International Student Resources: Employment & Taxes

Social Security Cards

A Social Security Number (SSN) is a unique identification number that allows the United States government to monitor your taxable wages earned as an employee in the U.S. As an international student or scholar, you only qualify for a Social Security Card if you have authorization to work in the U.S.

The SSN does not give you U.S. employment authorization. It simply provides an identifying number for you to be paid for a U.S. job and for your employer to deduct the appropriate taxes on behalf of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

A Social Security Number, which appears on the Social Security Card, is not required for you to open a U.S. bank account, buy a cell phone, or rent an apartment. The SSN is requested for these and many other financial transactions because it is commonly used to check U.S. financial credit history, but you will only be eligible for a SSN if you have authorization to work in the U.S.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply for a SSN 10 days after your date of entry into the U.S.  You must have one of the following types of U.S. work authorizations:

• Offered an on-campus job or have already begun working at an on-campus job
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization, and received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and the validity period of your EAD has begun

How to Apply

You will need to go in person to the Social Security Administration Office (see information at the right for the Quincy location).  You are eligible to apply 10 days after date of entry into the U.S.

Complete the Application for Social Security Card.  You may either fill in the fields on your computer using Adobe Acrobat before printing and signing it or you can print the form and fill out the spaces very clearly using black ink.

You will need to provide the following documentation:

• All of your original immigration documents (I-94, Visa, I-20, passport)
• Official letter from ENC's Human Resources department confirming your job offer from an on-campus employer
• Official letter from a DSO confirming that you are an F-1 student in good standing

Receiving Your Social Security Card and Number

The Social Security Administration may need some time to verify your current immigration status before they can issue a Social Security Card. In most cases, a Social Security Card should be mailed to the address you listed on your application form within 14 business days. If you do not receive a Social Security Card within 30-60 days, you should contact the Social Security Administration via telephone at 800-772-1213 or visit the Social Security Administration website to ask about the status of your pending application.

The notation on the Social Security Card should read “Valid for Employment Only with DHS Authorization.” This clarifies to any employer that the Social Security Card itself does not give you work permission in the U.S. and that you will need to obtain separate work permission in order to start working. To find out more about employment authorization, please contact an ENC DSO or visit the Employment page on our website.