Which document can a flight instructor use to verify a new flight student's US citizenship?

To verify a new flight student's U.S. citizenship, the best choice is the individual’s original or government-issued certified U.S. birth certificate accompanied by a form of identification. A certified birth certificate is an official document that not only asserts the individual's identity but also confirms their citizenship status as a U.S. citizen.

This option is particularly strong because it is commonly recognized and accepted by various authorities and institutions, including aviation regulatory bodies, when establishing citizenship. The need for identification alongside the birth certificate ensures that the person presenting the documentation is indeed the rightful owner, thereby adding an additional layer of verification.

Although other options include forms of identification and documents that may indicate citizenship, they may not be as universally accepted or straightforward for establishing citizenship status. For example, while a passport does provide proof of citizenship, it is not always accompanied by another form of ID in the same way a birth certificate can be paired with a government-issued photo ID. This makes the option of a birth certificate with ID more straightforward for flight instructors to utilize.