cashing a check with little form of ID

I have a problem that few people seem to have. While we all of us are thinking about how we can open a bank account, I find it difficult to even cash a check. My only valid form of ID is my college ID (doesn't have my signature, supposedly an important thing to have when cashing a check). I have a passport, but it expired years ago (and my picture in it is outdated). The issue that really changes things is that my government won't give me a new passport unless I show proof of legal residence in the US. Complete BS if you ask me, but nothing I can do about it.

So if you were in this situation, what would you do?

Try your best to get a bank account with a bank that is lenient in respect to your situation. If all else fails! Smaller grocery stores (little shacks) might be able to cash your check for a small fee. There are a lot of stores like that in Los Angeles. The owners of such stores have a large number of undocumented immigrant customers in your situation, so they will cash their checks for a small % of the check value.

Whoa, that's ridiculous. What is the point of being a citizen of that country if it doesn't let you identify yourself as one. How can they do that, when you go to a consulate you technically are in your own country and should be granted every protection and provision that a regular citizen gets.

What country are you from? I mean cause this is confusing. How come you're not allowed to get a passport even from your own country?

Yup.. go to a bank and open an account. I know there's a few banks that will allow you to open a bank account, but the one I have is Bank Of America. I even got away without an ITIN (even though I did have one). With Bank of America, you can get a debit card with a small picture of you at the top, and when you want to cash your check with them (even if the check is from a different bank), all you need is your debit card.

Also, once you open the bank account, you can try and see if your employer does direct deposit so that the money will directly go into your account and you dont have to deal with cashing checks.


Oh, and try to go to another embassy or consulate.. whatever you call it.. for you country. Maybe the ones at the one you're going to are just jerks. I don't know. But good luck, and don't give up!