conversation: User (BryanAlex003): "Hey everyone!\n\nFirst of all, I'm not sure if it's okay to ask this hear. So if this has to be taken down I will understand it.\n\n\nMy dad recently called me about how he got a check from the government dating way back to the mid 2000's. However, it's named to both my dad and mom.\n\nThe issue with this is that my mom never became a US citizen or resident. She was there with TPS. \n\nI've been living with her for almost a decade in a foreign country and she never tried to get a VISA so she can't just go there for a few days and sign the check. \n\nMy dad's been told by various people that he can either get a vehicle from a dealership, cash it at a gas station or open a bank account in my country with the check (foreign country in Central America).\n\nI've told him to wait on all the option as none of us know if these methods are legal or could work.\n\nWhat's the best thing my parents could do? Does my mom/dad have to travel to get the signature?\n\nEDIT: The countries involved are Nicaragua (mom and I) and the United States (dad).\n\nEDIT 2: My dad sent me a photo of the check. It says "Pay to the order of "his name" &amp; "mom's name"."\n\nThe only date I can make out on it is 12/2005 and it shows "01 29 18" on the first line.\n\n He just recently got this mail as he came to visit us on February 1st and returned to the U.S on March 8th. He got the check on March 9th.\n\nUPDATE March 13th, 2018: Thanks everyone for commenting and helping us out with this, I know I posted limited information and tried to answer as many questions as possible.\n\nMy dad told me he called the IRS and the check is valid, with an Issue Date of 01 29 18, it was most likely sent to him a few days later, but unfortunately, he left the US on Feb 1st for Nicaragua to come visit us, that's why he got this check until these days.\n\nHe's decided he'll come to Nicaragua to open a bank account here jointly with my mom, as the bank requires both of them to be present, both signature and both fingerprints. \n\n \n\nThank you all for the help, good day!"
  Self: "Is this a Federal Treasury Check (with the Statue of Liberty on it and shit)?  Or is it a plain corporate looking check that says “IRS” on it. If it is the latter then this is for sure a scam"
  User (BryanAlex003): "It says "United States Treasury" with bold font on the upper left corner, the statue of liberty on the left, a QR code? on the upper right corner and his signature on a gray box on the lower right corner."
  RevBlueMoon (RevBlueMoon): "His signature? It should look like this: \n\nhttps://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsreports/ref/goldBook/goldbook_home.htm\n\nIf the check is that old it may be not payable, either. The checks go into Limited Payability after one year"
  User (BryanAlex003): "Yeah, the check looks just like that.\n\nThe Issue date is 01 29 18.\n\nThe only thing different I can notice from dad's check and the one on the IRS page is the inclusion of some sort of QR code in the upper right corner with the normal check symbol and check serial number."
  RevBlueMoon (RevBlueMoon): "Yeah they do have QR codes now. \n\nI would just have him call a bank and ask! I think he can cash it no problem. If it's a joint check, I believe it's payable to either party, unless it specifically says "Your Dad AND Your Mom" "
  