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International Students and Social Security Numbers

International Students and Social 

Security Numbers

Are you temporarily in the United States to 

attend a college, or a language, vocational, 

or nonacademic school? Do you have a 

nonimmigrant F-1, M-1, or J-1 student 

classification? Your school may ask you for your 

Social Security number (SSN). Some colleges 

and schools use SSNs as student identification 

numbers. If you don’t have an SSN, your 

college or school should be able to give you 

another identification number. 

SSNs generally are assigned to people who 

are authorized to work in the United States. 

They are also used to report your wages to 

the government and to determine eligibility 

for Social Security benefits. An SSN will not 

be issued just for the purpose of enrolling in a 

college or school.

If you want to get a job on campus, you should 

contact your designated school official for 

international students. This official can tell you if 

you’re eligible to work on campus and can give 

you information about available jobs. Also, your 

school may approve certain limited off-campus 

employment, as permitted under Department of 

Homeland Security (DHS) regulations. If your 

school has authorized you to work either on 

or off campus, and you meet our eligibility 

requirements described in the next section, 

you can get an SSN.

In general, only noncitizens who have DHS’ 

permission to work can apply for an SSN. We 

suggest you wait 48 hours after reporting to your 

school before you apply for an SSN. This wait 

will help ensure we can verify your immigration 

status with DHS.

To apply for an SSN, visit our Request a Social 

Security number for the first time page at 

www.ssa.gov/number-card/request-numberfirst-time. You will need to: 

• Start the application online.

• Complete the application, by visiting your 

local Social Security office or Card Center

with your documentation within 45 calendar 

days. You may be eligible to self-schedule 

an appointment online before you visit your 

local Social Security office or Card Center. 

• Show us original documents proving your:

—Work-authorized immigration status.

—Age.

—Identity.

If you cannot start the application online, you 

must visit a Social Security office or Card 

Center. You will need to show us original 

documents or copies certified by the issuing 

agency which prove identity, citizenship/

immigration status, and age. We cannot accept 

photocopies or notarized copies.

You will receive your card in the mail. Most 

cards arrive 14 days after we approve your 

application.

Immigration status 

To prove your immigration status, you must 

show us a current admission stamp in your 

unexpired foreign passport and Arrival/

Departure Record (Form I-94), if available. 

If you’re an F-1 or M-1 student, you must 

also show us your Certificate of Eligibility for 

Nonimmigrant Student Status (Form I-20). If 

you’re a J-1 exchange visitor, you must show us 

your Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor 

Status (Form DS-2019). 

Work eligibility 

If you’re an F-1 student and eligible to work on 

campus, you must provide a letter from your 

designated school official that:

• Identifies you.

• Confirms your current school status.

• Identifies your employer and the type of work 

you are, or will be, doing. 

SocialSecurity.gov
We also need to see evidence of that 

employment, such as a recent pay slip or a letter 

from your employer. Your supervisor must sign 

and date the employment letter. This letter must 

describe: 

• Your job.

• Your employment start date.

• The number of hours you are, or will be, 

working.

• Your supervisor’s name and telephone 

number. 

If you’re an F-1 student authorized to work in 

curricular practical training (CPT), you must 

provide us your Form I-20. The employment 

page must be completed and signed by your 

school’s designated official.

If you’re an F-1 or M-1 student and have a work 

permit (Form I-766) from the DHS, you must 

present it.

If you’re a J-1 student, student intern, or 

international visitor, you must provide a letter 

from your sponsor. The letter should be on 

sponsor letterhead with an original signature 

that authorizes your employment. 

We cannot process your application if: 

• Your on-campus or CPT work begins more 

than 30 days from your application date.

• The employment start date on your work 

permit from the DHS (Form I-766) is a 

future date.

Age

You must present your foreign birth certificate if 

you have it or can get it within 10 business days. 

If you can’t present your foreign birth certificate, 

we can consider other documents, such as your 

passport or a document issued by the DHS, as 

evidence of your age.

Identity

We can only accept certain documents as proof 

of identity. An acceptable document must be 

current (not expired) and show your name, 

identifying information, and preferably, a recent 

photograph. We will ask to see your current 

unexpired foreign passport with DHS issued 

immigration documents.

All documents must be either originals or 

copies certified by the issuing agency. We 

cannot accept photocopies or notarized 

copies of documents. We also cannot 

accept a receipt showing you applied for 

the document. We may use one document 

for two purposes. For example, we may use 

your admission stamp in the unexpired foreign 

passport as proof of both work eligibility 

and identity.

We don’t require you to have an SSN before 

you start work. However, the Internal Revenue 

Service (IRS) requires employers to report 

wages using an SSN. While you wait for your 

SSN, your employer can use a letter from 

us stating that you applied for a number. 

Your employer may use your immigration 

documents as proof of your authorization 

to work in the United States. Employers 

can find more information on the Internet at 

www.ssa.gov/employer/hiring.htm.

Contacting Us

The most convenient way to do business with 

us is to visit www.ssa.gov to get information 

and use our online services. There are several 

things you can do online: apply for most types 

of benefits; start or complete your request for 

an original or replacement Social Security card; 

find publications; and get answers to frequently 

asked questions. 

Or, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213

or at 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) if you’re deaf or 

hard of hearing. We can answer your call from 

8 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. We provide free 

interpreter services upon request. For quicker 

access to a representative, try calling early in 

the day (between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time) 

or later in the day. We are less busy later in 

the week (Wednesday to Friday) and later in 

the month. You can also use our automated 

services via telephone, 24 hours a day, so you 

do not need to speak with a representative.

Social Security Administration

Publication No. 05-10181

January 2024 (Recycle prior editions) 

International Students and Social Security Numbers

Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense

Printed on recycled paper