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How to Apply for a Social Security Number
A Social Security Number (SSN)
is a unique, 9-digit taxpayer identification number, issued by the
U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) to U.S. citizens, permanent
residents, and qualified foreign nationals - including F-1 and J-1
students who meet the requirements as indicated below. Eligibility
to apply for an SSN is dependent upon having valid employment authorization.
Please note that having an SSN alone does not grant employment
authorization in any way. SSNs are to be used for taxpayer identification,
income reporting, and record-keeping purposes only.
Due to concerns regarding national security and identity theft,
the SSA has put stringent policies into place that make it much
more difficult to obtain a Social Security card. Applications from
all nonimmigrants, including F-1 and J-1 students, must now be verified
by the Department of Homeland Security. Processing time for a Social
Security number can take several weeks.
Eligibility Requirements
As an F-1 or J-1 student, you are eligible to apply for a Social Security number only if you are in status and authorized to work. The work authorization is either in the form of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by the government, Curricular Practical Training, or an on-campus job offer letter with OAS approval signature . Students in certificate or non-degree programs who are ineligible to accept on-campus employment, or students who are otherwise not maintaining lawful F-1 or J-1 status, are not permitted to apply for SSNs. (See notes below for special situations and exceptions.)
Application Procedures
1. Complete full-time academic registration and...
F-1 students:
Bring to the OAS during Advisor-on-Duty hours your TCNJ job offer letter, which MUST include all of the following:
- your name
- nature of the job (e.g. library aide, office worker, research assistant)
- start date
- number of hours you are expected to work weekly
- TCNJ Employer Identification Number
- Office address, telephone number, and name of supervisor
- Signature and title of signatory
- Date letter was issued
J-1 students:
If you are sponsored by TCNJ, you must apply for your on-campus employment authorization letter in person at the OAS. Otherwise, contact your J-1 program sponsor (as indicated in Section 5 of your DS-2019) for directions.
2. Once you have obtained the OAS approval signature of your F-1 job offer letter or the J-1 on-campus work authorization letter, you may go to a Social Security Office (see below) to submit an application for a Social Security Number. You must present the following documents:
- an unexpired foreign passport (valid at least six months into the future)
- an I-94 card marked "F-1 D/S" or "J-1 D/S"
- your TCNJ I-20 (F-1 students) or your DS-2019 (J-1 students)
- your TCNJ ID Card or another form of photo ID
- evidence of employment authorization in one of the following three forms:
- the TCNJ job offer letter with OAS approval signature
- Curricular Practical Training, or
- an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the government - J-1 students must have a work authorization letter from their sponsor
Social Security Office Locations
The Social Security Administration maintains offices throughout New Jersey and the tri-state area. You may wish to go to the following offices, which are accustomed to serving TCNJ students.
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Trenton |
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Be prepared for long lines and security
checkpoints.
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Processing Times
Once your application has been approved, the
Social Security Administration will send a Social Security card
to the address you provided when you submitted your application.
Due to security procedures, processing times may range from 4-8
weeks.
You should ask for a receipt from the Social Security Administration
when you submit your application for a card. This serves as proof
that you applied for an SSN. A receipt is not automatically issued;
you must make a specific request for a receipt.
Special Categories
- F-2 spouses and family members are not eligible to accept employment in the U.S., and are therefore not permitted to apply for SSNs. However, F-2 spouses and family members may apply for Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) via Form W-7, available through the Internal Revenue Service.
- J-2 spouses and family members who have been granted employment authorization by the INS may apply for SSNs.
Security and Identity Theft
Your SSN is a unique, identifying number that should kept safe and provided only as needed to U.S. government agencies or credible financial institutions. Keep your card in a safe place and guard against "identity theft." Click HERE for more information on identity theft, or review the SSA's information on Social Security fraud.
