When a juvenile under 16 applies for a passport in person at the United States Department of State, only one parent or legal representative may accompany the youngster. This requires the completion of the DS-3053 form 2023. If a minor’s legal guardian or parent is not applying for the passport themselves, they must fill out this form to provide their consent.

Minors under the age of sixteen will not be issued a passport by the United States Department of State unless they can prove they are eligible for a passport in their own right and have obtained written permission from both parents or legal guardians. Thus, it is necessary to fill out form DS3053 accurately and in a timely manner to avoid any delays in obtaining a passport for the kid.

Common pitfalls with the DS3053 application

The following are examples of typical DS3053 application errors:

  • Not complete or accurate. Accurately filling out the form in its entirety is crucial to prevent delays or rejection.
  •  Identification that is either invalid or expired. The individual submitting the notarized statement must be in possession of a current, valid government-issued photo ID.
  • Insufficient information in the notarization. The notary is responsible for filling out the paperwork and authenticating the signature.
  • Lack of parental or legal guardian permission or incorrectly provided consent. The paperwork also has to be signed by any guardians or parents of the applicant who are not applying themselves.
  • There was either no evidence at all or insufficient evidence. Your application will not be processed without supporting materials including a photocopy of your birth certificate and a current passport picture.
  •  Problems with shipping. The form and any attachments must be submitted in a way that allows for easy verification of receipt.

To prevent committing the aforementioned errors, be sure to read and strictly adhere to the DS3053 form’s instructions.

Guidelines for having a DS-3053 form notarized

Here are the steps that must be taken in order to have a DS3053 form notarized:

  • Appoint a notary public. Any bank, post office, or UPS will have a notary public on staff.
  • Complete a DS3053 and provide valid photo identification. Bring your signed and photocopied DS3053 form, along with a government-issued photo ID.
  • Sign the paper in the presence of the notary. Signatures on the DS3053 form must be witnessed by a public notary.
  • Specify what information is needed. The notary public has to know your name, address, and other identifying information in order to complete the notarization process.
  • Proceed with the necessary payment. There is a fee associated with using a notary public.
  • Acquire a notarial stamp for your DS3053. The notarization process is complete after the notary public has signed and sealed the document. The notarization of your DS3053 form means that it is now ready to be submitted.

You will not be able to get guidance from the notary public on the legitimacy of the form, nor will they be able to help you complete it. The most they can do is witness your signature and certify your identity. This DS3053 form may be notarized by a remote notary who is authorized to do remote online notarizations in the signer’s state if the signer is unable to appear in person before a notary public. The United States Department of State specifies that a DS3053 must be notarized using a black ink pen, a notary’s seal and signature, and a jurat certificate. If the remote notary follows these steps, the notarization will be valid under the law.

This article was provided by Anna Koretskaya