Yes — if you apply for a U.S. work permit, you can get a Social Security number at the same time by filling out a short section on Form I-765. There is no separate application to send to the Social Security Administration. Once USCIS approves your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), it forwards your information to SSA, and SSA mails your Social Security card to the address you listed.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Apply for Your Social Security Number While Applying for Your Work Permit
How to Request the SSN on Form I-765
Form I-765 has a dedicated section for the Social Security card request. You check that you want a card issued, give consent for USCIS to share your data with SSA, and list your parents’ full names. SSA uses the parent names to build a unique record so you are not confused with someone else who shares your biographical details.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Apply for Your Social Security Number While Applying for Your Work Permit
Double-check every field, especially your mailing address. SSA sends the physical card to whatever address is on the form, and there is no way to redirect it once the data has transferred. Skip this section, and you will have to apply in person at a Social Security office after your EAD arrives, which adds weeks.
When the Card Arrives
If you requested the SSN through Form I-765, SSA mails the card within 7 to 10 business days after USCIS approves your work authorization.2Social Security Administration. How Long Will It Take to Get a Social Security Card It arrives by regular mail in a plain envelope, so watch your mailbox during that window.
If nothing shows up after about two weeks, contact SSA. The usual causes are a delay in the data transfer from USCIS or a mailing error. Have your EAD receipt number and approval date ready so staff can locate your file.
Can You Start Working Before the Card Arrives?
Yes. SSA is explicit that you do not need to have your Social Security number before you begin employment.3Social Security Administration. Foreign Workers and Social Security Numbers Your EAD alone proves you are authorized to work.
The IRS backs this up on the employer side. A company can hire and pay you while your SSN is pending. If the number still hasn’t arrived when your employer files Form W-2 at year end, they write “Applied For” in the SSN field on a paper W-2 or enter all zeros for an electronic filing. An employer cannot substitute an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for an SSN for employment purposes.4Internal Revenue Service. Publication 15 (2026) Circular E Employers Tax Guide
What Kind of Card Will You Receive?
SSA issues three versions of the Social Security card, and the one you get depends on your status:
- An unrestricted card, with just your name and number, goes to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
- A card marked “Valid for work only with DHS authorization” goes to people admitted on a temporary basis with work authorization. This is the version most EAD holders receive.
- A card marked “Not valid for employment” goes to people who need an SSN for a non-work reason, such as a government benefit, without work authorization.5Social Security Administration. Types of Social Security Cards
The legend matters to employers. If your card says “Valid for work only with DHS authorization,” your employer needs to see a current EAD or other DHS document alongside it. The number itself never expires. It stays with you for life, even after your work authorization ends. If your status later changes — for example, you become a permanent resident — contact SSA for a replacement card without the restrictive legend. The nine-digit number stays the same.
If You Skipped the Request or the Transfer Failed
If you did not check the SSN box on your I-765, or if the automated transfer between USCIS and SSA didn’t go through, you can still apply at a local Social Security office once you have your EAD. Schedule an appointment and bring original documents. SSA will not accept photocopies or notarized copies.6Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
At minimum, bring your original EAD (Form I-766), which proves both identity and immigration-based work authorization.7Social Security Administration. Apply for Your Social Security Card While Applying for Your Work Permit Lawful Permanent Residency or US Naturalization You will also need proof of age, such as a birth certificate. If you were born outside the United States and cannot present a birth certificate, SSA may accept your passport or other immigration documents. You will get a receipt confirming your application is being processed.
SSN vs. ITIN
An ITIN is not a substitute. The IRS issues Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers strictly for federal tax filing by people who cannot get an SSN, and an employer cannot accept one for hiring.8Internal Revenue Service. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number ITIN If you have a work permit, you qualify for an SSN and don’t need an ITIN. Anyone who already has an ITIN and then receives work authorization should apply for an SSN and notify the IRS so the two records can be consolidated.
Fixing Errors or Replacing a Lost Card
If your card arrives with your name misspelled or other incorrect information, file Form SS-5 with original documents supporting the correction, such as a birth certificate for a wrong date of birth or a legal document showing both the old and new name.9Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card Form SS-5 Instructions If the error came from USCIS, you generally do not have to pay a new filing fee or file a new I-765.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
Replacement cards for lost or damaged originals are free.11Social Security Administration. Replace Social Security Card There are limits, though: no more than three replacements in a year and ten over your lifetime. Name changes and status updates that require a new legend on the card do not count against those limits.