TN 1 (11-09)

RM 10210.205 Policy for Reviewing and Verifying Evidence for an SSN

SSA is strongly committed to strengthening and improving the integrity of the enumeration process. SSA maintains procedures on how to visually review evidence and you must perform that visual review for all acceptable evidence before processing an SSN application that assigns a SSN, issues an original or replacement SSN card, or updates an enumeration record. In addition, you must verify the evidence with the issuing agency as defined in SSA regulations or upon review when the FO finds the evidence suspect.

1. 1. 

   Reviewing evidence

   We review all evidence submitted with an SSN application to ensure it meets SSA standards and appears genuine; and we set policy for reviewing lawful alien documents issued by certain U.S. territories and countries that are not under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jurisdiction and would therefore not have DHS immigration documents.

   For reviewing SSN evidence, see RM 10210.210.

2. 2. 

   Verifying evidence

   For evidence submitted with an SSN application:

   1. a. 

      Verify DHS documents

      When an applicant submits an acceptable DHS document, after review, we confirm the authenticity of the information on the evidence with DHS. For confirming authenticity and verifying DHS documents, see RM 10214.100.

   2. b. 

      Verify American Samoa documents

      We confirm, through an examination of signatures, American Samoa-issued documents submitted by aliens residing in American Samoa. For verifying American Samoa documents, see RM 10210.610.

   3. c. 

      Verifying certain evidence issued by other agencies, U.S. territories, non-U.S. territories, and countries

      We confirm the authenticity of evidence issued by certain other Federal and State agencies and certain non-U.S. territories and countries when

      • •

        Based upon a history of reported fraudulent documents, we set policy requiring verification; or

      • •

        The FO determines there is a reason to suspect that a document is questionable, fraudulent, or altered.

      EXCEPTION: When an alien is lawfully in the U.S. without immigration documentation, see RM 10211.075.