YSK: How to document that you are a US citizen

https://www.usa.gov/prove-us-citizenship

The most common way to show that you are a US citizen is to show a passport. However, only about 50% of US citizens have a passport.

An alternative to a passport is a Certificate of Citizenship.

Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization show proof that someone is a U.S. citizen. The website https://www.usa.gov/prove-us-citizenship shows how you can get or replace these documents.

Prove your citizenship: born in the U.S. with no birth certificate. If you were born in the U.S. and have no birth certificate, learn how to get documentation to prove you are a U.S. citizen.

Prove your citizenship: born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen parent. Prove your U.S. citizenship without a birth certificate if you were born outside the U.S. to a U.S. citizen.

    • coolwhip9000@piefed.worldOPEnglish
      8·
      1 day ago

      No, the closest thing to an ID card in the US is either a drivers license (which does not prove citizenship, any legal resident can get one) or a Passport (which does require citizenship by review of birth certificate).

      Any US citizen who does not have a Passport (or Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization) has no document proving their citizenship. A very high number of US citizens have no documentation to show their status as citizens.

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
      3·
      22 hours ago

      As others say, ID has always been issued by states and is usually a drivers license, but also

      • until recently there was not standard security, so IDs that are not “Real ID” compliant have different standards
      • some states explicitly do not ask about immigration status. It’s better to have all drivers licensed and insured than for immigrants to drive unlicensed and uninsured
      • troglodyte_mignon@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        2 hours ago

        some states explicitly do not ask about immigration status. It’s better to have all drivers licensed and insured than for immigrants to drive unlicensed and uninsured

        Interesting, that makes sense. I don’t think it’s possible in my country (France) for foreigners to take their driving test without a valid residence permit.