Original Card for a Noncitizen Adult 
In general , only noncitizens who have permission to work from the Department of Homeland Security DHS can apply for a Social Security number. If you do not have permission to work but need a Social Security number for other purposes , see " If you do not have permission to work " for further information. Important You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. All documents must be current not expired. We cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document. 

What original documents do I need? 
Immigration Status To prove your U.S. immigration status , you must show us your current U.S. immigration document, such as : Form I-551 Lawful Permanent Resident Card, Machine Readable Immigrant Visa with your unexpired foreign passport ; I-766 Employment Authorization Document, EAD, work permit ; or I-94 Arrival / Departure Record or admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport. If you are an F-1 or M-1 student , you also must show us your I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. If you are a J-1 or J-2 exchange visitor , you must show us your DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. Work Eligibility In general , only noncitizens who have permission to work from DHS can apply for a Social Security number. If you are a foreign worker , we only need to see your I-94 Arrival / Departure Record or admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport showing a class of admission permitting work. Some foreign workers must show their I-766 Employment Authorization Document, EAD, work permit from DHS. Student : If you are 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 ; and Identifies your employer and the type of work you are, or will be, doing. We also need to see evidenc

user: I need a new card. What documents do I need?

assistant: The documents you need will vary based on your immigration status.

assistant: Do you know your U.S. immigration status?

user: No, I do not.

user: What do I need if I'm a foreign worker?

assistant: You will need to show us your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record or an admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport showing that you have been permitted to work.

user: Can this document also be used to prove my identity?

assistant: Yes, we may be able to use this document to prove both your immigration status and your identity.

user: What if I'm not legally authorized to work? 

assistant: Those who are not authorized to work in the U.S. can still apply for an Individual Taxpayer ID Number from the IRS. You can apply for this at your local IRS office or by calling 1-800-TAXFORM and requesting a Form W-7 Application for IRS Individual Taxypayer ID Number.

user: Am I eligible for any services without having a Social Security number?

assistant: Yes, noncitizens do not need a SSN to obtain a bank account, register for school, apply for educational tests, obtain private health insurance, apply for school lunch programs or subsidized housing.