Here's a great hack to circumvent the long processing times the US embassy in Israel takes for issuing social security cards for children.

Here's a great hack to circumvent the long processing times the US embassy in Israel takes for issuing social security cards for children.

You can add thousands to your child tax credit refund or pay thousands less in taxes by making the deadline.

You can also avoid having to mail passports or other critical documents to the US. 

Here's the best way to do it:

1) Apply for a passport card, both for you and your child. 

While passport cards are only valid for limited land or sea travel as a travel document, and you may have no real use for them, here is one overlooked aspect: 

They are 100% proof of identity and US citizenship just like a passport book. 

They only cost $30 and may be applied for at the same time as a regular passport.

2) Fill out the SSA-5 form to apply for a social security card for your child, and sign it. 

3) Mail both yours and your child's passport card together with the SSA-5 form to a Social Security office in the US. Tracked mail only!

They allow mailed applications, but original proof of identity and citizenship must be attached. 

Most practically this requirement may be satisfied with passport books or cards, which satisfy both requirements.

For the address on the SSA-5 form, you must give a US mailing address. You can use the address of a trusted relative or friend. 

Best to use shipping with tracking such as FEDEX.

Within 2-4 weeks, the US based Social Security office will mail your passport cards to the US address you wrote on the forms, and you will also receive a new social security card shortly after.

This way, you don't have to mail your passports and risk being stuck abroad if you ever have to travel urgently. 

Eventually you'll get your passport cards and social security card back from your relative or friend, no rush. They can give you the number over the phone so you can file your taxes while claiming the child as a dependent.

You may also be required by foreign law, if not a citizen, to maintain a valid passport you have close access to, which is impossible if you send it abroad. You don't want to risk running afoul of foreign law.

Worst case if something gets lost in the mail, you don't really have an urgent need for a passport card in any case.