---
kind: "range"
citation: "18 U.S.C. §§ 3491–3496"
title: "18"
from: "3491"
to: "3496"
count: 6
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/3491..3496"
---

# §3491. Foreign documents


Any book, paper, statement, record, account, writing, or other document, or any portion thereof, of whatever character and in whatever form, as well as any copy thereof equally with the original, which is not in the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) shall, when duly certified as provided in [section 3494 of this title](/usc/18/3494.md), be admissible in evidence in any criminal action or proceeding in any [court of the United States](/usc/18/23.md) if the court shall find, from all the testimony taken with respect to such foreign document pursuant to a commission executed under [section 3492 of this title](/usc/18/3492.md), that such document (or the original thereof in case such document is a copy) satisfies the authentication requirements of the Federal Rules of Evidence, unless in the event that the genuineness of such document is denied, any party to such criminal action or proceeding making such denial shall establish to the satisfaction of the court that such document is not genuine. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require authentication under the provisions of [section 3494 of this title](/usc/18/3494.md) of any such foreign documents which may otherwise be properly authenticated by law.


# §3492. Commission to consular officers to authenticate foreign documents

- (a) The testimony of any witness in a foreign country may be taken either on oral or written interrogatories, or on interrogatories partly oral and partly written, pursuant to a commission issued, as hereinafter provided, for the purpose of determining whether any foreign documents sought to be used in any criminal action or proceeding in any [court of the United States](/usc/18/23.md) are genuine, and whether the authentication requirements of the Federal Rules of Evidence are satisfied with respect to any such document (or the original thereof in case such document is a copy). Application for the issuance of a commission for such purpose may be made to the court in which such action or proceeding is pending by the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) or any other party thereto, after five days’ notice in writing by the applicant party, or his attorney, to the opposite party, or his attorney of record, which notice shall [state](/usc/18/402.md) the names and addresses of witnesses whose testimony is to be taken and the time when it is desired to take such testimony. In granting such application the court shall issue a commission for the purpose of taking the testimony sought by the applicant addressed to any consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) conveniently located for the purpose. In cases of testimony taken on oral or partly oral interrogatories, the court shall make provisions in the commission for the selection as hereinafter provided of foreign counsel to represent each party (except the [United States](/usc/18/5.md)) to the criminal action or proceeding in which the foreign documents in question are to be used, unless such party has, prior to the issuance of the commission, notified the court that he does not desire the selection of foreign counsel to represent him at the time of taking of such testimony. In cases of testimony taken on written interrogatories, such provision shall be made only upon the request of any such party prior to the issuance of such commission. Selection of foreign counsel shall be made by the party whom such foreign counsel is to represent within ten days prior to the taking of testimony or by the court from which the commission issued, upon the request of such party made within such time.
- (b) Any consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) to whom a commission is addressed to take testimony, who is interested in the outcome of the criminal action or proceeding in which the foreign documents in question are to be used or has participated in the prosecution of such action or proceeding, whether by investigations, preparation of evidence, or otherwise, may be disqualified on his own motion or on that of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) or any other party to such criminal action or proceeding made to the court from which the commission issued at any time prior to the execution thereof. If after notice and hearing, the court grants the motion, it shall instruct the consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) thus disqualified to send the commission to any other consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) named by the court, and such other [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) shall execute the commission according to its terms and shall for all purposes be deemed the [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) to whom the commission is addressed.
- (c) The provisions of this section and sections 3493–3496 of this title applicable to consular officers shall be applicable to diplomatic [officers](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) pursuant to such regulations as may be prescribed by the President. For purposes of this section and [sections 3493 through 3496](/usc/18/3493..3496.md) of this title, the term “consular officers” includes any [United States](/usc/18/5.md) citizen who is designated to perform notarial functions pursuant to section 1750 of the Revised Statutes, as amended ([22 U.S.C. 4221](/usc/22/4221.md)).

# §3493. Deposition to authenticate foreign documents


The consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) to whom any commission authorized under [section 3492 of this title](/usc/18/3492.md) is addressed shall take testimony in accordance with its terms. Every person whose testimony is taken shall be cautioned and sworn to testify the whole truth and carefully examined. His testimony shall be reduced to writing or typewriting by the consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) taking the testimony, or by some person under his personal supervision, or by the witness himself, in the presence of the consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) and by no other person, and shall, after it has been reduced to writing or typewriting, be subscribed by the witness. Every foreign document, with respect to which testimony is taken, shall be annexed to such testimony and subscribed by each witness who appears for the purpose of establishing the genuineness of such document. When counsel for all the parties attend the examination of any witness whose testimony is to be taken on written interrogatories, they may consent that oral interrogatories in addition to those accompanying the commission may be put to the witness. The consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) taking any testimony shall require an interpreter to be present when his services are needed or are requested by any party or his attorney.


# §3494. Certification of genuineness of foreign document


If the consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) executing any commission authorized under [section 3492 of this title](/usc/18/3492.md) shall be satisfied, upon all the testimony taken, that a foreign document is genuine, he shall certify such document to be genuine under the seal of his office. Such certification shall include a statement that he is not subject to disqualification under the provisions of [section 3492 of this title](/usc/18/3492.md). He shall thereupon transmit, by mail, such foreign documents, together with the record of all testimony taken and the commission which has been executed, to the clerk of the court from which such commission issued, in the manner in which his official dispatches are transmitted to the Government. The clerk receiving any executed commission shall open it and shall make any foreign documents and record of testimony, transmitted with such commission, available for inspection by the parties to the criminal action or proceeding in which such documents are to be used, and said parties shall be furnished copies of such documents free of charge.


# §3495. Fees and expenses of consuls, counsel, interpreters and witnesses

- (a) The consular fees prescribed under [section 1201 of Title 22](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(/us/usc/t22/s1201)), for official services in connection with the taking of testimony under sections 3492–3494 of this title, and the fees of any witness whose testimony is taken shall be paid by the party who applied for the commission pursuant to which such testimony was taken. Every witness under [section 3493 of this title](/usc/18/3493.md) shall be entitled to receive, for each day’s attendance, fees prescribed under [section 3496 of this title](/usc/18/3496.md). Every foreign counsel selected pursuant to a commission issued on application of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), and every interpreter whose services are required by a consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) under [section 3493 of this title](/usc/18/3493.md), shall be paid by the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), such compensation, together with such personal and incidental expense upon verified statements filed with the consular [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), as he may allow. Compensation and expenses of foreign counsel selected pursuant to a commission issued on application of any party other than the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) shall be paid by the party whom such counsel represents and shall be allowed in the same manner.
- (b) Whenever any party makes affidavit, prior to the issuance of a commission for the purpose of taking testimony, that he is not possessed of sufficient means and is actually unable to pay any fees and costs incurred under this section, such fees and costs shall, upon order of the court, be paid in the same manner as fees and costs are paid which are chargeable to the [United States](/usc/18/5.md).
- (c) Any appropriation available for the payment of fees and costs in the case of witnesses subpenaed in behalf of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) in criminal cases shall be available for any fees or costs which the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) is required to pay under this section.

# §3496. Regulations by President as to commissions, fees of witnesses, counsel and interpreters


The President is authorized to prescribe regulations governing the manner of executing and returning commissions by consular [officers](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) under the provisions of sections 3492–3494 of this title and schedules of fees allowable to witnesses, foreign counsel, and interpreters under [section 3495 of this title](/usc/18/3495.md).