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In the United States, a Social Security Card has 9-digit number called a Social Security Number (SSN) and is issued to citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents under section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act, codified as 42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2).

Its primary purpose is to track individuals for taxation purposes. In recent years the SSN has become a de facto national identification number. A social security number may be obtained by applying with Form SS–5, “Application for A Social Security Number Card”.

The original purpose of the social security number was to track an individuals’ account within the Social Security program. It has become to be used as a unique identifier for employee, patient, student and credit records that are sometimes indexed by Social Security number. The U.S. military also uses the SSN as an identification number.

There is no law requiring a U.S. citizen to apply for a Social Security number to live or work in the United States; however, it is required for parents to claim their children as tax dependents. Although some people do not have an SSN assigned to them, it is becoming ever increasingly difficult to engage in legitimate financial activities without one.

Types of Social Security Cards

There are three different types of Social Security cards. The most common one contains the cardholder’s name and number. These cards are issued to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents. The other two Social Security cards are a restricted Social Security card:

• One reads “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT.” Such cards cannot be used as proof of work authorization, and are not acceptable as a List C document on the I-9 form.

• The other reads “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.” These cards are issued to people who have temporary work authorization in the U.S. They can satisfy the I-9 requirement, if they are accompanied by a work authorization card.

What is the significance of the numbers on a social security card?

The number is divided into three parts: the area, group and serial numbers. The Area Number, the first three digits, is assigned by the geographical region and are determined by the ZIP Code of the mailing address shown on the application for a social security number.

THIS DATA IS STRICTLY FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES

NOTE: The same area, when shown more than once, means that certain numbers have been transferred from one State to another, or that an area has been divided for use among certain geographic locations.

Any number beginning with 000 will NEVER be a valid SSN. The information in the social Security Database about an individual is confidential by law and cannot be disclosed except in certain very restricted cases permitted by regulations.

• 700-728 Issuances of these numbers to railroad employees was discontinued July 1, 1963.

Within each area, the group number (middle two (2) digits) range from 01 to 99 but are not assigned in consecutive order. For administrative reasons, group numbers issued first consist of the ODD numbers from 01 through 09 and then EVEN numbers from 10 through 98, within each area number allocated to a State. After all numbers in group 98 of a particular area have been issued, the EVEN Groups 02 through 08 are used, followed by ODD Groups 11 through 99.

This chart below shows how Group numbers are assigned:

Within each group, the serial numbers (last four (4) digits) run consecutively from 0001 through 9999.

Since 1973, social security numbers have been issued by the central office. The first three (3) digits of a person’s social security number are determined by the ZIP Code of the mailing address shown on the application for a social security number. Prior to 1973, social security numbers were assigned by our field offices. The number merely established that his/her card was issued by one of our offices in that State.

For more ways to verify Social Security documents, consider subscribing to Allegiant Solutions.

One of the biggest problem employers face when filling out the Form I9, also known as the Employment Eligibility Verification Form, is that it is not as simple as it appears. Employers who do not know what they are doing when filling out this form are setting themselves up for lawsuits by employees and/or government audits.

One of the most important aspects of the Form I9 for employers to understand is that they cannot specify which type of identification document(s) an employee must present at the time of a hire. Specifying the identification document presented has been called document discrimination; companies have been sued and lost millions due to this snare in the regulation. There are a countless variety of identification documents that no one employer can accurately verify is authentic. This means that an employer must become a document expert on all forms of identity documents listed in the M-274, and they are not few in number.

There are three lists of documents in the M-274 from which a newly hired employee may choose to present to his/her employer.

List A

List A contains documents that on their own satisfy both the requirement of identity and employment eligibility. They are as follows:

•United States Passport
•Certificate of United States Citizenship (INS Form N560 or N570)
•Certificate of Naturalization (INS Form N550 or N-570)
•Unexpired foreign passport which:

Contains an unexpired stamp, which reads “processed for I-551, Temporary Evidence of Lawful Admission for permanent residence. Valid until ______, Employment authorized;” or

Has attached to it a Form I-94 bearing the same name as the passport and containing an employment authorization stamp, so long as the period of endorsement has not yet expired, and the proposed employment is not in conflict with any restrictions or limitations identified on the Form I-94.

•Alien Registration Receipt Card (INS Form I-151 or I-551) provided that it contains a photograph of the bearer.
•Unexpired Temporary Resident Card (INS Form I-688)
•Unexpired Employment Authorization Card (INS Form I-688A)
•Unexpired reentry permit (INS Form I-327)
•Unexpired Refugee Travel document (INS Form I-571)
•Unexpired Employment Authorization Document issued by the INS which contains a photograph (INS Form I-688B) (you need to insert a footnote or reference to say that you got this information from the handbook)

Lists B and C on the other hand, lists documents that must be presented in conjunction with one another. List B establishes identity only and list C establishes employment eligibility only.

List B

For individuals 18 years of age or older:

•Driver’s license or ID card issued by a state or outlying possession of the United States provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, sex, height, eye color, and address.
•ID card issued by federal, state, or local government agencies or entities provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, sex, height, eye color, and address (including U.S. Citizen ID card{INS Form I-197} and ID Card for use of Resident Citizen in the U.S. {INS Form I-179})
•School identification card with a photograph
•Voter’s Registration Card
•United States military card or draft record
•Military dependent’s identification card
•United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
•Native American tribal document
•Driver’s license issued by a Canadian government authority

For individuals under the age of 18 who are unable to present on the documents listed above:

•School record or report card
•Clinic, doctor, or hospital record
•Day-care or nursery school record

List C

Documents that establish employment eligibility

•U.S. Social Security Number Card other than one which has printed on its face “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT”

NOTE: This must be a card issued by the Social Security Administration; a facsimile (such as a metal or plastic reproduction) is not an acceptable document.

•Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545 or Form DS-1350)
•Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or outlying possession of the United States bearing an official seal
•Native American tribal document
•U.S. Citizen ID Card (INS Form I-197)
•ID Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the U.S. (INS Form I-179)
•Unexpired employment authorization document issued by the INS

Note: The above list of documents was obtained from the M-274 Handbook for Employers.

As you can see, the list of documents is long. Considering that each state has several different types of driver’s licenses as well as IDs, the size of the list becomes staggering. In order for employers to become compliant with government regulations as well as to avoid hefty lawsuits and fines; employers need to have the proper tools that will help them to determine whether a document is real or fake. With Allegiant Solutions an employer can be confident in filling out the Form I9, knowing that they have gone above and beyond the government’s expectations to stay compliant.

For more ways to verify identity documents, consider subscribing to Allegiant Solutions.

The Michigan State ID card is called the Personal Identification Card (PID) and is available for all Michigan residents who don’t have a driver license.

Today if you don’t have some form of photo ID, you may not be able to write personal checks to merchants or cash checks made out to you at banks. In fact, merchants will not allow you to make credit card purchases unless you have a photo ID. In the future, The REAL ID Act will require you to have a photo ID to be able to board an airplane.

The Michigan State PID card will cost $10 and there is no minimum age for the card. If you are over 65 years old, are legally blind, or have had your license revoked, suspended, or denied for a physical or mental disability, there is no charge.

To apply for a PID you must appear in person at a Secretary of State Branch office and request a Personal Identification Card. You will need proof of residency, proof of your identity and birth date.

The PID card is valid for four years, and is renewable. In Michigan you can renew your PID card through the mail or by visiting a Secretary of State Branch office. The Michigan PID card renewal fees are $10; there is no fee for people older than 65 or for those who are no longer eligible to drive because of physical or mental impairment.

For more ways to verify a Michigan State ID, consider subscribing to Allegiant Solutions.

The Alien Registration Card (Permanent Resident Card - Form I-551), also know as a green card is issued to all Permanent Residents as proof of alien registration and their permanent status in the United States. This card must be in your possession at all times. This requirement means that you are not only required to have a valid Form I-551 at all times, but also that you must carry this card on your person at all times. The Alien Registration Card currently is issued with a 10 year expiration date. Your status as a Permanent Resident does not expire at the expiration date, only the card expires. The Alien Registration Card is only valid up to the expiration date and must be renewed before it expires.

A Conditional Permanent Resident is issued a card that is valid for two years. In order to remain a Permanent Resident, the Conditional Permanent Resident must file a petition to have the conditional status removed during the 90 days before the card expires. The conditional card Alien Registration Card cannot be renewed. The condition must be removed, or you lose your Permanent Resident Status.The Alien Registration Card (either unconditioned or conditioned) can be used to prove your employment eligibility in the United States when completing the Form I-9 for a new employer. The Alien Registration Card can also be used to apply for a Social Security Card and a state issued driver’s license. The Alien Registration Card is valid for re-admission into the United States if you take a trip outside the United States and was not away for more than one year in length. If your trip will last longer than one year, you will need to apply for a re-entry permit.

Relatives
A Permanent Resident can petition for some relatives to join him or her in the United States as immigrants. Those relatives are your spouse and children, regardless of age.

If you have a spouse and children when you become a Permanent Resident, they may be eligible for permanent residence status through you without filing separate petitions. This depends on how you qualified for your permanent residence. You should ask an immigration officer, attorney, or voluntary help organization for advice about this.

Voting
One of the most important privileges of democracy in the United States of America is the right to participate in choosing elected officials through voting. As a Permanent Resident you can only vote in local and state elections that do not require you to be a US citizen. It is very important that you do not vote in national, state or local elections that require a voter to be a US citizen when you are not a US citizen. There are criminal penalties for voting when you are not a US citizen, and it is a requirement for voting. You can be removed (deported) from the US if you vote in elections limited to US citizens.

Responsibilities
As a Permanent Resident you are required to obey all of the laws of the United States, the 50 States, and localities. You are required to file your income tax returns and report your income to the US Internal Revenue Service and State IRS. You are expected to support the democratic form of government and cannot attempt to change the government through illegal means. If you are a male, age 18 through 25, you are required to register with the Selective Service.

You can abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

• Move to another country intending to live there permanently.
• Remain outside of the U.S. for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa.
• Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa.
• Failure to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period.
• Declare yourself a “non-immigrant” on your tax returns.

You can lose your permanent residence status if you commit an illegal act that makes you removable from the United States under the law in section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If you commit such an act, you may be brought before the immigration courts to determine your right to remain a Permanent Resident.

Many Permanent Residents of the United States have the ultimate goal of becoming a US citizen. Naturalization is the primary method for most persons not born as US citizens to obtain that status.

 For more information consider subscribing to Allegiant Solutions.

In New Mexico, if you are a driver between the ages of 15 and 17, you must take a driver’s education course before DMV will issue a provisional license. After driving for six months without an incident, DMV will then issue you a regular driver’s license.

Driver’s education course will include 35 hours of classroom time and 50 hours of supervised driving. After completing the required hours, you must pass a written exam. If you are between the ages of 18 and 24, you will need to complete a DWI-awareness program before you are eligible for a new license.

Required Testing
All applicants for a new license must take a vision test, a written and road test before obtaining a license. If you are applying for a license after having yours revoked, then you will be required to take the written test again.

Required Documentation
You should have the following documentation with you when you apply for a license:

• Current driver’s license from out of state
• Social Security card
• Proof of residency
• Proof of completion of DWI-awareness program

For more information consider subscribing to Allegiant Solutions.