TN 14 (11-12)

A. How to assess specific kinds of identity documents

Use this subsection to assist in assessing specific documents:

1. U.S. State issued driver’s license

U.S. State issued driver’s licenses are acceptable as evidence of identity for up to 10 years from the date of issue, as long as they are valid and unexpired. You must be able to determine the individual’s identity by the photo. If a U.S. driver’s license that qualifies as acceptable evidence of identity has an expiration date more than 10 years from the date of issue, enter an expiration date equivalent to 10 years from the date of issue as the expiration date. Be sure to document “Remarks” on the Social Security Number Application Process (SSNAP) Summary screen with the actual expiration date shown on the card. Follow the procedure for U.S. State issued driver’s licenses submitted as evidence of identity in RM 10210.210. If an applicant residing outside the U.S. submits a foreign driver's license, use the Docutector Internet site to view exhibits of foreign driver's licenses (listed under “International Documents”).

NOTE: When the SSA employee is completely familiar with all of the features of a driver’s license issued by the State, he or she may not need to compare the submitted document with the exhibit in the field office (FO) copy of the current ID Checking Guide or the Docutector Internet site .

EXCEPTION: Evaluate Temporary and Interim State issued driver’s licenses or State issued identification cards, if accepted by your regional office (RO) as third-level identity documents. See the National Identity Document Database (NIDD) for acceptable RO third level identity documents. These documents are not primary evidence of identity documents. You must ask applicants presenting these documents to provide a document of higher probative value from the list in RM 10210.420C.

a. Driver’s license appears to be authentic

If the driver’s license appears authentic based on the visual examination, continue processing the SSN in the Enumeration System.

b. Driver’s license does not appear to be authentic

If the driver’s license does not look authentic (it looks questionable or altered) based on examination, follow RM 10210.210 and verify it with the issuing agency. Key the SSN application information into the Enumeration System. If the driver’s license verifies, process the application. If the issuing State does not verify the driver’s license, do not process the SSN application.

2. U.S. passports/passport card

a. U.S. tourist passport/passport card

For enumeration purposes, the blue covered U.S. Tourist Passport/Passport Card is a primary proof of identity document for a U.S. citizen. A U.S. Tourist Passport/Passport Card is acceptable as evidence of identity for up to 10 years from the date of issue, as long as we can verify the individual’s identity by the photo.

NOTE: When the applicant submits a U.S. Passport card, select “U.S. Passport” in the Enumeration System and document as you would a U.S. Passport Booklet.

b. U.S. official and diplomatic passports

The following U.S. passports are acceptable secondary proof of identity documents as long as they are not expired and you can verify the applicant’s identity by the photo on the passport:

• U.S. Official Passport identified by the writing on its maroon cover, and

• U.S. Diplomatic Passport identified by the writing on its black cover.

The validity of the U.S. Official and Diplomatic Passports may vary.

NOTE: When examining U.S. Passports/Passport Card as evidence of identity, follow RM 10210.210. Other than the color of the U.S. passport cover, the features of the Tourist, Official, and Diplomatic passports are the same. You can view the features in the Administrative Confidential Memorandum (ACM) and Docutector.

c. U.S. emergency and U.S. limited passports

For enumeration purposes, U.S. emergency and U.S. limited passports are not acceptable proof of identity documents.

3. Foreign passport

SSA has no means to verify a foreign passport. However, in most situations where an applicant submits a foreign passport as evidence of identity, the applicant will also submit a U.S. immigration document. Presume the foreign passport is authentic and continue processing the SSN application if DHS verifies the U.S. immigration document submitted. For more information on verifying U.S. immigration documents, see RM 10210.560, RM 10210.100, RM 10214.110, and RM 10214.170. Also, for information regarding the acceptability of certain foreign documents, see GN 00307.000.

NOTE: The U.S. immigration stamp placed in the foreign passport and/or a U.S. immigration document attached to a foreign passport are separate documents. For example, an I-551 stamp or a U.S. immigration stamp in the applicant’s foreign passport, and the foreign passport, are two separate documents. Likewise, a Form I-94 stapled in a foreign passport, and the foreign passport are two separate documents; as are a machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) issued by the U.S. Department of State placed in the foreign passport.

If the foreign passport cannot be presumed to be authentic (generally, because the person did not submit an immigration document), tell the person he or she must submit another document listed in RM 10210.420 as evidence of identity and follow instructions for reviewing DHS Lawful Alien Documents in RM 10210.560.

4. U.S. immigration document (I-94, I-551, temporary I-551 stamp, or I-766)

When a U.S. immigration document is submitted as evidence of identity (the document is an I-94, I-551, temporary I-551 stamp, MRIV, or I-766), follow the reviewing procedures in RM 10210.565.

a. U.S. immigration document is authentic

If DHS verifies the document, continue processing the SSN application.

b. U.S. immigration document not verified by DHS

If DHS does not verify the document, do not process the application for an SSN; follow the reviewing procedures in RM 10210.560.

5. Certificate of naturalization (N-550 or N-570) or certificate of citizenship (N-560 or N-561)

For a Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship submitted as evidence of identity, see Reviewing Evidence for an SSN card in RM 10210.205.

6. U.S. immigration document (American Indian card, Form I-872)

Visually review the I-872 (American Indian card) following RM 10210.210, and compare the card with the exhibit of an authentic card in the ACM . If the card does not appear authentic, verify per RM 10213.040. A classification of “KIC” and a statement on the back of the card denotes the person is a U.S. citizen (see RM 10210.505). A classification code of “KIP” denotes the person has Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence (LAPR) status (see RM 10211.075C).

NOTE: This card is ONLY issued to members of the Texas Band of Kickapoos.

7. Matricula Consular

Mexican consulates issue Matricula Consular documents to Mexican citizens residing outside of Mexico. The Mexican government issues these identification documents for Mexican citizens to use to enter Mexico and for Mexican immigration authorities to establish the person’s identity. SSA offices may accept the Matricula Consular as a third level identity document only when the person does not have any other identity document of higher probative value listed in RM 10210.420. The Matricula Consular must be current (not expired) to be accepted as evidence of identity.

To obtain a Matricula Consular, the person must submit proof of:

• Mexican citizenship, and

• residence in a locale outside Mexico.

To establish that he or she was a Mexican citizen, the person must submit one of the following:

• certified copy of his or her Mexican birth certificate and an identification document with a photograph,

• Mexican voter registration identification card,

• Mexican passport,

• National Military Service Carnet,

• Mexican Nationality Certificate, or

• Mexican certificate of naturalization.

To establish that he or she was residing outside Mexico, the applicant submitted:

• a State identity card issued by a U.S. State government, or

• a U.S. driver’s license, or

• other evidence, such as a rent receipt.

Since he or she submitted one of these documents to get the Matricula Consular, ask the applicant to submit it.

8. U.S. military identification card

Compare a U.S. military identification card submitted as evidence of identity (e.g. military I.D. card issued to active duty member, retiree, national guards, or dependents) with the exhibit of an authentic military ID card in the ACM.

a. U.S. military identification card appears to be authentic

If the U.S. military identification card appears authentic based on visual examination and comparison with the ACM, continue processing the SSN application.

b. U.S. military identification card does not appear to be authentic

If the U.S. military identification card does not appear authentic (it appears questionable or altered) based on the examination and comparison with the exhibit in the ACM, follow RM 10210.200 and verify it with the issuing agency. For instructions to key the SSN application into the Enumeration System, see RM 10205.300. Code the application as “Suspect” on the Proof of Identity Screen.

If the issuing agency does not verify the document, do not process the SSN application. Follow the procedure in RM 10210.210.

9. U.S. State issued non-driver identification card

U.S. State issued non-driver identification cards are acceptable as evidence of identity for up to 10 years from the date of issue, as long as they are valid and unexpired. You must be able to determine the individual’s identity by the photo on the card. If an applicant submits a U.S. State issued non-driver identification card (issued by a State motor vehicle department/State-level agency with authority over the State’s identity card) as evidence of identity, follow the procedures in RM 10210.210.

NOTE: When the SSA employee is completely familiar with all of the features of an identity card issued by the State, he or she may not need to compare the submitted document with the exhibit on the Docutector Internet site.

EXCEPTION: Evaluate Temporary and Interim State issued driver’s licenses or State issued identification cards, if accepted by your RO as third level identity documents. See the National Identity Document Database(NIDD) for acceptable RO third level identity documents. These documents are not primary evidence of identity documents. You must ask applicants presenting these documents to provide a document of higher probative value from the list in RM 10210.420C.

10. Canadian proof of identity documents

Foreign proof of identity (POI) documents submitted by Social Security Number (SSN) applicants outside of the United States are usually evaluated by Foreign Service Posts (FSP) or Federal Benefits Units (FBU) because of the FSP’s and FBU’s knowledge of the recordkeeping systems and practices in the countries where they are located. Since Canada is in the unique situation of not having a FSP or FBU, the Social Security Administration (SSA) allows SSN applicants from Canada to submit certain documents as POI. Interviewers should only accept the following Canadian documents from Canadian applicants:

• Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) POI documents approved by SSA, or

• Canadian POI documents approved by the Foreign Evidence Workgroup (FEW).

See the NIDD website (NIDD) or SSNAP http://co.ba.ssa.gov/emis/emisusers/mgmnt/dprv/ssnap_user_guide/webhelp_published_508/SSNAP_User_Guide.htm for approved WHTI or FEW documents.

11. Other document submitted as evidence of identity

To assess a document submitted as evidence of identity not specifically listed in this section, and to determine if verification from the issuing agency of the document is necessary, follow RM 10210.210.

Ask the applicant to submit evidence of identity issued in the U.S. if they are applying at an SSA FO in the U.S. using a foreign document that:

• does not agree with the information in the Enumeration System or the prior Numident, or

• appears questionable or altered.

Deny the request for an SSN card if the applicant does not have other acceptable evidence of identity.

NOTE: Generally, domestic FOs should only use the domestic documents in the Enumeration system for applicants filing for an SSN in the U.S. For additional documents available to proper applicants, see RM 10210.420D, unless the exception in RM 10210.405C.6.a. applies.

Deny the request for an SSN card if the applicant:

• is outside the U.S. applying for an SSN card and the foreign document does not agree with the information given in the Enumeration System or the prior Numident, or

• has a foreign document that appears questionable or altered, and

• does not have other acceptable evidence of identity.

B. References

• RM 10205.300, for information on entering applications into the Enumeration System for suspect and fraudulent document situations

• RM 10210.200, General Information on Reviewing and Verifying Evidence for an SSN Card

• RM 10210.210, Reviewing Age, Identity, Citizenship and Lawful Alien Status Evidence for an SSN Card

• RM 10213.005, for information on Examining U.S. Passports

• RM 10210.560, RM 10210.565, RM 10214.100, RM 10214.110, and RM 10214.170, for information on reviewing U.S. immigration documents

• RM 10214.170, for information about suspect immigration documents

• RM 10215.200, General Information about Special Indicators

• GN 04124.005, for a listing of Regional Office of Investigations addresses