Motor Vehicle Division Document and Identity Verification 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the significance of a star or gold star marking on a REAL ID-compliant driver's license?
- It indicates the holder is a commercial driver
- It signifies the ID meets federal REAL ID standards (Correct answer)
- It means the holder is a veteran
- It shows the ID was issued in a border state
Correct answer: It signifies the ID meets federal REAL ID standards
The gold star (or bear/star depending on state) in the upper right corner indicates the credential is REAL ID-compliant and federally accepted.
Question 2: Which federal agency sets the standards that state MVDs must follow when issuing REAL ID cards?
- FBI
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (Correct answer)
- Social Security Administration
- Department of State
Correct answer: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established and enforces REAL ID Act standards for state-issued identity documents.
Question 3: A customer presents an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) as proof of identity. Under what circumstance is this accepted at the MVD?
- It is never accepted at any MVD
- It is accepted as proof of identity and lawful presence for eligible non-citizens (Correct answer)
- It is only accepted as proof of address
- It is accepted only for commercial licenses
Correct answer: It is accepted as proof of identity and lawful presence for eligible non-citizens
A valid EAD (Form I-766) issued by USCIS is accepted as proof of both identity and lawful presence for non-citizen applicants.
Question 4: Why might the MVD reject a birth certificate that appears genuine but lacks a raised seal or file stamp?
- Because birth certificates must be laminated to be valid
- Because uncertified copies lack the security features required for identity verification (Correct answer)
- Because only digital birth certificates are accepted
- Because the certificate must be less than one year old
Correct answer: Because uncertified copies lack the security features required for identity verification
MVDs require certified copies of birth certificates, which include an embossed or raised seal and registrar signature; plain photocopies are not accepted.
Question 5: What should an applicant do if their identity documents were destroyed in a natural disaster?
- Bring a neighbor to vouch for their identity
- Contact issuing agencies (vital records, SSA) to obtain replacement documents (Correct answer)
- Request a temporary license without any documentation
- Bring any mail addressed to them as full proof of identity
Correct answer: Contact issuing agencies (vital records, SSA) to obtain replacement documents
Applicants must obtain replacement documents from the original issuing agencies — the vital records office for birth certificates and SSA for Social Security cards.
Question 6: When verifying an applicant's residency, which of the following combinations would typically satisfy the two-document requirement?
- Two pieces of personal mail from friends
- A utility bill and a bank statement, both showing the current address (Correct answer)
- Two receipts from local businesses
- A lease agreement and a personal letter from a landlord
Correct answer: A utility bill and a bank statement, both showing the current address
A utility bill combined with a bank statement — each showing the applicant's name and current address — satisfies the two-document residency requirement.
Question 7: A person applies for an ID using someone else's identity documents. What crime is this?
- Misdemeanor trespassing
- Identity fraud or identity theft (Correct answer)
- A civil infraction
- Document forgery only if the documents are fake
Correct answer: Identity fraud or identity theft
Using another person's identity documents to obtain a government-issued ID constitutes identity fraud, a serious criminal offense.
Motor Vehicle Division Document and Identity Verification 5
What is the significance of a star or gold star marking on a REAL ID-compliant driver's license?