For users unable to verify remotely — whether due to technical issues or personal preference — Login.gov offers a hybrid online/in-person verification process.
How It Works
- Online portion: The user begins the process online and enters their information (name, ID information, address, SSN, phone number). They can either attempt remote verification first or opt in to in-person verification up front.
- Barcode generation: If online validation of user-provided information succeeds, Login.gov generates an enrollment barcode with a 7-day expiration.
- Post Office visit: The user brings their ID and barcode to a participating U.S. Post Office. The user does not need to visit the location they initially selected – any participating Post Office will work. They stand in the regular line, and when it is their turn, they present their barcode to the retail associate. The associate scans the barcode or manually types in the enrollment code (which pulls up the user’s record in the USPS system), scans the user’s ID, checks that the ID information matches what was entered online (ID type, expiration date, address), physically examines the ID for signs of tampering, and verifies that the user’s face matches the photo on the ID. The associate tells the user they are done but does not disclose the outcome of the cross-check. Accepted forms of ID can be found here.
- Result notification: Login.gov emails the user within 24 hours (most users receive the email within 1 to 2 hours) with the outcome. If successful, the email contains a sign-in button. The user then signs in, consents to share their information with the partner agency, and is redirected to the partner application.
Important: If a user did not complete the online portion and does not have a barcode, the Post Office cannot help them. The barcode is required to initiate the in-person verification.
Key Details
- Approximately 18,000 USPS locations participate. Users should always use the Post Office search tool to confirm participation. This search feature uses the USPS API for real-time participating location data and is the single source of truth.
- Login.gov shares only the user’s name, ID type/number/expiration, and address with USPS. Email addresses are not shared.
- In-person proofing currently accepts specific identity documents listed here.
- In-person proofing is included in identity verification pricing and available to all users — partners do not need to do anything additional to enable it.
- The in-person proofing flow received IAL2 certification.
- Any user going through identity verification can choose to verify in person — either by opting in at the start or by falling back after a failed remote attempt.
Fully In-Person Option
Login.gov does not offer a fully in-person verification option where no online steps are required. The current offering is a hybrid online/in-person service.
Online vs. In-Person: Key Differences
In the fully online flow, a user takes a photo of their ID (and a selfie for IAL2). The information on the ID is automatically extracted from the photo. In the in-person flow, these steps are replaced by the user manually entering all of their information exactly as it appears on their ID.
After the information is submitted, the verification steps are the same in both flows – Login.gov checks the data against authoritative records and verifies the phone number. The in-person option provides an alternative path for users who are unable to or prefer not to submit images of their ID and face online. Additionally, the in-person flow always requires phone verification (no verify-by-mail option).
Falling Back to In-Person Proofing
If a user has trouble taking photos of their ID during the remote flow, Login.gov presents options to switch to in-person verification:
Option 1: If the photo capture fails, the user sees an error screen with a “Cancel” link at the bottom. Clicking it leads to a “Cancel verifying your identity?” screen. On that screen, clicking the “Start over” button takes the user back to the initial IdV screen, where they can choose the in-person flow.
Option 2: If the submitted ID is not recognized or accepted, the user sees a “We couldn’t verify your ID” screen with a “Try in person” button.
In both cases, the user then enters their information manually and proceeds through the online verification checks. If those checks pass, they receive a barcode to take to a participating USPS location.