POMS Reference

RM 10210: SSN Evidence Requirements

TN 1 (11-09)

Secondary level evidence for a U.S. born applicant (definition and rules)

  • Is an original document, and

  • Is a non-SSA document established for a reason other than to establish U.S. citizenship, and

  • Is of satisfactory probative value only when primary level evidence is not readily available.

If the U.S. born applicant does not submit secondary level evidence and it is readily available, develop for the secondary level evidence. If secondary level evidence is not readily available, develop for third level evidence. Readily availableevidence can be obtained in 10 working days.

Document

Explanation, Rules, and References

U.S. religious record

The record must show

  • a U.S. place of birth, and

  • a recordation date of within 3 months of the applicant’s date of birth, and

  • either the date of the birth or the applicant's age at the time the record was made.

CAUTION: In questionable cases (e.g., where the applicant’s religious record was recorded near a U.S. international border and the applicant may have been born outside the U.S.), consider verifying the religious record and or documenting that the mother was in the U.S. at the time of the birth.

Final adoption decree

The decree must show

  • a U.S. place of birth, and

  • the applicant's name.

See Also:

“Statement from a State-approved adoption agency”, in this table, when an applicant is waiting for the final U.S. adoption decree.

Early U.S. school record

The record must show

  • a U.S. place of birth, and

  • the date of admission to the school, and

  • the name(s) and place(s) of birth of the applicant’s parent, and

  • either the date of birth or age of the applicant at the time the record was made.

U.S. civil service employment record

The document must show employment by the U.S. government before 06/01/1976.

Military record

The record (e.g., a DD-214) must

  • show a U.S. place of birth, and

  • be issued by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marines, or U.S. Navy.

Statement from a State-approved adoption agency

CAUTION: Acceptable as secondary level evidence only when

  • the U.S. adoption decree is pending, and

  • the State in which the child was born will not release a birth certificate prior to final adoption decree.

The statement must show

  • a U.S. place of birth, and

  • the child's name, and

  • that the source of the place of birth information is the original birth certificate.