text: interesting question catch22 how fair and sane is this? heres the story... recently it turns out i need a state issued id.  with out one i cannot open a bank account, get a phone, go to school, or drink<--- ahhhhhhhh.  basicly im a 3rd class citizen.  however i have been in the military not once but twice... i still have the id from the army. but this id and my old licence both happen to be expired but still have the holigrams and are obviously not fake.  however i couldnt just walk into the registry and get a new id with either of those forms of id.  they sent me to the social security office.  there they told me i couldnt get a ss card without a state issued id.  i dont have a copy of my birth certificate or but ive lived in this country all my life.  what the hell is this about. ...? the stupid idea of "you can't get an id without an id". try to explain this to them and ask them for their opinion on your situation. most of the time they are helpful and will point you to the right direction.  i had a similar situation with my husband. he had an old expired id from another country and that country's consulate wouldn't give him an id, the dmv wouldn't give him an id. so, we just asked the dmv what we should do? they suggested official school records, you request them and keep them sealed and let the dmv open them. they just want to make sure it's you. hope that helps!