How Long Does It Take To Get An Ssn For An International Student
Once your application has been approved by the SSA, your social security card containing the 9-digit number would be mailed to your address on file within 2 – 4 weeks.
When you receive your social security card, you would observe an annotation on this card stating “Valid for Work Only with DHS Authorization”.
This is an important note to your future employers. It informs them to check your authorization to work in the US before employing you.
Work Eligibility Based On Immigration Status
First off all, you should be on an M-1, F-1 or J-1 visa seeking nonimmigrant status. You can show that by using your admission stamp in your passport. You also need to use your Form I-94, which is called the Arrival/Departure Record.
M-1 and F-1 visa holders need to also show a Form I-20, which is the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. Those on a J-1 visa must show the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, which is the Form DS-2019.
These documents establish that youre in the country legally and that youre eligible as a student and not planning to permanently remain in the United States.
Other documents required to establish your work eligibility include:
- Letter from your school official confirming your identity and that you are a student. Additionally, the letter must state what types of work you will do.
- Pay stub from your employer. Remember, you can apply for a Social Security number only if you already have a job.
- You can also get a letter from your employer stating your employment.
- Check with DHS to see if you can get a Form I-766, which is a work permit.
- Letter from your sponsor, on the sponsors letterhead, with an original signature.
Its a good idea to gather your documentation before you attempt to apply for a Social Security number so that you can verify you have what you need.
Applying For A Social Security Number With Off
If you have been authorized for work off campus you do not need to request a letter from ISS before applying at SSA.
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For F-1 students on an approved period of curricular practical training, present the 2nd page of your I-20 to show the employment authorization, along with your passport and I-94.
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For F-1 students on optional practical training or severe economic hardship, present your employment authorization document from USCIS, along with your I-20, passport and I-94.
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For J-1 students on academic training, present your DS-2019 and academic training authorization letter, along with your passport and I-94.
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Who Is Eligible To Receive An Ssn
F-1 international students and J-1 exchange students are only eligible to receive a Social Security Number after they have obtained U.S. work authorization . Students must obtain U.S. work authorization BEFORE applying for SSN.
Social Security Administration will not assign a number to F-1 international students and J-1 exchange students just to enroll in a college or school.
Who Is Eligible For A Ssn
- F-1 students who have secured on campus employment, are receiving for-service fellowships, or working off-campus with OPT or CPT.
- All F-1 PhD students.
- J-1 students with letter of permission to work from sponsor
- All J-1 scholars and anyone in H-1B, TN, or O-1 status.
- J-2 spouses with permission to work from USCIS
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Social Security Numbers For F
In order to apply for a Social Security Number , you generally must have a job or a job offer.
To apply for the SSN you will use the following process:
Step 1 Read About the SSN section and gather the required documents.
Step 2 Complete the Supplement to the SSN form with your hiring manager and email the completed form to your OISS Advisor to review. The Supplement form is not needed for CPT or OPT work authorization.
Step 3 Make an appointment directly with a Social Security Administration Office and read After You Obtain an SSN
Benefits Of Ssn For International Students
As an international student on an F1, J1 or M1 visa, an SSN allows you to
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Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
Spouses and dependents who are not authorized to work in the U.S. must apply for an ITIN for tax purposes .
Get complete instructions for applying for an ITIN from the Internal Revenue Service website, which also offers an FAQ.
Once you have gathered your documents, you can apply for an ITIN in-person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center or by mail. If you make an appointment at a Taxpayer Assistance Center, this will prevent you from having to mail your official documents.
If you prefer to mail your application package, send it to:
Internal Revenue Service
Applying For A Social Security Number Or Itin
Newly arrived international students and scholars in F-1 or J-1 visa status being paid by the university are advised to apply for a SSN soon as possible.
The processing takes 3-4 weeks but you should only need to do it once.
Be sure to report your SSN to your school registrar if you are a student, or to the Employee Service Center if you are an employee. Please do so in person – do not email your SSN or give it over the phone.
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Getting A Social Security Number
If you are a J-1 Scholar, this information does not apply to you. Contact J-1 Scholar Advising at jscholaradv@psu.edu regarding the procedure for Social Security Numbers.
The social security number is used for employment purposes in the United States in order to report wages to the government. The Social Security Administration will issue a social security number for employment purposes only. If you have problems establishing a bank account, renting an apartment or opening a cell phone account, see an international student adviser in ISSA. We can help you find other ways to satisfy the requirement with the agency requesting the number.
The Social Security Administration will require that you prove your identity, age, immigration status, and eligibility to work. In addition, F-1 students must provide evidence of on-campus employment from the campus department and verification of enrollment status from ISSA. J-1 students must provide evidence of employment eligibility from the sponsor: if Penn State issued the DS-2019, ISSA will issue the letter if a programming agency such as IIE or AMIDEAST issued the DS-2019, that agency must issue the letter.
Getting Ssn As An International Student
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Social Security numbers are 9 digit tax identification numbers needed to report an individuals wages to the U.S. government and to determine a persons eligibility for Social Security benefits. This tax document is issued by the Social Security Administration , which has offices in most US cities.
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Who Is Eligible For A Social Security Number
- F-1 students who have on-campus employment, or are receiving fellowships which requires employment or RA/TAships, or working off-campus on OPT or CPT
- J-1 students, who have a letter of permission to work from their sponsor. This could be Stanford or an outside organization, i.e. Fulbright.
- If you are a new F-1 or J-1 student, wait 30 days AFTER the I-20/DS-2019 program start date before applying for an SSN.
- All J-1 Scholars
- J-2 spouses with work permission
- Employees in H-1B, TN or O-1 status
If you are not eligible for a social security number, you may apply for an ITIN .
Applying For A Social Security Number
The Social Security Administration office is open to the public. Students may apply for their SSN in-person. The SSA does not make appointments.
To apply for an SSN, please follow the instructions below:
- Working on-campus: Drop off your Hire Form, signed in blue ink by your RIT employer, to ISS. You can pick it up after 48 hours. SSA will not accept your form if it does not have blue ink original signatures from ISS and your supervisor. Photocopied signatures are not accepted.
- Working on Co-op: follow instructions on our CPT page to submit your Social Security Request form with your CPT I-20 request.
What to Take to the SSA office:
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Social Security Numbers For Dependents
J-2 dependents
If you are in J-2 status, you can obtain an Employment Authorization Document from USCIS. Talk to OIS about how to do this. Once you have the EAD, you can take it, along with your passport, I-94 card, DS-2019, and another form of identification to the local Social Security office.
F-2 dependents
F-2 dependents may not work and therefore do not qualify for a Social Security number. The Social Security office will not accept their applications.
How To Get A Us Social Security Number As An International Student
Social security number refers to the nine-digit number generally assigned to US citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents. This could include international students temporarily in the United States while attending a college, language, vocational, or nonacademic school with a nonimmigrant F-1, M-1, or J-1 student classification.
The numbers are used by employers to report the wages you earn to the government. This will determine whether you are eligible for Social Security benefits.
If your school has authorized you to work either on or off campus, and you meet Social Securitys eligibility requirements described in the next section, you can get a Social Security number, Social Security Administrations website states.
Princeton University is a Private Ivy League University in New Jersey, USA. The tour guide explains the history of the university. Source: Shutterstock
But how does one apply for this?
To issue a Social Security number, students must show proof to SSA that they are studying full-time and are eligible to work in the US as well as a formal offer of on-campus or off-campus employment such as through Curricular Practical Training, Optional Practical Training, or Academic Training.
Below we list the process of how you can do so and some tips to help you along the way:
1. Complete an Application for a Social Security card and2. Show documents proving your:
Work-authorized immigration status
F-1 students eligible to work on must provide:
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Understanding This Identification Number
A Social Security Number is a unique, permanent identification number used for income tax reporting. F-1 students are not eligible for a social security number unless they have received a job offer and will be participating in authorized employment on-campus, CPT, or OPT.
You do not need a Social Security Number to:
- open a bank account
- obtain an Arizona State Drivers License or ID card
- use in any other non-tax related purposes
The IRS or any other government agency will not contact people over the phone or via email requesting their social security number. Do not give out your SSN unless you are certain it is for a legitimate purpose. Do not carry your Social Security Card with youkeep it in a secure place.
How To Apply For A Social Security Number As An International Student
After establishing your eligibility for a Social Security number as an international student, you can submit your application. Consider getting help from a school official, especially if youre working on campus. They can help you figure out exactly what you need in addition to helping you determine whether you truly are eligible to work.
You might be eligible to work only on campus as an international student, although the Department of Homeland Security might authorize you to work off campus. Make sure you find out whether you have permission to work off campus before you accept a job. After finding out from your school whether you can work and then checking your status with DHS, you can submit your application for a Social Security number as an international student.
Documentation needed includes proof of:
- Work eligibility based on immigration status.
Lets take a look at how to use these documents to apply for a Social Security number as an international student.
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Social Security Numbers And Drivers Licenses
Many states require that you or your dependent have an SSN or have already applied for one before you apply for a driver’s license. In these states, if you or your dependents are not eligible to work but want to apply for a driver’s license, you must first apply for an SSN at the local SSA office and receive a Form SSA-L676, “Refusal to Process SSN Application.” To learn more, visit our Driving in the States page and talk with your DSO.
Student Resources Navigation
Obtaining A Social Security Number
The Social Security Administration assigns nine-digit Social Security numbers to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and eligible nonimmigrant workers in the United States. SSA uses SSNs to report wages to the government, track Social Security benefits and for other identification purposes. Every F and M student who U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services grants employment authorization to needs an SSN.
Please note: If an F or M student is ineligible to receive an SSN, but receives non-wage income while in the United States , they must apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number . For more information, please visit our What is an ITIN? resource page.
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Can International Students File Taxes Without Ssn
International students who are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number may apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number .
Unlike the SSN, an international student is not required to have received an authorization for employment to apply for an ITIN.
International students can apply for the ITIN at the time of filing their federal tax return, or at any other time in the future.
For assistance with applying for your ITIN and filing your tax return, you can get started with Sprintax. Sprintax offers an online self-preparation software providing an all-in-one solution for non-resident aliens filing US federal and state taxes.
How To Get A Social Security Number As An International Student
Can international students get Social Security numbers? Some can. Heres what you should know about getting a Social Security number as an international student.
Miranda Marquit
As an international student, you might want to work. However, to work in the United States, you need to have a Social Security number. Thats how the government tracks wages and figures taxes. So, can international students get a Social Security number?
The short answer is that, yes, its possible for some international students to get a Social Security number. Heres what you need to know about getting a Social Security number when youre an international student.
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Social Security Number For International Students
In general, a Social Security Number is only given to students working in the United States. International students are only authorized to work on-campus, unless authorized for off-campus employment through the GEC. After hiring, students will need to apply for an SSN by taking the following information to the Social Security Administration Office:
- Complete an application for a Social Security Card Available on the Social Security Administrations website.
- Letter from SUU as proof of employment provided by International Student Advisor
- If you are applying for the purpose of receiving a denial letter , then you do not need a proof of employment letter from SUU.
International Students Working For Chartwells Or The Unc Charlotte Bookstore:
- Follow the I-9 instructions provided by either of the above-named employers.
- If working for Chartwells specifically, complete the following ISSOconnect application: Chartwells Letter Signature Request Form. The ISSO will sign and release your Chartwells offer letter within 5 business days of submission of the application to accompany your Social Security application.
Take the following documents to the Social Security Administration* and submit your application:
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Who Can Get A Social Security Number As An International Student
First of all, not all international students can get a Social Security number. In some cases, your school might ask for one to use for identification purposes. However, the school can simply issue you a different number to use on its records.
In order to get a Social Security number, international students must first have a job. Even a part-time job is acceptable to qualify for a Social Security number. Additionally, students must be on a nonimmigrant student visa with a designation of F-1, M-1 or J-1.
Once you have a job and are on one of those student visas, you can apply for a Social Security number and probably get it.
Purpose Of The Social Security Number
A social security number is necessary to receive any income for employment while in the U.S. While many nonimmigrants are eligible for social security numbers by virtue of their status in the U.S., others are not eligible for a social security number unless they are or will be working. The SSN is a lifetime number and can/should be applied for only once. There is no cost involved. Once the application is made it generally takes 2-4 weeks for the card with the SSN to be mailed to you.
F-1 and J-1 students are only eligible for social security numbers if engaging in lawful employment. Foreign nationals in most other statuses are eligible for social security numbers only after obtaining an employment authorization document from USCIS.
Visit International Students and Social Security Numbers to read more information regarding the documents required to obtain a social security number.
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