Original Card for a Foreign Born U.S. Citizen Adult 
Important You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. All documents must be current not expired. We cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document. 

What original documents do I need? 
Citizenship We can accept only certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include : U.S. passport ; Certificate of Naturalization N-550/N-570 ; Certificate of Citizenship N-560/N-561 ; Certificate of Report of Birth DS-1350 ; Consular Report of Birth Abroad FS-240, CRBA. Age You must present your foreign birth certificate if you have it or can get it within 10 days. If not , we will consider other documents such as your passport or a document issued by the Department of Homeland Security DHS as evidence of your age. Anyone age 12 or older requesting an original Social Security number must appear in person for an interview. We will ask for evidence to show you do not have a Social Security number. Here are examples of documents you can use to prove a Social Security number was never assigned : If you lived outside the United States for an extended period , a current or previous passport , school and/or employment records , and any other record that would show long - term residence outside the United States could be used to show you do not have a Social Security number. If you have lived in the United States and you are applying for an original Social Security number , we may ask you for information about the schools you attended or we may ask you to provide copies of tax records that would show you were never assigned a Social Security number. Identity We can accept only certain documents as proof of identity. An acceptable document must be current not expired and show your name, identifying information date of birth or age and preferably a recent photograph. For example , as proof of identity Social Security must

user: I need to know what original documents I need to get my social security card.

assistant: null

assistant: Can you get your foreign birth certificate?

user: I don't think I can.

user: what if I can't get some of the documents I'm asked for?

assistant: For any document you don't have or can't get within 10 days, we'll ask you for some other document. Any document submitted must have your name, your birth date, identifying information and a recent photograph.

user: In my case, I  lived abroad for quite some time. Do I need to do something else?

assistant: You can show any document that proves you lived abroad for a long time and you don't have a social security number. You could use your previous or current passport, school or employment records, etc.

user: and for children, do they have to attend personally when asking for a social security number?

assistant: If they are older than 12, yes they have to be present during the interview.

user: and if I have lived in the US what other information do I need to give?

assistant: You could be asked for information about the schools you attended or copies of tax records that'd show that you don't have a social security number.

user: Now, for adults wanting to get the card for the first time as foreign-born citizens?

assistant: You have to present original documents or certified documents, and all documents must be current.