.5):

• Forbids translating “notary public” into Spanish as “notario” or “notario público,” even with a disclaimer
• Requires a non-attorney notary who advertises in a language other than English to post a notice, in English and that language, that they are not an attorney and cannot give legal advice about immigration or other legal matters, and to list the fees allowed by law
• Treats violations as grounds for suspension or revocation, and a second offense as grounds for permanent revocation

Translations for USCIS

USCIS requires that a foreign-language document be accompanied by a full English translation and the translator’s certification that they are competent and the translation is accurate. That certification doesn’t need to be notarized. If an agency or court does ask for a notarized translator statement, the translator signs it before a notary with a jurat.

I-9 employment forms

Form I-9 isn’t a notarization at all. Employers sometimes ask a notary to act as their “authorized representative” to examine an employee’s documents. That isn’t a notarial act, and a notary stamp doesn’t belong on the form. We don’t complete I-9 forms; the employer should use another authorized representative.

Common questions

Can a notary notarize immigration documents in California?

Yes, a notary can notarize signatures on immigration-related documents. They can’t help you fill out immigration forms unless also qualified as an attorney, accredited representative or bonded immigration consultant.

Is a notario público the same as a notary public?

No. In California, a notary public isn’t a lawyer. California law forbids notaries from calling themselves “notario” or “notario público.”

Do translations for USCIS need to be notarized?

No. USCIS requires a translator’s certification of competence and accuracy, not notarization.