Do I really have to mail original identity documents for my ITIN application?
The idea of sending original identity documents through the mail makes me nervous, especially because I am filing from outside the U.S. and do not want a passport or similar document stuck in a slow administrative loop. I noticed the IRS ITIN pages discuss in-person authentication and certified alternatives, but I am still trying to understand the practical difference between the options.
What I need is the real decision framework. If some methods let me avoid mailing originals while still producing a valid application, I want to choose that on purpose rather than defaulting to the riskiest path just because it is the first one I saw.
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