Types of Identification- Middle School

These are the paperwork, forms, and identification numbers used by federal agencies to track and authorize immigrants.

• A-number (alien registration number): A unique seven-, eight-, or nine-digit identification number assigned by the government to non-citizens. It functions like a permanent student ID number for an individual's entire immigration file.

• Employment Authorization Document (EAD): A plastic photo ID card commonly known as a work permit. It serves as official proof that the government has granted an individual temporary permission to hold a job and earn wages in the United States.

• Social security card: A government card featuring a unique nine-digit number. It is used to track an individual's lifetime earnings and the taxes they pay, and employers require it before a person can start working.

• Driver’s license without a social security number: Policies in several U.S. states that allow residents to take a driving test and receive a driver's license even if they do not have a Social Security Number, ensuring all drivers on the road are trained and insured.

• Individual Taxpayer Identification (ITIN): A nine-digit tax processing number issued by the IRS to individuals who are required to pay U.S. taxes but are not eligible to receive a Social Security Number.

• I-94: A digital or paper arrival and departure record. It acts as an official receipt proving the exact date, location, and legal terms under which an international traveler was admitted into the U.S., including their required departure date.

• Form Codes (I-765, I-821D, etc.): Official numbers assigned to specific immigration paperwork. For example:

  • I-765 & I-765W: The application forms used to request a work permit (EAD).

  • I-821D: The specific form used to request Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

  • I-291: A formal notice sent by the government to inform an applicant that their request has been officially denied or decided.

  • I-601 & I-601A: Applications filed to request a waiver (pardon) for a specific immigration violation.