I came to the United States in 2017. I remember how unfamiliar systems, a new language, and limited resources can turn a routine task into one more source of stress. Free Community Notary is my way of making the notarial part a little easier.
Who can use the program
Free Community Notary is available when the requested notarial act or document submitted for apostille is connected with an immigration, asylum, refugee-resettlement, naturalization, or citizenship matter, regardless of the participant’s citizenship or immigration status. The program is also available when financial hardship would make Crawford Notary fees a barrier. No proof of income, citizenship, or immigration status is requested; requests are accepted on the honor system.
Everything I provide is free
For a program appointment, I do not charge for:
- the notarial act;
- a standard mobile appointment in Manhattan;
- an electronic-notarization appointment through Notary Hub, including its identity-verification workflow; or
- a Certificate of Authenticity when I paper out an electronic act I performed.
If you ask for a paper record by mail or courier, you pay only the actual delivery cost approved in advance.
There is no fixed quota. I may divide a large request into more than one appointment or limit recurring requests when that is necessary to keep the program available to others.
Apostille assistance and do-it-yourself guidance
For a qualifying request, I organize apostille processing without charging for my work. You pay only government fees and actual postage, including USPS Priority Mail return delivery, agreed in advance. Necessary notarial acts are free under this program. Standard assistance is estimated at 2–4 weeks for eligible documents from receipt of the complete package, including return delivery; other-state or federal routes may take longer. I confirm the estimate for your documents. Rush hand-delivery is not included in this standard assistance.
You may also receive free procedural guidance to apply yourself: which official certifications are needed, where to submit, how to pay fees, and how to arrange return delivery. You submit the documents and pay the organizations directly. This is practical process guidance, not advice on legal or immigration matters.
For apostilles, contact me directly or upload a preliminary copy securely with the destination country and issuing authority. Square and Notary Hub remain the booking options for notarial appointments, not apostille processing.
Volunteer translators are welcome
The translator’s notarial act is also free when the translation is being provided free of charge for a program participant. I can notarize the translator’s signature or administer the requested oath. I do not certify the translation, judge its accuracy, or decide whether the receiving organization requires notarization.
Read the translator-affidavit guide.
What this program is—and is not
The program provides notarial services and administrative apostille assistance. It does not include legal or immigration advice, form preparation, translation, interpreting, legal representation, certified copies, or a promise that a document will be accepted. Government apostille and certification charges are not waived by Crawford Notary.
The same rules apply to free and paid appointments. I still need acceptable identification, direct communication with the signer, a permitted document and appointment format, and clear instructions about the required notarial act. I may stop if identity, willingness, awareness, safety, or another legal requirement is not satisfied.
Privacy comes first
No proof of income, citizenship, or immigration status is required. For a Manhattan visit, choose the Free Community Notary option in Square; only the service address is required, and there is no $50 mobile appointment and travel fee. For an electronic-notarization appointment in Notary Hub, write Free Community Notary in the comment field. Never email immigration files, identification, medical records, or other sensitive documents.
Request Free Community Notary or email sergei@crawfordnotary.com with a general question and no attachments.
Free Community Notary is an independent Crawford Notary program. It is not affiliated with USCIS, the U.S. Department of State, New York State, or any court or immigration agency.