# When is a US citizen required to prove it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-us-citizen-required-to-prove-it/537525 "2010-04-27T14:42:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-us-citizen-required-to-prove-it/537525/41 "2010-04-29T22:45:31Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > Except that permanent resident non-citizens get social security cards which are identical to a citizen’s social security card, so it proves nothing. > > you’re basically putting the cart before the horse Not just permanent residents, I was eligible for a social security card as soon as I arrived on a H1b visa (you need one of those so the government can TAKE money from you in taxes, so they are quite happy to give them out like candy 🙂 ). ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-us-citizen-required-to-prove-it/537525/42 "2010-04-29T22:55:08Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Not just permanent residents, I was eligible for a social security card as soon as I arrived on a H1b visa (you need one of those so the government can TAKE money from you in taxes, so they are quite happy to give them out like candy 🙂 ). they’re not the same. you’d be immediately outed as someone who is neither a citizen nor a permanent resident as it has, in big capital letters on the front of the card “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION” and, actually, the federal government is not very eager to hand them out like candy. they are very eager to hand out ITINs (individual taxpayer ID numbers) like candy, though. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-us-citizen-required-to-prove-it/537525/43 "2010-04-30T04:27:21Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > they’re not the same. you’d be immediately outed as someone who is neither a citizen nor a permanent resident as it has, in big capital letters on the front of the card “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION” No, it doesn’t. Or at least my second SS Card, also obtained with an H1B, didn’t. The one obtained on a student visa (J1?) did have a stamp. Notice that US SS Cards don’t expire, that second one would still be valid if I hadn’t shredded it. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-us-citizen-required-to-prove-it/537525/44 "2010-04-30T04:33:10Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > No, it doesn’t. Or at least my second SS Card, also obtained with an H1B, didn’t. The one obtained on a student visa (J1?) did have a stamp. Notice that US SS Cards don’t expire, that second one would still be valid if I hadn’t shredded it. you are either mistaken or an error was made, then > [@](#): > > We issue three types of Social Security cards. All cards show your name and Social Security number. > > 1. The first type of card shows your name and Social Security number and lets you work without restriction. We issue it to: > \*U.S. citizens; and > \*People lawfully admitted to the United States on a permanent basis. > > 2. The second type of card shows your name and number and notes, “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.” We issue this type of card to people lawfully admitted to the United States on a temporary basis who have DHS authorization to work. > > 3. The third type of card shows your name and number and notes, “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT.” We issue it to people from other countries: > \*Who are lawfully admitted to the United States without work authorization from DHS, but with a valid nonwork reason for needing a Social Security number; or > > - Who need a number because of a federal law requiring a Social Security number to get a benefit or service. [http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/cards.htm](http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/cards.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2010, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-us-citizen-required-to-prove-it/537525/45 "2010-04-30T13:10:24Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > you are either mistaken or an error was made, then Well, my wife’s social security card is identical to mine, other than the SSAN. Of course, DHS didn’t even exist back when she received it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-us-citizen-required-to-prove-it/537525.md?page=2)