citizenship ID -- no politics, please

Parent Cafe
81

Many states that are compliant with REAL ID requirements issue their DL/state ID’s with a red star on them. This means they are REAL ID compliant and that the state has checked the required documents. Like with I-9 verifications, this may mean showing a passport or a birth certificate w/other documents, a SS card, etc. When we moved to Florida, we ordered new passports as it made it much easier to get a state driver’s license with a star on it. They would not take my verified, double hologrammed, super shiny California license, I had to have a valid passport or an original birth certificate, SS card, etc. California had just asked me for all those documents, but Florida ran their own investigation.

The star is NOt proof of citizenship, as only the state department (passport) or USCIS (certificate of citizenship/naturalization) can determined citizenship, but that star will work for local law enforcement purposes, works for entering a federal building, for TSA purposes, and for an employer. After I had to jump through many hoops in California and wait 13 weeks for them to issue me new super shiny CA license, the state decided to issue driver’s licenses to undocumented persons. I haven’t seen one, but my understanding is there is a bar that states 'Not proof of citizenship and that is can only be used for driving in California, not for TSA purposes, not for employment or something for which a determination of citizenship is needed.

My daughter is non-white,not a citizen by birth (but has a star on her license) and has never been questioned. She’s actually been through at least 2 ‘check point’ stops in San Diego and LA. They asked if she was a citizen, she said yes, and that was all. No other questions. She has traveled internationally on her passport and again, no issues.

I would NEVER answer any questions from people on buses or at church or at the mall about my/her citizenship, and never show them anything like a passport or license. None of their business. I don’t provide SSN to the dentist or schools or pretty much anyone else. SSN are for working, borrowing money, taxes. They are NOT a form of ID and the SSA cannot determine citizenship. I you need to change your status of ‘non-citizen’ with the SSA, YOU need to provide some proof of citizenship from either the state department (passport), the USCIS (certificate of citizenship) or a certificate of birth issued by a state that the person was born in the US (or an embassy document that proves citizenship through a parent).

I did some work for a company recently and there were about 25 of us who started together. I was shocked at how many provided a passport rather than a license and SS card (I did). Just easier to show the passport. My kids do that when starting jobs, when traveling, to cash checks, etc. Just easier for both the one born in the US and the one who only became a citizen through adoption. I always registered my daughter for camps, schools, sports with her passport as her birth certificate does say “Not proof of citizenship” on it and I thought dealing with the questions wasn’t worth the time. Passport. One document.

82

Social Security numbers or cards are not evidence of US citizenship.

Most US citizens do not routinely carry passports (other than when doing international travel or starting employment), since they are less convenient and more easily damaged than typical cards. The more recently introduced passport cards are more convenient to carry, though most US citizens probably still do not routinely carry them. Indeed, most US citizens do not even have passports (book or card).

Birth certificates are even less convenient to carry around, and the different ways birth certificates can look mean that people may still distrust that a birth certificate is real.

As a practical matter, most US citizens going about their business within the US having nothing with them that proves that they are US citizens.

83

If you are a resident of Ontario, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Washington or Vermont you can get an enhanced driver’s license, which is a combination of a DL and a passport card. Those are the states with the busiest border crossings. They also issue enhanced state ID’s. They are super convenient and we stopped getting passport cards when they became available. They are accepted as proof of citizenship and ID for land and water border crossings, but not for air. Very nice when we pop into Canada to visit friends or for a Costco run.

Another option is to get a Nexus card. That is available to any US or Canadian citizen for $50, free if under 18. The only catch is that you have to have an interview at a border entry point , and there are only a few.

84

I don’t think the border control or homeland security people expect you to prove American citizenship. They just want to know that you’re in the country legally. I’ve been stopped at those inland border control stations, and my impression is if you don’t speak with an accent, you’re good to go. I’ve never had to show them ID. I also went through one in Arizona once with a Chinese national who didn’t have her passport. Her student id with a photo on it worked, but she was admonished by the agent to carry her passport around at all times. (He was pretty nice about it.)

Seems like the easiest and cheapest thing to do is get the state id card for people who aren’t drivers.

BTW - I remember when I got my SS card, it came with a strongly-worded notice not to carry it around. I keep it hidden away in a fireproof box with my passport and other important papers.

85

@ucbalumnus -it was sort of a rhetorical question in agreement with your original statement that most of us don’t carry proof of citizenship.

@simba9 -Good to know they don’t really expect you to. And I recall the same warning not to carry a SSN card.

86

Everyone over the age of 18 (probably 16) should get a state issued photo ID. Either a DL or non-DL ID. There are so many times that it is needed outside of government purposes. They are cheap and fairly easy to get (especially if you don’t have to get a DL). For those already possessing a passport or who prefer a ‘stronger’ form of ID, I recommend the passport card as well. If you live in a state that issues state ID to undocumented people, I would definitely go the passport route. That ID may work in a few states, but will not be universally accepted.

87

I think everyone should get a state ID card (just to have…voting etc) and if travel or proof of citizenship is a possibility then also a passport or some other form of renewable ID that proves citizenship. It just seems to be easier to do when the parents are around to help locate the necessary documents and if kept current, you never have to search for the backup docs again.

Side note on Selective Services: My son misplaced his card and FYI they only issue ONE card so what you receive as a replacement is a letter that says you were previously issued a card.

88

@kajon - When did he get that letter? I misplaced my card a couple of years ago and went to SS and they sent me a new card, not a letter.

89

My state doesn’t make it easy to get an enhanced ID. There is only an oblique reference to it when you renew your license and only eight offices in the state where you can present your documents. We are a large state and it is inconvenient for most folks.

90

@MichiganGeorgia, kajon was talking about only one selective service card, not only one social security card.

My daughter is getting dangerously close to the limit for social security card replacements. Fortunately when she moved a year ago she found THREE while packing. IQ over 150 and photographic memory except when it comes to keeping track of SS cards.

91

Just in the last couple of days I was asked for ID when using a credit card, and when checking in to a hotel. So it’s a good idea to have some kind of ID.

92

At such inland border control stations (as opposed to actual border crossings or other points of entry where people should have documentation like passports to show), what would prevent:

a. An unauthorized immigrant claiming that s/he is a US citizen? Documentation wise, there is no way to distinguish between an unauthorized immigrant and a US citizen when both may be carrying no documentation regarding citizenship or legal status in the US.

b. A border patrol officer refusing to believe that a US citizen not carrying any documentation regarding citizenship is actually a US citizen?

93

Medical providers often ask for photo ID too, to cut back on medical fraud. They aren’t checked ng whether or not the patient is a citizen.

94

" I’ve been stopped at those inland border control stations, and my impression is if you don’t speak with an accent, you’re good to go."

Check out the videos in the link in #70. They weren’t easily willing to let people go without an accent.

95

@Kajon

Well…I received neither a card or a letter saying they’ve sent one. Got no mail from them, but each time i called Selective Service and updated my mailing address, they did confirm I was registered according to their records and they’ll send me the requested card.

Still waiting for the card

96

I’m pretty sure by SS people mean Social Security, not Selective Services.

97

My parents don’t drive or travel any more so they have ID card issued by the DMV and passport card issued by DOJ.

98

"At such inland border control stations (as opposed to actual border crossings or other points of entry where people should have documentation like passports to show), what would prevent:

a. An unauthorized immigrant claiming that s/he is a US citizen? Documentation wise, there is no way to distinguish between an unauthorized immigrant and a US citizen when both may be carrying no documentation regarding citizenship or legal status in the US."

Lying about citizenship has big consequences: deportation, denial of US citizenship forever,…
I guess people dare not lie.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-falsely-claiming-us-citizen-can-deportable.html

99

However, neither SS proves citizenship.

100

True. Never quite understood that decision by the bureaucrats. They could easily have made SSNs be different for citizens versus non-citizens.