What you need to know about the card of the New Yorker IDNYC

IDNYC, the city’s free municipal identity card program, offers discounts and bonuses for holders of these cards for the fifth year in a row.

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The program is the largest of its kind in the country, and provides a variety of benefits to New Yorkers from all walks of life, from access to city services to signing up for free memberships at zoos, museums and other cultural institutions in all five boroughs, writes AMNY.

Who can apply for an IDNYC card

The beauty of the city ID card is that it is designed to help the most vulnerable residents of New York. Anyone living in the city who is 10 years old, including the homeless, the elderly, college students, former prisoners and illegal immigrants, can apply for it.

Information that is indicated in the map

The IDNYC card contains the name, address, date of birth, height, eye color, signature and a photograph of its holder. In addition, each card has a unique identification number and expiration date. If desired, you can include additional information such as gender, preferred language of communication, and contacts in case of an emergency. Veterans and organ donors can also enter this information on the map.

It is also possible not to indicate your address on the map, if you have a good reason for this. For example, a residential address may not be indicated if the person is a victim of violence and fears for their safety.

Using IDNYC Card

The IDNYC card not only gives access to municipal buildings in New York, such as schools and offices, it can also help access urban services and programs.

In addition, you can use the card to create an account in the New York Public Library. If you already have a library account, you can ask the librarian to synchronize it with your IDNYC card.

If the police stop you, an IDNYC card is considered an acceptable form of identification. Some banks allow you to use an IDNYC card to open an account.

Why not use IDNYC

Although the card may visually look like a driver's license, it does not give the owner the right to drive a car. It also cannot be used as an identity card for obtaining a driver's license, moreover, it is not evidence of legal immigration status, and its presence does not give a work permit.

The card also can not be used for air travel or for the purchase of alcoholic or tobacco products.

What you need to apply for IDNYC card

To obtain an identity card for a resident of New York, you must confirm your identity, as well as the fact of residence in this city.

The city uses a points system for documents, you can easily determine how many points you need to apply for an IDNYC card. You need to provide three points for identification and one point for confirming the fact of residence.

For proof of identity, you can use a passport (US or foreign), driver's license, birth certificate, green card, school identity card, electronic card to receive benefits and other documents.

For proof of residency, eligible documents include a driver's license with a valid address, a utility bill, a current lease agreement, a bank statement or a letter from a homeless shelter or city agency.

IDNYC employees can also use the existing records of some city agencies to verify information about their place of residence and their identity.

Ways to apply for IDNYC card

You can fill out an application Online Training: For those who prefer the flexibility of learning from a distance or cannot make it to our Sofia location, we offer comprehensive online courses. or in one of the city registration centerslocated in all five districts of the city. Applicants aged 10 to 13 years must submit an application in person at the registration center and be accompanied by their caregiver.

If you plan to apply at the registration center, you must make an appointment in advance. You can make an appointment at IDNYC or by calling 311.

ID validity

IDNYC card is valid for five years, starting from the date of approval of the application for its issuance. The card indicates its expiration date.

Loss or theft of IDNYC card

Go to the IDNYC Finance Department Business Center (there are several places) to replace a lost, stolen or damaged IDNYC card. The replacement will cost 10 dollars, and you should take with you all the documents that were used to apply for the card. If you cannot afford a replacement fee, you may be exempt from paying this bill.

IDNYC and immigration

Since Donald Trump was elected president, concerns have re-emerged regarding the personal information that city authorities receive when issuing municipal identity cards, especially regarding immigrants.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio promised to protect the city’s immigrants and fight any actions by the federal authorities that threaten the immigrants, until all information on IDNYC cardholders was removed.

Moreover, when applying for an IDNYC card, candidates are not asked about their immigration status, so this information is not stored in databases.

In addition, the city does not keep the original documentation used in the application process, and copies of the submitted documents are destroyed within two years from the filing date of the application.

Benefits of IDNYC

More 40 cultural institutions have signed an agreement to provide free annual membership for IDNYC card holders in 2019.

There are two rules for obtaining free membership with the New York City Municipal Card:

1. Your IDNYC card must be valid and has not expired.

2. You can sign up for a free membership in a particular establishment if you have not had membership there since January 1 2014.

Here is a list of IDNYC museums and cultural institutions participating in the 2019 year:

• American Museum of Natural History
• BRIC
• Bronx County Historical Society
• Bronx Museum of the Arts
• BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)
• Brooklyn Children's Museum
• Carnegie Hall
• Central Park Zoo (enrollment is only available at the Bronx Zoo)
• China Institute
• The drawing center
• Film Forum
• Flushing Town Hall
• International Print Center New York
• Jacques Marchais Center for Tibetan Art
• King manor
• Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Metropolitan Opera
• Museum at eldridge street
• Museum of Chinese in America
• Museum of Jewish Heritage
• Museum of Modern Art
• Museum of the City of New York
• New York Aquarium (enrollment is only available at the Bronx Zoo)
• New York Botanical Garden
• New York City Ballet
• New York City Center
• MoMA PS1
• Park Avenue Armory
• Pregones theater
• Prospect Park Zoo (enrollment is only available at the Bronx Zoo)
• The public theater
• Queens museum
• SculptureCenter
• Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
• St. George Theater
• Staten island museum
• Studio Museum in Harlem
• Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling
• Symphony space
• Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo

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