1. Primary evidence

Request one of the following documents:

• Unexpired valid U.S. State issued non-driver identity card (issued by the same State agency that issues driver’s licenses/State-level agency with issuing authority over the State’s identity cards)

• U.S. Passport/Passport card (valid and unexpired)

NOTE: Some States may issue State non-driver identification cards to children under age six.

1. Primary evidence

Request a current U.S. lawful alien document and an unexpired foreign passport.

Enter the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document as the primary proof of identity document and enter the foreign passport information (name, date of birth, passport number, country name, issue date, and expiration date) in the Evidence Submitted field on the Social Security Number Application Process (SSNAP) summary screen, when the information is not already in the passport number field.

• Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551 stamp/machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) in combination with an unexpired foreign passport when DHS has not issued the I-551 Permanent Resident Card).
  EXCEPTION: You may accept an expired I-551 in combination with a Notice of Action (Form I-797) and an unexpired foreign passport. For instructions on documenting the I-797 and entering an extended expiration date for the I-551 based on the I-797, see RM 10211.025C.1.d.

• Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record in combination with an unexpired foreign passport.
  NOTE: Select "I-94 w/Unexpired Foreign Passport" from the Primary Proof of Identity Document drop-down menu.

For instructions on entering in SSNAP, see RM 10211.140A.

NOTE: An admission stamp in an unexpired foreign passport and an unexpired passport are two separate documents. See Policy for Number of Documents Required for an SSN Card, RM 10210.020C.3.

• Form I-766, Employment Authorization card

• Form I-872, American Indian Card (only members of the Texas Band of Kickapoos are eligible for this card, see RM 10211.075C and RM 10210.425A.6.).
  NOTE: In some cases, the alien may have a current lawful alien document but may not have an unexpired foreign passport (for example, a refugee or an applicant who may have entered the U.S. without inspection or who may have an American Indian Card). In these situations, accept the lawful alien document alone.

2.  Secondary evidence

If primary evidence is not available (available means the document exists and the applicant can access or obtain it within 10 business days), request one of the following secondary evidence documents:

• U.S. Diplomatic Passport

• U.S. Official Passport

• U.S. military dependent identification card

• Certificate of Naturalization

• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship

• U.S. Indian Tribal card approved by the RO as an acceptable identity document

• Final adoption decree issued by the court where the recent adoption occurred, showing the child’s name and the child’s date of birth (DOB) or the names of the adopting parent(s). If the adoption took place more than a year previously, a more recent identity document should be available (for example, medical record). For information on availability of documents based on a child’s age, see RM 10210.405C.5.

• Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital), immunization record, or letter providing extract data from the medical record showing, the applicant’s name and the applicant’s DOB or age (for certification by custodian, see GN 00301.030A.3.)
  NOTE: The issue date of the immunization record is either the date parents received the document or the date of child’s first recorded shot. Ensure that the document is less than four years old (see RM 10210.405C.5.).

  If the issue date is four years old or more, check the date of the child’s last recorded shot. If date of last recorded shot is less than four years from the current date, use that date as the issue date and annotate in SSNAP remarks. If the date of the child’s last shot was four years or longer, you must request another document. Do not accept a receipt or a record of treatment recorded or maintained by the applicant or the applicant's family.

• Health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card showing, the child’s name and:

  • a photograph of the child, or

  • the child’s age or DOB, or

  • the parent(s)’ name(s)

(card must be current).

For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date, see RM 10210.405C.5.

A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document, if it does not have a photo or biographical data.

• Certified childcare facility or other pre-school or school record (must be for the current or prior year) showing the child’s age or DOB or parent(s)’ name(s). See RM 10210.410B.

• Religious record (cradle roll, naming certificate, bris certificate, or baptismal record showing in addition to the child’s name, the child’s age or DOB, or parent(s)’ name(s)); or an Amish or Mennonite bishop’s letter as described in RM 10225.040.

2.  Secondary evidence

When a child does not possess a U.S. lawful alien document, but meets the requirements in

RM 10211.075 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully in the U.S. Without Immigration Documents), RM 10211.600 (Requests for an SSN from an Alien without Work Authorization), or

RM 10211.500 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Undocumented Alien) for an SSN card for a non-work reason, then accept any one of the following documents as evidence of identity:

• Unexpired valid U.S. State issued non-driver identity card (issued by the same State agency that issues driver’s licenses/State-level agency with issuing authority over the State’s identity card)

• U.S. military dependent identification card

• Canadian Band card (Certificate of Indian status) issued to Indian members of Canadian tribes

• Final adoption decree issued by the court where the recent adoption occurred, showing the child’s name, and the child’s date of birth (DOB) or the names of the adopting parent(s). For information on availability of documents based on a child’s age, see RM 10210.405C.5..

• Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital) or letter providing extract data from the medical record showing, the applicant’s name and the applicant’s DOB or age (for certification by custodian see GN 00301.030A.3.).
  NOTE: Do not accept a receipt or a record of treatment recorded or maintained by the applicant or the applicant's family.

• Health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card showing, the child’s name and:

• a photograph of the child, or

• the child’s age or DOB, or

• the parent(s)’ name(s)

(card must be current).

For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date see RM 10210.405C.5.

A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document, if it does not have a photo or biographical data.

• Certified child care facility or other pre-school or school record (must be for the current or prior year) showing the child’s age or DOB or parent(s)’ name(s) RM 10210.410B

• Religious record (cradle roll, naming certificate, bris certificate, or baptismal record showing the child’s name and the child’s age or DOB, or parent(s)’ name(s)); or an Amish or Mennonite bishop’s letter as described in RM 10225.040.

3.  Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5.

When an applicant:

• presents a primary or secondary document not listed in the Proof of Identity drop down in the Enumeration System or in RM 10210.420A.1. or RM 10210.420A.2. in this section, or

• states that a primary or secondary identity document is not available (available means the document exists and the applicant can access or obtain it within 10 business days).

NOTE: Regional Office – In locating evidence of identity, consider the age of the child. For example, in the case of a newborn, hospital records (not a souvenir birth certificate issued by the hospital) created at the time of birth should exist. Otherwise, you may use a medical record of the physician or midwife attending the birth and attesting to the facts of the birth and identity of the child in conjunction with the birth record when no other evidence exists for a newborn. After two weeks of age, most children routinely see a physician for immunization shots and check-ups.

3.  Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5.

When an applicant:

• presents a primary or secondary document not listed in the Proof of Identity drop down in the Enumeration System or in RM 10210.420A.1. or RM 10210.420A.2. in this section, or

• states that a primary or secondary identity document is not available (current lawful alien document or identity document listed in RM 10210.420A.1. or RM 10210.420A.2. in this section).

1.  Primary evidence

Request one of these documents:

• Unexpired valid U.S. driver’s license (excludes licenses that are suspended, revoked, or temporary). For more information on temporary driver’s licenses see EXCEPTION in RM 10210.425A.1.).

• Unexpired valid U.S. State issued non-driver identity card (issued by the same State agency that issues driver’s licenses/State-level agency with issuing authority over the State’s identity cards)

• U.S. Passport/Passport card (valid and unexpired)

NOTE: Most States issue driver’s licenses and State non-driver identification cards to children age 16 to 17 when they meet the requirements. Some States may issue State non-driver identification cards to children under age 16.

1.  Primary evidence

• Request a current U.S. lawful alien document and an unexpired foreign passport. Enter the DHS document as the primary proof of identity document and enter the foreign passport information (name, date of birth, passport number, country name, issue date, and expiration date) in the Evidence Submitted field on the SSNAP summary screen, if the information is not already in the passport number field.

• Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551 stamp/machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) in combination with an unexpired foreign passport when DHS has not issued the I-551 Permanent Resident Card).
  EXCEPTION: You may accept an expired I-551 in combination with a Notice of Action (Form I-797) and an unexpired foreign passport. For instructions on documenting the I-797 and entering an extended expiration date for the I-551 based on the I-797, see RM 10211.025C.1.d.

• Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record in combination with an unexpired foreign passport.
  NOTE: Select "I-94 w/Unexpired Foreign Passport" from the Primary Proof of Identity Document drop-down menu. For instructions on entering in SSNAP, see RM 10211.140A.

• Admission Stamp in unexpired foreign passport
  NOTE: An admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport and an unexpired passport are two separate documents. See RM 10210.020C.3, Policy for Number of Documents Required for an SSN Card.

• Form I-766, Employment Authorization card

• Form I-872, American Indian Card (only members of the Texas Band of Kickapoos are eligible for this card, see RM 10211.075C and RM 10210.425A.6.)
  NOTE: In some cases, the alien may have a current lawful alien document but may not have an unexpired foreign passport (for example, a refugee or an applicant who may have entered the U.S. without inspection or who may have an American Indian Card). In these situations, accept the lawful alien document alone.

2.  Secondary evidence

If a primary document is not available (available means the document exists and the applicant can access or obtain it within 10 business days), request one of these secondary evidence documents:

• U.S. Diplomatic Passport

• U.S. Official Passport

• U.S. military dependent identification card

• Certificate of Naturalization

• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship

• U.S. Indian Tribal card approved by the RO as an acceptable identity document

• Final adoption decree issued by the court where the recent adoption occurred, showing the child’s name and the child’s DOB or the names of the adopting parent(s). If the adoption took place more than a year ago, a more recent identity document should be available (for example, medical record). For information on availability of documents based on a child’s age, see RM 10210.405C.5.

• Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital) or letter providing extract data from the medical record showing, in addition to the applicant’s name, the applicant’s DOB or age (for certification by custodian see GN 00301.030A.3.).
  NOTE: Do not accept a receipt or a record of treatment recorded or maintained by the applicant or the applicant's family. Do not accept immunization records from applicants age 6 through age 17. Applicants 6 years through 17 years of age should have one of the documents listed in RM 10210.420B.

• Health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card showing, the child’s name and:

  • a photograph of the child, or

  • the child’s age or DOB, or

  • the parent(s)’ name(s)

(card must be current).

For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date see RM 10210.405C.5. A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document, if it does not have a photo or biographical data.

• School identity card, certified school record, transcript, or report card (must be for the current or prior year) and show, in addition to the child’s name, either a photograph of the child, the child’s DOB, or parent(s) names). See RM 10210.410B.
  NOTE: For Student identification cards, follow identity documents instructions in RM 10210.405C.5.

  • Life insurance policy for the child showing the child’s name and the child’s age or DOB

  • Religious record (cradle roll, naming certificate, bris certificate, or baptismal record showing the child’s name and the child’s age or DOB, or parent(s)’ name(s)); or an Amish or Mennonite bishop’s letter as described in RM 10225.040.

2.  Secondary evidence

When a child does not possess a U.S. lawful alien document, but meets the requirements in

RM 10211.075 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully in the U.S. Without Immigration Documents),

RM 10211.600 (Requests for an SSN from an Alien without Work Authorization), or

RM 10211.500 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Undocumented Alien)

for an SSN card for a non-work reason, then accept any one of the following documents as evidence of identity:

• Unexpired valid U.S. driver’s license (excludes licenses that you know are suspended or revoked)

• Unexpired valid U.S. State issued non-driver identity card (issued by the same State agency that issues driver’s licenses/State-level agency with issuing authority over the State’s identity cards)

• U.S. military dependent identification card

• Canadian Band card (Certificate of Indian status) issued to Indian members of Canadian tribes

• Final adoption decree issued by the court where the recent adoption occurred, showing the child’s name and the child’s DOB or the names of the adopting parent(s). For information on availability of documents based on a child’s age see RM 10210.405C.5.

• Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital) or letter providing extract data from the medical record showing the applicant’s name and the applicant’s DOB or age (for certification by custodian see GN 00301.030A.3.)
  NOTE: Do not accept a receipt or a record of treatment recorded or maintained by the applicant or the applicant's family. Do not accept immunization records from applicants age 6 through age 17. Applicants 6 years through 17 years of age should have one of the documents listed in RM 10210.420B.

• Health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card showing, the child’s name and:

  • a photograph of the child, or

  • the child’s age or DOB, or

  • the parent(s)’ name(s)

(card must be current).

For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date, see RM 10210.405C.5.

A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document if it does not have a photo or biographical data.

• School identity card, certified school record, transcript, or report card (must be for the current or prior year) and show, the child’s name and either a photograph of the child, the child’s DOB, or parent(s)’ name(s). See RM 10210.410B
  NOTE: For validity of Student Identity cards, follow identity documents instructions in RM 10210.405C.5.

  • Life insurance policy for the child showing the child’s name and the child’s age or DOB

  • Religious record (cradle roll, naming certificate, bris certificate, or baptismal record showing the child’s name and the child’s age or DOB, or parent(s)’ name(s)); or an Amish or Mennonite bishop’s letter as described in RM 10225.040.

3.  Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5.

When an applicant:

• presents a primary or secondary document not listed in the charts in RM 10210.420A or RM 10210.420B in this section or

• in the Proof of Identity drop down in the Enumeration System, or

• states that a primary or secondary identity document is not available (available means the document exists and the applicant can access or obtain it within 10 business days).

3.  Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5.

When an applicant:

• presents a primary or secondary document not listed in the charts in RM 10210.420B, Item 1 in this section or RM 10210.420B, item 2 in this section or

• in the Proof of Identity drop down in the Enumeration System, or

• states that a primary or secondary identity document is not available (current lawful alien document or identity document listed in RM 10210.420B, item 1 or RM 10210.420B, item 2 in this section).

1.  Primary evidence

Request one of these documents:

• Unexpired valid U.S. driver’s license (excludes licenses that are suspended, revoked, or temporary). For more information on temporary driver’s license see EXCEPTION in RM 10210.425A.1.

• Unexpired valid U.S. State issued non-driver identity card (issued by the same State agency that issues driver’s licenses/State-level agency with issuing authority over the State’s identity cards)

• U.S. Passport/Passport card (valid and unexpired)

NOTE: We prefer a driver’s license for people age 18 or older. If the applicant does not submit a passport, driver’s license, or State-issued non-driver identification card, ask the applicant if the State issued him or her a current driver’s license or State-issued identification card for non-drivers. If the applicant does not have such a document, ask why not. The applicant’s response may assist you in helping the applicant find a suitable proof of identity document.

1.  Primary evidence

Request a current U.S. lawful alien document and an unexpired foreign passport. Enter the DHS document as the primary proof of identity document and enter the foreign passport information (name, date of birth, passport number, country name, issue date, and expiration date) in the Evidence Submitted field on the SSNAP summary screen, when the information is not already in the passport number field.

• Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551 stamp/machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) with an unexpired foreign passport when DHS has not issued the I-551 Permanent Resident Card).
  EXCEPTION: You may accept an expired I-551 in combination with a Notice of Action (Form I-797) and an unexpired foreign passport. For instructions on documenting the I-797 and entering an extended expiration date for the I-551 based on the I-797, see RM 10211.025C.1.d.

• Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record with an unexpired foreign passport.
  NOTE: Select "I-94 w/Unexpired Foreign Passport" from the Primary Proof of Identity Document drop-down menu. For instructions on entering in SSNAP, see RM 10211.140A.

• Admission Stamp in unexpired foreign passport
  NOTE: An admission stamp in an unexpired foreign passport and an unexpired passport are two separate documents. See Policy for Number of Documents Required for an SSN Card, RM 10210.020C.3.

• Form I-766, Employment Authorization card

• Form I-872, American Indian Card (only members of the Texas Band of Kickapoos are eligible for this card, see RM 10211.075C and RM 10210.425A.6.)

NOTE: In some cases, the alien may have a current lawful alien but may not have an unexpired foreign passport (for example, a refugee or an applicant who may have entered the U.S. without inspection or who may have an American Indian Card). In these situations, accept the lawful alien document alone.

2.  Secondary evidence

If primary evidence is not available (available means the document exists and the applicant can access or obtain it within 10 business days), request one of these documents:

• U.S. Diplomatic Passport

• U.S. Official Passport

• U.S. military identification card for active duty member, retiree, national guard, or dependent

• Certificate of Naturalization

• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship

• U.S. Indian Tribal card approved by the RO as an acceptable identity document

• U.S. government employee identification card (Form OF-55, U.S. Government Identification, or other document issued by the employing agency)

• Non-government employee identity card/badge card showing the applicant’s name and either a photograph or the applicant’s DOB

• Marriage document showing the applicant’s name, and either the applicant’s DOB or age (see RM 10210.410 and RM 10210.420)

NOTE: A marriage document is acceptable evidence of identity only when submitted in name change situations to support the application for a name change.

For more information on name change documents see RM 10212.010.

• Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital) or letter providing extract data from the medical record showing the applicant’s name and the applicant’s DOB or age (for certification by custodian see GN 00301.030A.3.)

NOTE: A receipt or a record of treatment recorded or maintained, or recorded and maintained by the applicant or the applicant's family is not acceptable.

• Health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card showing, the applicant’s name and:

  • a photograph, or

  • age or DOB

(card must be current).

For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date see RM 10210.405C.5.

A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document, if it does not have a photo or biographical data.

• School identity card or certified school record or transcript (for current school year) showing, the applicant’s name and either a photograph of the applicant or the applicant’s DOB). The two year policy does not apply for school identity cards, certified school records, or transcripts (see RM 10210.405C.5.).

• An adult applicant should be able to obtain one of these documents for the current school year, see RM 10210.410B.

• Life insurance policy for the person showing his or her age or DOB

2.  Secondary evidence

When an applicant does not possess a U.S. lawful alien document, but meets the requirements in

RM 10211.075 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully in the U.S. Without Immigration Documents),

RM 10211.600 (Requests for an SSN from an Alien without Work Authorization), or

RM 10211.500 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Undocumented Alien) for an SSN for non-work reasons,

you may accept any one of the following documents as evidence of identity:

• Unexpired valid U.S. driver’s license (excludes licenses that you know are suspended or revoked)

• U.S. State issued non-driver identity card (issued by the same State agency that issues driver’s licenses/State-level agency with issuing authority over the State’s identity cards)

• U.S. military identification card for active duty member, retiree, national guard, or dependent

• Canadian Band card (Certificate of Indian status) issued to Indian members of Canadian tribes

• Marriage document showing the applicant’s name and either the applicant’s DOB or age (see RM 10210.410 and RM 10210.420)

NOTE: A marriage document is acceptable evidence of identity only when submitted in name change situations to support the application for a name change. For more information on name change documents, see RM 10212.010.

• Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital) or letter providing extract data from the medical record showing, the applicant’s name and the applicant’s DOB or age (for certification by custodian, see GN 00301.030A.3.)

NOTE: A receipt or a record of treatment recorded or maintained, or recorded and maintained by the applicant or the applicant's family is not acceptable.

• Health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card showing, the applicant’s name and:

  • a photograph, or

  • age or DOB

(card must be current).

For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date, see RM 10210.405C.5.

A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document, if it does not have a photo or biographical data.

• School identity card or certified school record or transcript (for current school year) showing the applicant’s name and either a photograph of the applicant or the applicant’s DOB. The two year policy does not apply for school identity cards, certified school records, or transcripts (see RM 10210.405C.5.). An adult applicant should be able to obtain one of these documents for the current school year, see RM 10210.410B.

• Life insurance policy for the person showing his or her age or DOB.

3. Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5. When an applicant:

• presents a primary or secondary document not listed in the Proof of Identity drop down in the Enumeration System, or RM 10210.420C.1., or RM 10210.420C2., in this section, or

• states that a primary or secondary identity document is not available (available means the document exists and the applicant can access or obtain it within 10 business days).

NOTE: An elderly adult (age 70 or older), particularly one who is less active or in a nursing home, may not have a current identity document, but may have an expired driver's license or State non-driver’s identification card issued several years ago that would be acceptable in conjunction with other evidence readily available (for example, medical records).

3. Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5. When an applicant:

• presents a primary or secondary document not listed in the Proof of Identity drop down in the Enumeration System, or in RM 10210.420C.1., or RM 10210.420C.2. in this section, or

• states that a primary or secondary identity document is not available (current lawful alien document or identity document listed in RM 10210.420C.1., or RM 10210.420C.2., in this section).