HELP: Can I use Certificate of Naturalization as both proof of ID and citizenship?

[annie15 1]

I became a US citizen in April 2021 and I need to apply for my first U.S. passport as I plan to travel back to my home country in March 2023. I will use expedited service when applying for my passport.

 

My State ID has just expired 12/05/2022. I don’t drive (hence mentioning State ID, not Driver’s License). 
 

Anyway, is it possible to use my Certificate of Naturalization both as proof of identity and as proof of citizenship when applying for the passport? 
 

The application lists Certificate of Naturalization under both categories but as I was reading other topics I see that some other users had problems with this and they were asked to present a Drivers License/State ID?

[Mike E 11,739]

Yes you can.  Not all usps workers will let you.  

[annie15 1]

11 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Yes you can.  Not all usps workers will let you.  

Would it help if I bring a copy of the instructions with me showing this? And if I run into problems with a certain USPS employee can I escalate my case talking to a supervisor or something like that? I just really don’t want to have to renew my State ID before my passport application and wait to receive it in the mail because I’m pressured with time. 

Edited December 10, 2022 by annie15

[Mike E 11,739]

There is no certainty 

[midwinterrose 275]

It's worth a shot.  Take the instructions for the passport application with you.  If one post office won't allow it, try a different one.  If you've gone to two or three and they won't let you do it, then just renew your ID.  I can't imagine an ID renewal will take more than two or three weeks.  You're not traveling until March, so there's plenty of time to get the ID and the passport, and the documents you send in with the passport application back in that timeframe.

[iwannaplay54 985]

5 hours ago, annie15 said:

I became a US citizen in April 2021 and I need to apply for my first U.S. passport as I plan to travel back to my home country in March 2023. I will use expedited service when applying for my passport.

 

My State ID has just expired 12/05/2022. I don’t drive (hence mentioning State ID, not Driver’s License). 
 

Anyway, is it possible to use my Certificate of Naturalization both as proof of identity and as proof of citizenship when applying for the passport? 
 

The application lists Certificate of Naturalization under both categories but as I was reading other topics I see that some other users had problems with this and they were asked to present a Drivers License/State ID?

You can try. They do like two forms of ID.

Suggested to renew your state ID before you go to the post office because if they accept your application they are going to keep your original certificate while your passport is being processed.  
 

Some combinations of “any two” also may work.  Bring every one of these that you have (and copies) 

They do accept “temporary” state IDs if they have your photo.  Not sure about your state but Texas does give you one when you renew and it does have a photo.  If you have a rewewal AND the expired one - my bets are that combination will work if you also have a SS card.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/identification.html

 

This is the full and complete list.  State Department issues the passports, State Department rules govern the process.  SS card AND expired state ID is actually on the “any two” list.

 

Good luck

 

 

 

Edited December 10, 2022 by iwannaplay54

[JeanneAdil 6,494]

by march to travel ,  u have plenty of time now to get that state ID 

 

don't wait for the passport office to possibly send the whole application back / its not up to the USPS officer 

[annie15 1]

Thanks for the answers. I went the safe route and applied for a State ID first.

 

Update:

 

Applied for a State ID on 12/15/2022, received it  in the mail on 12/24/2022.

 

Passport appt. booked at a local USPS passport office for 01/03/2023. 

Edited December 26, 2022 by annie15