Proving Legal Presence in the U.S.

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​​The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles recognizes the documents below as proof from persons not born in the U.S. that they are legally authorized to be in the United States.

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​Document	​Notes
​Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240, Form DS-1350 or Form FS-545)	​Acceptable for REAL ID
​Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)	​Acceptable for REAL ID
​​Unexpired Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766 or I-688B)	​​Acceptable for REAL ID
​Valid, unexpired foreign passport	​Acceptable for REAL ID ​Must be accompanied by an affixed valid, unexpired U.S. visa and I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
​Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)	​Acceptable for REAL ID
Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)	​Acceptable for REAL ID
​Machine-readable Immigrant Visa​	​​Not acceptable for REAL ID
​Temporary I-551 stamp on I-94 or passport​	​​Not acceptable for REAL ID
​I-327 Re-Entry Permit	​Not acceptable for REAL ID ​Must be accompanied by supporting immigration documentation
​​I-94 Arrival/Departure Record	​ ​Not acceptable for REAL ID
​​I-20 Certificate of Eligibility Student Status	​Not acceptable for REAL ID ​Must be accompanied by an I-94 form or a passport with an I-94 stamp​
​​DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor	​Not acceptable for REAL ID Must be accompanied by an I-94 form or a passport with an I-94 stamp
​I-571 refugee travel document	​Not acceptable for REAL ID ​Must be accompanied by supporting immigration documentation
​​I-797 Notice of Action receipt notice	​Not acceptable for REAL ID ​Must be accompanied by supporting immigration documentation (I-551, I-766, I-94)
​I-797 Notice of Action Approval	​ ​Not acceptable for REAL ID
​​I-521L Authorization for Parole of an Alien into U.S.	​Not acceptable for REAL ID ​Must be accompanied by supporting immigration document (I-551, I-766, I-94)​
​​I-220B Order of Supervision	​Not acceptable for REAL ID ​Must be accompanied by supporting immigration documentation with I-766 card​

Last updated Jan. 6, 2023