Identification & Essential Document Recovery
Credit Score Defenders LLC · Free independent educational resource sheet
50 states + Washington, D.C. · Source review October 22, 2026
State ID or driver's license
Choose your state on the official USAGov directory to find the licensing office. A standard ID is not necessarily a REAL ID; license eligibility and non-REAL-ID options vary by state.
REAL ID / airport ID
REAL ID has federal standards. Check the state documentation requirements and the TSA's current acceptable-ID alternatives before traveling.
usa.gov/real-id
tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification
Certified U.S. birth certificate
Request from the vital-records office of the U.S. state or territory where the birth occurred. If you have no ID, ask about its alternate verification rules.
usa.gov/birth-certificate
CDC vital records office directory
Social Security card
SSA decides eligibility and acceptable proof. First-time, replacement, and corrected cards are free.
U.S. passport / missing passport
U.S. passports are issued to eligible U.S. citizens and qualifying noncitizen nationals. Reporting a valid lost passport invalidates it; replacement is separate.
Foreign passport / consular ID
Ask the issuing foreign government’s embassy or consulate what services it provides and which evidence it accepts.
Green Card, EAD, or citizenship papers
Only USCIS provides official applications and decisions. Filing rules vary by document and immigration category; seek authorized legal help when needed.
uscis.gov/i-90 — Green Card
uscis.gov/i-765 — EAD
USAGov citizenship documents
No ID, no fixed address, or cannot pay?
- Ask the issuing agency whether alternate verification or residency evidence is accepted.
- Check its official waiver and reduced-fee rules; do not assume eligibility.
- Use community assistance referrals where available.
USAGov: replace lost documents
211.org — local community support
Marriage, divorce, and family records
Request records from the place of marriage or divorce, or its responsible court; verify who may request them.
Document theft / fraud
Protect accounts and report suspected misuse through the FTC. Contact the original issuing agency about cancellation or replacement.