Embassy of the United States

Do I need to make an appointment for notarial services?

After (or before) scheduling your interview, please read all of our tips and instructions included below.

Yes. Schedule U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv appointments.

You are expected to complete security screening and arrive at the Embassy’s American Citizen Services section at your appointment time with completed forms and supporting evidence. Please arrive early and review our list of prohibited items before your visit (security restrictions). The U.S. Embassy may cancel your appointment if you arrive unprepared or late.  

Schedule U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem appointments. 

Schedule Haifa Consular Agency appointments.  

What notarial services does the Embassy provide?

The American Citizen Services Unit provides notary services for those persons wishing to execute documents in the presence of a U.S. consular officer. This service is available to both United States and foreign citizens who need to have documents notarized for use in the United States. We provide the following notary services:

• Taking acknowledgments of signatures on documents for use in the United States, such as deeds and powers of attorney;
• Administering oaths or affirmations to people executing affidavits for use in the United States;
• Certification of U.S. savings bonds. Please note the U.S. Embassy does not redeem/cash bonds but assists you during a process that generally includes mailing your savings bonds to the United States. For current information regarding redeeming your savings bonds while living outside of the United States, contact General Savings Bond Customer Service, Federal Reserve Branch Minneapolis: mpls.savingsbonds@mpls.frb.org or call 800-553-2663 (menu option 4, then option 2) from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT.
• Copies of passports in connection with ITIN applications (the IRS has additional agents who can help you certify identity documents for ITIN applications: IRS list of acceptance agents.)
• The U.S. Embassy does not provide translation services. However, applicants can translate their own documents and receive a certificate of translation (click here for a sample). 

U.S. Embassies are not authorized to perform the following services, but we have provided links below to assist you:

• Authentication of civil documents issued or notarized in the United States that you intend to use in another country. These require an apostille that you should obtain from the jurisdiction in the United States where the document was issued or notarized (click here for links to each state’s apostille information pages);
• Authentication of U.S. academic credentials;
• Certified copies of state-issued documents, such as birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificates
• Certified copies of passport records;
• Certified copies of certificates of naturalization;
• Fingerprinting; 
• Medallion Signature Guarantees;  
• Notarization of Form I-864 Affidavits of Support.  These forms no longer need to be notarized;
• Authentication of documents issued by the Government of Israel.  Because the Government of Israel is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents, you must obtain an apostille instead. 

If you have any questions about whether or not we provide an additional service, email us at amctelaviv@state.gov.

How do I prepare for my notary appointment?

• Please read your document(s) through carefully and make sure you understand them before the interview.  If a document is not clear, check with the office or organization requiring the notarized document or your legal advisor.  Consular staff cannot explain your document(s) to you.
• Know exactly where you are meant to sign. The consular staff cannot advise you in any way on what is required of you.
• Mark every page where the notary needs to sign, with a marker sticker sticking out of the document.  Also make clear which pages should be attached to each other, for instance with a paper clip.
• Fill in the document(s) with the appropriate names, places and dates.  However, DO NOT sign your document.  You will sign under oath at the Consular Section before a consular officer.
• Bring your valid passport or another form of valid government-issued photo identification.
• If the name in your photo identification differs from the name on the documents you wish to have notarized, please bring evidence of a name change.
• Bring the entire document, even if only one page is to be notarized.
• If your document requires witnesses in addition to the notary, you are responsible for providing these witnesses.  Consular staff cannot serve as witnesses.  Witnesses cannot be a spouse or a relative, and each witness will need photo identification.  This is particularly important with regard to last wills and testaments. 

Fees

• The fee for each signature by the consular officer is $50.  Documents will not be notarized until the appropriate fee is paid in full to our cashier, and all fees are non-refundable. 
• The Consular Section certifies signatures for U.S. Savings Bonds free of charge.
• Accepted fee payment methods are:
  • Cash — either U.S. dollars or shekels;
  • Most (but not all) international credit cards;
  • The U.S. Embassy is not authorized to accept personal checks or debit cards.  

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Where can I get updates about new policies affecting passports, travel, and other American Citizen Services? 

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