After moving to the United States, one of the important practical questions is obtaining documents that prove who you are and that you have the right to be in the country. Depending on a person's status and the state they live in, different documents can serve: a passport, immigration documents, a driving licence or a special state identity card.
It is important to understand that the United States has no single national internal identity document of the kind used in many other countries. Most everyday matters are handled with documents issued by an individual state.
Which documents prove identity in the United States
A range of documents can be used in the United States to prove identity. Which one you need depends on the situation: one document may be needed to fly, another to open a bank account, and a third to prove who you are at a government office.
The most common options are:
- a passport;
- a driving licence;
- a State ID;
- a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card);
- an Employment Authorization Document (EAD);
- other documents provided for by the particular procedure.
So before applying for a document it is important to work out what you need it for.
What a State ID is
A State ID is an identity card issued by a state. It is meant for people who need official identification but who do not drive, or do not want to use a driving licence as their main document.
A State ID can be used for:
- proving identity;
- travelling within the country;
- visiting government offices;
- opening certain accounts and services;
- proving your age;
- other everyday situations.
Each state sets its own rules for obtaining a State ID.
How a State ID differs from a driving licence
A driving licence does two things at once: it proves identity and it gives the right to drive a car. A State ID proves identity but gives no right to drive.
If you plan to drive in the United States you will need a driving licence from the state in question. If you do not plan to drive, a State ID can be a convenient form of identification.
REAL ID and an ordinary card
REAL ID is a federal security standard for identity cards and driving licences, implemented through the agencies of the individual states. Documents that meet the REAL ID standard carry a special mark.
Such a document can be used for certain federal purposes, including boarding domestic flights within the United States under the requirements in force. If you plan to fly often within the United States, it is worth establishing in advance what the document has to meet and whether you can obtain a REAL ID in your state.
Who can get a state identity card
The requirements depend on the state. To obtain the document you normally have to prove your identity, your date of birth and your address. Immigrants may also have to prove their lawful status in the United States.
Depending on the situation, you may need:
- a passport;
- a visa;
- a Green Card;
- an EAD;
- documents showing your status;
- a Social Security Number;
- proof of address;
- other documents.
Before going to the relevant agency it is best to check the current list of requirements for your own state.
Proving your address
One important step in obtaining a State ID is proving your address. The government agency has to be satisfied that the applicant really lives in that state.
Various documents can serve as proof, for example:
- a tenancy agreement;
- utility bills;
- bank documents;
- insurance documents;
- official correspondence;
- other documents carrying your name and address.
How many documents, and of which kinds, is set by the state.
Do you need a Social Security Number
Government offices often use the SSN to identify a person, but the requirements depend on the state and on the type of document. If you already have a Social Security Number, take the relevant documents with you when you apply.
If you do not have an SSN, check in advance whether your state allows a State ID to be issued without one and which alternative documents are accepted.
How the process works
The procedure usually begins by applying to the relevant state government agency.
In most cases you have to:
- Prepare the necessary documents.
- Fill in the application.
- Provide the documents for checking.
- Pay the government fee, if there is one.
- Have a photograph taken.
- Go through further checks if required.
- Receive the card by post or by another method provided for.
In some states you can begin the process online and complete it in person.
How much it costs
The cost depends on the state and the type of document. In some cases there are concessions or exemptions from the fee for certain categories of people. So before your visit it is worth checking the current cost on the official website of the relevant government body.
Do not go by what friends who obtained the document several years ago tell you: government fees and requirements can change.
How long it takes
How long it takes depends on the state, on how the application is made and on whether the documents need further checking. A temporary document or confirmation that the application has been made can in some cases be provided at once, with the plastic card sent later. If you need the document for work, for renting somewhere to live or for a journey, it is better to start early.
What to do if you change address
After moving to a new address it is important to update the information on your government documents promptly. The requirements for notifying a change of address differ from state to state and from document to document.
If you move within the same state, only an address update may be needed. If you move to another state, you normally have to obtain a new document in the new state.
What to do if the card is lost
If a State ID or a driving licence has been lost or stolen, report it to the relevant agency as quickly as you can. Keep a close eye on your bank accounts and other services as well, in case other personal details were lost along with the document.
To replace the document you normally have to prove your identity and pay the relevant fee, if there is one.
Identification for immigrants
For immigrants it is important to distinguish between a document that proves identity and a document that proves immigration status. A State ID, for example, proves who you are and can be used in everyday life, but it is not in itself the document that establishes your immigration status. A Green Card, an EAD and other immigration documents serve their own separate purposes. It is therefore advisable to keep all the documents separately and to have good electronic copies.
Why it is worth obtaining the document early
After a move a great many matters come up unexpectedly: renting somewhere to live, banking services, insurance, journeys, registering a car or visiting government offices.
Having a convenient form of identification lets you get through such procedures faster, without producing your passport every time you have to prove who you are. For many immigrants, obtaining a State ID becomes one of the first steps once they have a permanent address and the main immigration procedures are complete.
In the United States identity documents are issued mainly at state level. There is no universal internal passport for everyone in the country, so everyday life relies on State IDs, driving licences, passports and other documents.
Before applying it is important to check your own state's requirements, prepare the documents proving your identity and address, and find out in advance what it costs and how long it takes.
If you plan to fly within the country, pay separate attention to the REAL ID requirements and make sure in advance that your document meets the standard needed.
End of the article.
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