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BEM 225 31 of 46 CITIZENSHIP/NON-CITIZEN STATUS BPB 2026-017 7-1-2026

BRIDGES ELIGIBILITY MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

• Be admitted as an immigrant for lawful permanent residence. If the child is adopted, the adoption must be full and final. Third Level Evidence Third level evidence of U.S. citizenship is documentary evidence that is used when neither primary nor secondary evidence is avail- able. Third level evidence may be used only when primary evidence cannot be obtained within a reasonable length of time, secondary evidence does not exist or cannot be obtained, and the applicant or recipient alleges being born in the U.S. Third level evidence is usually a non-government document established for a reason other than to establish U.S. citizenship and showing a U.S. place of birth. The place of birth on the non-government document and the application must agree. Third level evidence is: • An extract of a hospital record on hospital letterhead, established at the time of birth that was created at least five years before the initial application date (or near the time of birth for children) that indicates a U.S. place of birth. Do not accept a souvenir birth certificate. • Life, health or other insurance record showing a U.S. place of birth that was created at least five years before the initial application date. • Religious record recorded in the U.S. within three months of birth showing the birth occurred in the U.S. and showing either the date of the birth or the individual’s age at the time the record was made. The record must be an official record recorded with the religious organization. Entries in a family bible are not considered religious records. • Early school record showing a U.S. place of birth. The school record must show the name of the child, the date of admission to the school, the date of birth, a U.S. place of birth, and the name(s) and place(s) of birth of the applicant’s parents. Fourth Level Evidence Fourth level evidence should only be used in the rarest of circum- stances and includes: