Effective Dates: 12/28/2023 - Present Previous | Next

TN 47 (12-23)

RM 10210.020 Policy for Number of Documents Required for an SSN Card

A. General requirements for number of documents for an SSN Card

The number of required documents depends on:

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    the type of SSN (i.e., original or new, replacement);

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    the factors being established; and

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    the probative value of the documents submitted.

The reviewer is responsible for determining that the applicant is who they claim to be.

NOTE: Even if the applicant submits the required number of acceptable documents, request additional evidence if there is a question about the validity of the evidence or the identity of the applicant.

B. Original and new SSN

At least two acceptable documents are required to establish:

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    age,

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    identity, and

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    US citizenship/lawful alien status.

NOTE: The U.S. immigration stamp placed in the foreign passport and a US immigration document attached to a foreign passport are both considered separate documents. For additional information, see RM 10210.020C.3. in this section.

EXCEPTION: Refugees, parolees, asylees, and victims of a severe form of trafficking (VSFT) may submit only one document as evidence of age, identity, and lawful alien status. For additional information, see RM 10210.020D, in this section.

C. Original and new SSN examples

1. General

If one document is used to establish age and U.S. citizenship, at least one other document is required to establish identity.

2. Alien applicant

If an alien applicant submits an immigration document (e.g., a document issued by the Department of Homeland Security), you can use it to establish identity and lawful alien status; then, the alien must provide another acceptable document, such as a foreign passport or birth certificate, to establish age.

3. Immigration stamp in passport

An I-551 stamp (Temporary Lawful Permanent Resident stamp) or a U.S. immigration stamp in the applicant’s foreign passport and the foreign passport are two separate documents.

Likewise, an Arrival Departure Record (Form I-94) stapled in a foreign passport and the foreign passport are two separate documents.

A machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV) issued by the U.S. Department of State and placed in the foreign passport and the foreign passport are two separate documents.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) admission stamp placed partially on the MRIV is a third document.

While you can use the immigration and admission stamp to establish identity and lawful alien status, you can use the foreign passport to establish age.

D. Original or new SSN for a refugee, parolee, asylee, or VSFT

If the refugee, parolee, asylee, or VSFT submits two acceptable documents for evidence of age, identity and work-authorized immigration status at the time of the SSN application, enter the two documents into the Enumeration system.

In the rare case a refugee, parolee, asylee, or victim of a severe form of trafficking (VSFT) has no documents other than their immigration document, accept the alien's immigration document alone as evidence of age, identity, and lawful alien status.

See details:

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    RM 10211.185, Evidence for an SSN Card for a Refugee

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    RM 10211.190, Evidence for an SSN Card for a Parolee

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    RM 10211.205, Evidence for an SSN Card for an Asylee

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    RM 10211.075H, Evidence for an SSN Card for a Victim of Severe Form of Trafficking (VSFT)

E. Replacement SSN cards

At least one document is required.

F. Reference

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    RM 10210.010, Evidence Policy for an Original or New SSN

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    RM 10210.015, Evidence Policy for a Replacement SSN Card

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    RM 10210.250, Overview of Evidence of Age for an SSN Card

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    RM 10210.405, Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card

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    RM 10210.500, Evidence of US Citizenship for an SSN Card

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    RM 10211.001, Who Must Submit Evidence of Lawful Alien Status for an SSN Card

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110210020
RM 10210.020 - Policy for Number of Documents Required for an SSN Card - 12/28/2023
Batch run: 09/26/2024
Rev:12/28/2023