If you are offered employment in the U.S., you will need to apply for a Social Security Number as soon as possible.
To apply for a Social Security Number, please come to the International Student Services office, so that we can help you collect the documents you need. You will need to complete an application and submit the following to the Social Security Administration:
- A letter from international student services stating that you are a student authorized to work on campus and that you are enrolled in a full course of study.
- Proof of work or work eligibility
- For on-campus employment: A letter from your supervisor that verifies you have secured employment and details the nature of the job. Forms are available in the International Student Services office.
- For Curricular Practical Training (CPT), an I-20 with the work authorized by the international student counselor.
- For Optional Practical Training (OPT), an Employment Authorization Document (EAD); or
- For off-campus work based on economic hardship: authorization from USCIS.
- Your I-94 card
- Your passport
- Your current Form I-20 and any previous I-20s you may have.
In most cases, an F-1 student will be assigned a SSN 3-5 weeks after the application has been received.
You may be able to learn your number before you actually receive your card by returning to the office where you applied and presenting the receipt the Social Security Administration (SSA) gave you.