The Accuracy for Adoptees Act (Public Law No 113-74) requires that federal agencies
accept certain U.S. State-issued documents that establish or amend a foreign-born
child's date of birth or name change, as evidence of the legal name and date of birth
for foreign-born adoptees, adopted by a U.S. citizen. States include the 50 U.S. states,
as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana
Islands, and American Samoa.
Some States allow individuals, including foreign-born adopted children, to apply to
a court to legally change their name or establish a date of birth different from the
information reflected on the birth certificate. This includes adoptions and re-adoptions
granting a legal name change or different date of birth. When a State court grants
a request, a name or date of birth change may be indicated on a State court order
or other type of birth or vital record subsequently issued by the child's State of
residence.
This policy applies to Social Security Number (SSN) applications for foreign-born
children who:
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Present a State-issued birth record, State-issued court document, or other State-issued
evidence, listed in RM 10210.297.B in this section, containing a different name or date of birth than what is shown
on the original adoption documentation or foreign birth certificate; and,
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•
Acquired U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status through adoption by
a U.S. citizen parent evidenced by a Certificate of Citizenship (N-560/N561) or a
Machine-Readable Immigration Visa (MRIV) or Permanent Resident Card (I-551) showing
a category of IH2, IR2, IH3, IR3, IH4 orIR4.
If the SSN application for the foreign-born adopted child does not meet the above criteria, these instructions do not apply. Instead, follow existing policy and evidence requirements to process the SSN
application, as listed in RM 10210.010 or RM 10210.015, for non-applicable cases.