---
kind: "range"
citation: "18 U.S.C. §§ 3493–3496"
title: "18"
from: "3493"
to: "3496"
count: 4
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/3493..3496"
---

# §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).