Q&A: Citizenship Verification

Question:  I have a question regarding Citizenship Requirements. Some states, such as Michigan, have an enhanced driver license. The license provides Proof of Identity and U.S. Citizenship. Would it be acceptable to obtain a copy of the license in place of a birth certificate for proof of citizenship, if an applicant could not provide a U.S. Passport? ~ Kim in MI

Answer:  HUD does not require owner/agents to document that someone is a U.S. citizen, though management is permitted to verify it if they establish a policy/procedure to do so.  The verification document can be any reasonable one(s) you want to allow.  An enhanced driver’s license or passport would be perfectly OK to use for that purpose.

Appendix 3 (Acceptable forms of Verification), Citizenship, simply says that citizens must sign the Citizenship Declaration Form, and that O/As may (not should or must) ask applicants to provide proof of their citizenship.  For other items, HUD readily accepts federal/state/local government documents, and both a passport and a driver’s license would meet the criteria.