Energy Programs

320.03 HOW DO YOU VERIFY AND DOCUMENT UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP?

A. Applicant's statement - Unless the applicant's statement is questionable, accept his statement as verification.

The applicant's statement is questionable when:

1. The claim of citizenship is inconsistent with statements made by the applicant or with other information on the application.

2. The claim of citizenship is inconsistent with information received from another source.

3. Any household member was born outside the U. S. to a parent or parents who are U. S. citizens. In this situation, the applicant must provide verification of citizenship for the person born outside the U. S. (See 320.03B)

B. If the applicant's statement is questionable, verify citizenship using:

1. Birth certificates, or

2. Hospital/doctors' records established at time of birth. This includes a hospital-issued birth certificate; or

3. Birth certificates or documents verifying the U.S. citizenship of at least one parent, and that the child is the biological child of that parent.

Example: A mother applying for benefits for herself and two children was born in Texas but the children were born in Mexico, as the mother spent time in both countries. If the mother can prove that she is a U.S. citizen and that the children are her biological children, the children are U.S. citizens.

4. Certificates of Citizenship or Naturalization issued by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS); or

5. U. S. Passport (except limited passports issued for periods of less than five years); or

6. Report of birth abroad of a U.S. citizen (FS-240) issued by the Department of State to a U.S. citizen; or

7 Verification of receipt of Work First (if Work First verified citizenship); or

8. Social Security Administration Records; or

9. Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570). The N-570 is a replacement certificate issued when the N-550 has been lost or the individual’s name has been changed; or

10. Certificate of birth (FS-545) issued by a foreign service post or Certification of Report of Birth (DS-1350) issued by the Department of State; or

11. Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561) issued by the BCIS to individuals who derive citizenship through a parent. The N-561 is a replacement certificate issued when the N-560 has been lost or the individual’s name changed; or

12. United States Citizen Identification Card (I-197) issued by the BCIS until April 7, 1983, to U.S. citizens living near the Canadian or Mexican border who needed it for frequent border crossings. The I-179 was issued prior to the I-197 until February 1974; or

13. Northern Mariana Identification Card issued by the BCIS to a naturalized citizen of the U.S. born in the Northern Mariana Islands before November 3, 1986; or

14. Statement provided by a U.S. consular officer certifying that the individual is a U.S. citizen who does not have a FS-240, FS-545, or DS-1350; or

15. American Indian Card with a classification code of “KIC” and a statement on the back identifying U.S. citizen members of the Texas Band of Kickapoos living near the U.S./Mexican border; or

16. Two of the following:

a. School records,

b. Bible records,

c. Hospital, physician, or health department records,

d. Court records,

e. United States census,

f. Witnessed statement from an individual who has specific knowledge about the birth of the person whose citizenship is in question. The statement must include:

(1) Name of the persons whose citizenship is in question,

(2) Date of birth,

(3) Place of birth,

(4) Relationship, if any, to the person whose citizenship is in question,

(5) Basis of the individual's knowledge.

C. If the applicant cannot provide verification of citizenship, request documentation to verify his alien status. If no documentation is available, refer the applicant to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) at:

Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services

6130 Tyvola Centre Drive

Charlotte, North Carolina 28217

Telephone: 800-375-5283

D. If you use the applicant's statement as verification that a household member is an U. S. citizen, no further documentation is needed. Document on the DSS-8114 that all household members are U. S. citizens. If other verification is used, document the verification on the DSS-8116-1. Indicate the source and method of verification.

E. If a household contains U. S. citizens and aliens, document on the DSS-8116-1 alien verification. Indicate the source and method of verification.