A question for those who have already acquired the US Citizenship

[antoneya 9]

As a natural born citizen, unless I am driving, really don't carry any form of ID. And so can you, absolutely no law that any US citizen has to carry any form of ID.

Was a time in this country, airlines preferred cash, and just asked your name to put on the ticket for the flight registry so they could notify your next of kin in case of an accident.

Times have sure changed.

Other then AZ and there stupid new law, this is still true in most parts of America, well other then your second line about airlines.

[NickD 202]

I carry my passport card with me to prove that i am a citizen...

To whom? Wife and daughter have been here about seven years now and were never questioned about citizenship. I have been here all my wife and never was questioned. With her EAD card, wife got a state drivers' license that was exactly like mine, well her photo and sex was different. My son and his wife took his new step sister to Washington DC shortly after she got here, for seven bucks I got a state ID for her that she needed for domestic flights at the airport terminal.

Did here rumors that Washington is talking about putting ID chips in our heads, must be getting paranoid.

[Ning 619]

Other then AZ and there stupid new law, this is still true in most parts of America, well other then your second line about airlines.

Tell us why the new law would be stupid if enacted. It simply gives the police the added responcibility of questioning legal status if a crime has been commited. It does not allow them to stop people at random.

[-B&T- 1]

After you become a US CITIZEN and when you apply for your passport, by paying extra $25, you can get a passport card, which is a size of a credit card, which you can carry around in your wallet and is also valid for travel to CANADA, MEXICO and other areas.

Hi,

I think I'm going to get that passport card as well soon after the process I'll apply for that too since it's small in size would be convenient no hassle at all to carry aside from DL .

My many thanks to everyone it's nice to hear your different opinions & thanks for the tips/advises. :thumbs:

[-B&T- 1]

Hi Ampi,

Ant is right! :thumbs:

Cannot carry a photocopy of the certificate, as on the certificate itself it says, "It is illegal to make photocopies..."

Cannot carry the original certiicate with me....As it can get stolen, lost, damaged, etc. that way. And who the heck carries around a $675 original ($400 replacememnt) piece of paper around with them...lol

When you got your Naturalization Certificate you can go to SS office and update your status that you are US citizen. This might help just in case you get stop by the cops. I don't know if the cops will ask you for your SS card though aside from your DL. Never stop by the cops yet, hope not I just carry my DL al the time.

Hi sis kumusta?

No, we don't give SSN that is a big secret! hehehe

Good luck on your parents petition. Your baby is adorable. Ingat.

Lol....Hmm.....

I wonder if I'm better off with a green card than a naturalization certificate, to prove my legal US status......

Really, the USA should come up with a US citizenship card with a certificate too!

Ant

Ant, that is hilarious! But not a bad idea :rofl:

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I never carried my PR card when I had PR status;however, now that I am US citizen I always have with me my US passport card (good for land travel in Canada, Mexico etc.) When I ordered my US passport book for an additional $20 or $25 I ordered the passport card, which is the size of PR card and easy to carry with you. Hope this helps.

This is what I did too. I ordered the passport card - it is the size of a credit card - and carry it in my wallet all the time. After all the hassle of immigration and hearing about horror stories of US citizens even being picked up as potential illegal aliens (and being 'deported' because they couldn't prove their citizenship), even though it isn't a high risk I figured I'd rather have something that does prove my US citizenship status than not. Also, I fully intend to pull out the passport card when I go to vote for the first time since I have to prove my identity here in Georgia since I didn't register in person.

I always carried a wallet sized copy of my birth certificate to prove my Canadian citizenship so carrying the passport card basically continues a practice I have used for years.

I actually haven't updated my status on my DL yet because it is still valid for another 2 years and says nothing about citizenship, just residency. I've updated everywhere else though so someone checking my status will find out I am a citizen.

Edited April 23, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I'm sorry . . . but what is wrong with you people?

"How do I prove my citizenship status?"

Prove it to whom? A cop?

Cops do not check people's citizenship status, folks. Even in Arizona, in the near future -- if, and only if that new law passes -- the cop will ask for identification. You then show 'em your Driver License. That's all you have to carry with you, whether you are in Alaska, Miami, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Podunk Holler, or Scottsdale. Whether you're white, black, red, yellow, or brown skinned, for crying out loud!

A cop has no right to ask for any immigration status, unless you are a suspect of a crime. Assume he thinks you are a criminal who just raped a little girl, and ask you "are you a US citizen?" you answer with "Yes, Officer." That's all you need to do, as there's no law in the whole wide USA that you have to carry a passport or birth certificate with you. Your statement is all it takes.

Anybody claiming to be a USC when he or she is not, is committing a deadly sin, and becomes removable from the USA without a chance of a waiver, so that's something not done lightly.

Non US citizens are required to carry proof of legal presence with them. So, again, if the cop asks you "are you a US citizen" and you are not one, you better respond with "No, Officer, I'm a Lawful Permanent Resident."

In that case you have to show your Green Card. If you don't have it on you, the cop can detain you until your status is confirmed (which takes only minutes), and if you turn out to be an illegal immigrant, you are indeed in deep sh*t.

So please do not play mind games in figuring out what you have to carry with you once you become a US citizen. You take your Driver License, and the pride that you can rightfully say that you ARE, indeed, a US citizen. That's all there is to it.

[CaptainPenguin 5]

I'm sorry . . . but what is wrong with you people?

"How do I prove my citizenship status?"

Prove it to whom? A cop?

Cops do not check people's citizenship status, folks. Even in Arizona, in the near future -- if, and only if that new law passes -- the cop will ask for identification. You then show 'em your Driver License. That's all you have to carry with you, whether you are in Alaska, Miami, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Podunk Holler, or Scottsdale. Whether you're white, black, red, yellow, or brown skinned, for crying out loud!

A cop has no right to ask for any immigration status, unless you are a suspect of a crime. Assume he thinks you are a criminal who just raped a little girl, and ask you "are you a US citizen?" you answer with "Yes, Officer." That's all you need to do, as there's no law in the whole wide USA that you have to carry a passport or birth certificate with you. Your statement is all it takes.

Anybody claiming to be a USC when he or she is not, is committing a deadly sin, and becomes removable from the USA without a chance of a waiver, so that's something not done lightly.

Non US citizens are required to carry proof of legal presence with them. So, again, if the cop asks you "are you a US citizen" and you are not one, you better respond with "No, Officer, I'm a Lawful Permanent Resident."

In that case you have to show your Green Card. If you don't have it on you, the cop can detain you until your status is confirmed (which takes only minutes), and if you turn out to be an illegal immigrant, you are indeed in deep sh*t.

So please do not play mind games in figuring out what you have to carry with you once you become a US citizen. You take your Driver License, and the pride that you can rightfully say that you ARE, indeed, a US citizen. That's all there is to it.

Awesome post Just Bob !

I hope everyone who is not familiar with the laws, and thinks that you have to carry proof around just like in many other countries, will read this

[drsrk 0]

Agree 100% with Just bob.

I carry my driver's license anyway all the time, so what is the problem in showing it ?

People who are here illegally should worry.

[NickD 202]

To the best of my recollection, the only time I had to show my USA birth certificate for getting a drivers' license is when I turned 16. Even living in different states, the only proof I needed for a new license or a renewal was my old drivers' license. I also needed it when I was drafted into the military that was more than a couple of years ago. Lost the darn thing, but needed it again years later for the USCIS.

Wisconsin has a strange procedure only offering a three year probationary license for any out of state driver or a new driver. So when my wife came here, only got a three year license. As she did not have a drivers' license from a different state, had to show proof of age and some kind of a photo ID. Only had that from Venezuela, so they kind of knew she was an immigrant, so had to provide a SS card as well. Three years went by quick, when she renewed her license, could have claimed to be a USC, but didn't, so proof was required she was a LPR. That opened a can of worms because her conditional card was expired and what in the hell is a one year extension. Took me a week to train our state officials as to how the USCIS works. They don't ask for proof if you are a USC, just take your word for it. Same with voters registration in our state as others from what I have gathered from reading this board.

Could also wonder about my birth certificate or any other as far as that is concerned, nothing on that piece of paper that identifies any physical attributes of me with that piece of paper. Its my birth certificate since I say its my birth certificate. When I applied to Springfield for a new birth certificate was loaded with errors, hired a bunch of illiterates to make the computer converted database. Thank goodness, wasn't a lonely child, had brothers and sisters to testify I was their brother. Well at least a half brother, brothers and sisters are very Italian, I am much taller, blue eyes and light brown hair and don't even look Italian. But my aunt claims she had an uncle that I take after, who knows.

Was also error in my wife's and step daughter birth certificates, cost us a fortune to get those corrected in a Venezuelan and Colombian court, least I got by with eight bucks and a lot of time.

Subject is identities, I am not even sure that I am me, but what the hell, I have the paper to kind of prove it. USA has been very lax in identities, still are, but I see on my granddaughters birth certificate, she does have a foot print on it. Have no idea how good that would be when she is 80 years old.

Wife is required to wear a photo ID at her work, but a corporate thing, everyone knows her, she was worked there over five years now, but it's kind of a magical card that she needs to clock in and out and does open some doors. Daughter was required to wear an ID at high school, lost it a couple of times, was another six bucks to get a new one. But won't let her in unless she has it.

Normally brain dead after standing in hours at airports, but with deep thought, no two entries or exits were the same. Recall at St. Paul airport, they wanted my passport to scan it so my computerized ticket would pop up out of a box. At my local commuter airport, even for an international flight, my DL license works for getting my ticket. I just have one passport, wife has several, the one she whips out, depends on the POE for that country. At St. Paul, she didn't have a US passport with that chip in it, so she had to use her Venezuelan passport, and the girl had to enter all the information manually, that took a lot of extra time as she kept on hitting the wrong keys.

No set rules on this, wife was using her Venezuelan passport for years to enter Colombia, no more, relations between Colombia and Venezuela are going to hell, so shows her US passport, same thing. Spent 500 bucks so far just to get her ID renewed, may take a year, then, more cash for her Colombian passport. But all that can change tomorrow.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

I think all of this "immigration identification paranoia" comes from the fact that we as legal permanent residents have to/had to carry a green card with us to prove immigration status...

Then all of a sudden, when we get US Citizenship, there is nothing to carry around....

And 'old habits' of having to carry around a green card are hard to get rid of....

And that's where the confusion/concern comes in too, having to prove legal immigration status...

Illegals-No identification...

Permanent Residents-Green cards...

US Citizens-No identification (or optional....US passport, US passport card, etc.)

You see what I mean?

So I do understand the OPs original concern......

But again, as I and others have mentioned...

As a US citizen (natural born, naturalized, or otherwise), there is NO LEGAL NEED to bring around extra documentation to prove your immigration status....

It might take awhile to get used to, but this is the truth...

And if you are a new naturalized US citizen, then enjoy this 'newfound freedom' in not having to worry about carrying extra documents with you....

Lol..As a new USC, I'm still trying to convince myself of this fact too.........

But for 'piece of mind' purposes...

If you feel more secure getting another document (passport, passport card, enhanced driver's license, voter's registration, etc.) that proves your US citizenship, then do so, as you have every right as a USC to get such an identification.....

But again, this is OPTIONAL...and is not manditory for you to get such, or to carry around such, for everyday purposes here in the USA....

Lol..Just whatever you do, as a naturalized citizen, do not lose that naturalization certificate, as that is the main document that proves your US Citizenship (and needed for other USC-type identifications/documents), regardless! And update the SSA and DMV about your US Citizenship status too, in case government officials check your US Citizenship status as well.

Hope this helps too. Good luck.

Ant

Edited April 23, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[NickD 202]

Hi Everyone,

I think all of this "immigration identification paranoia" comes from the fact that we as legal permanent residents have to/had to carry a green card with us to prove immigration status...

Then all of a sudden, when we get US Citizenship, there is nothing to carry around....

And 'old habits' of having to carry around a green card are hard to get rid of....

And that's where the confusion/concern comes in too, having to prove legal immigration status...

Illegals-No identification...

Permanent Residents-Green cards...

US Citizens-No identification (or optional....US passport, US passport card, etc.)

You see what I mean?

So I do understand the OPs original concern......

But again, as I and others have mentioned...

As a US citizen (natural born, naturalized, or otherwise), there is NO LEGAL NEED to bring around extra documentation to prove your immigration status....

It might take awhile to get used to, but this is the truth...

And if you are a new naturalized US citizen, then enjoy this 'newfound freedom' in not having to worry about carrying extra documents with you....

Lol..As a new USC, I'm still trying to convince myself of this fact too.........

But for 'piece of mind' purposes...

If you feel more secure getting another document (passport, passport card, enhanced driver's license, voter's registration, etc.) that proves your US citizenship, then do so, as you have every right as a USC to get such an identification.....

But again, this is OPTIONAL...and is not manditory for you to get such, or to carry around such, for everyday purposes here in the USA....

Lol..Just whatever you do, as a naturalized citizen, do not lose that naturalization certificate, as that is the main document that proves your US Citizenship (and needed for other USC-type identifications/documents), regardless! And update the SSA and DMV about your US Citizenship status too, in case government officials check your US Citizenship status as well.

Hope this helps too. Good luck.

Ant

(NickD with a very strong German accent)

Let me see your papers!!!!!!