Social Security Number for International Students: F-1, M-1, and J-1

To apply for a Social Security number as an international student, you first need work authorization from the Department of Homeland Security or, for on-campus F-1 jobs, from your designated school official. Once you have that, you complete Form SS-5, start the request online if you like, and bring your original documents to a scheduled appointment at a Social Security office. The application is free.¹

Enrollment in a U.S. school by itself does not qualify you. If you have no work authorization and no U.S. tax obligation, the SSA will not issue you a number. Students in that situation who still need a tax ID can apply for an ITIN from the IRS instead, covered at the end of this article.

Are You Eligible?

The Social Security Administration issues SSNs to noncitizens who hold valid permission to work in the United States.¹ Your visa category shapes what counts as valid work authorization and what paperwork you’ll bring to prove it.

F-1 Students

F-1 students have the widest range of pathways. For on-campus employment, your designated school official (DSO) can authorize you to work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full-time during breaks.² No federal work permit is required for on-campus jobs, but you do need a letter from your DSO confirming your enrollment and the employment details when you go to the SSA.¹

For off-campus work, F-1 students generally use Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). CPT is authorized by your DSO and noted on your Form I-20. OPT requires an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Either the endorsed I-20 or the I-766 is your proof of work authorization at the SSA office.¹

M-1 Students

M-1 students in vocational or technical programs generally need an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) from DHS before they can work, and the SSA will require you to present it. One catch worth knowing: if the employment start date printed on your EAD is still in the future, the SSA cannot process your application. Wait until that date arrives.¹

J-1 Exchange Visitors

p>J-1 students, researchers, and interns qualify with a letter from their program sponsor authorizing employment. The letter must be on the sponsor’s official letterhead, carry an original signature, and specify the type of work you’re authorized to do.¹

Documents to Bring

The SSA accepts only originals or certified copies from the issuing agency. Photocopies are refused, so gather everything in advance. Missing one item means rescheduling.

Completed Form SS-5, the application for a Social Security card. You can download and fill it in from the SSA website before your visit.³
Unexpired foreign passport with valid U.S. visa, which proves identity and age.
Form I-94 arrival/departure record. You can retrieve and print it from the CBP website.⁴
Certificate of Eligibility: Form I-20 for F-1 and M-1 students, or Form DS-2019 for J-1 exchange visitors.
Proof of work authorization matched to your visa: a DSO letter for on-campus F-1 employment, an I-20 with a CPT endorsement, an EAD (Form I-766) for OPT or M-1 work, or a J-1 sponsor letter.¹

If your documents are in a foreign language, you generally don’t need to arrange your own translation. The SSA has its own process for translating documents submitted in other languages.

How to Apply

You can begin the request online through the SSA’s website, then finish in person at a local office where you present your original documents.⁵ Starting online pre-fills your information and shortens the office visit.

Wait At Least 10 Days After You Arrive

Don’t head to an SSA office the day after landing. Wait at least 10 days after arrival so government systems, including the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), can update with your entry.⁶ Complete your school’s international student check-in first, because your DSO has to register your arrival in SEVIS before the SSA can verify your status. Applying too early is one of the most common reasons for delay.

Schedule an Appointment

Social Security offices have moved toward appointment-based service, so book ahead rather than walking in.⁷ At the appointment, an SSA representative reviews your Form SS-5 and supporting documents. There is no filing fee.⁵

If SSA Can’t Verify Your Status

The SSA checks your immigration status electronically against DHS records. When the records don’t confirm active SEVIS status, the application stops. You’ll receive a written refusal notice, and the SSA will direct you to contact your school or program sponsor to update your SEVIS record. Once your DSO or J-1 sponsor confirms the record has been corrected, wait at least 48 hours before reapplying.⁸ This is frustrating but fixable; it means the electronic records hadn’t caught up, not that you’re ineligible.

Working Before the Card Arrives

You do not have to wait for the physical card to start your job. The SSA allows employees to begin work while their SSN application is pending.⁹ Give your employer your full name, address, date of birth, and the date you applied so they can use that information in place of the number.

If year-end tax forms come due and your number still hasn’t arrived, your employer writes “Applied For” in the SSN box on paper W-2s or enters all zeros on electronic filings.⁹ Once the card comes, share the number and the exact name printed on it so your employer can update their records.

After You Get the Card

Most cards arrive by mail within about two weeks of approval.¹ If nothing has come after three weeks, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to check on it.

Your card will be printed with the notation “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.” That wording signals that your right to work depends on maintaining your immigration status and employment authorization.¹⁰

Memorize the number and store the card somewhere secure. Don’t carry it in your wallet, and don’t share it unless legally required, such as on tax forms or employment paperwork. Be wary of callers claiming to be from DHS or immigration authorities who demand payment or bank details; real government agencies won’t ask you to transfer money to an individual, pay by gift card or cryptocurrency, or share your bank information over the phone.¹¹

Replacement cards are free. You can get up to three replacements per year and ten over your lifetime, but name changes and updates to the card’s immigration notation don’t count toward those limits.¹² Request a replacement through the SSA’s website or at a local office.

If Your Immigration Status Changes Later

If you move from F-1 to H-1B, become a permanent resident, or otherwise change status, update your Social Security record. Apply for a replacement card and bring proof of your identity and new status to an SSA office. The new card usually arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.¹³ The notation on your card should always reflect your current work authorization.

If You Don’t Qualify for an SSN

Students without work authorization don’t get an SSN, but they may still need a taxpayer ID. If you receive a scholarship, fellowship, or grant subject to U.S. tax withholding, you can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS.¹⁴

Use IRS Form W-7. F-1, J-1, and M-1 students who won’t be working can include a letter from their DSO or program sponsor confirming that their U.S. presence is solely for study, which the IRS accepts in place of an SSA denial letter. You can file W-7 by mail, in person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center by appointment (call 844-545-5640), or through a certified acceptance agent; SEVP-approved schools may be able to certify your documents so you don’t have to mail originals.¹⁵ An ITIN is for tax use only. It does not authorize employment and does not replace an SSN.

1
Social Security Administration. International Students and Social Security Numbers
2
eCFR. 8 CFR 214.2
3
Social Security Administration. Form SS-5 – Application for a Social Security Card
4
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. I-94 Official Website for Travelers Visiting the United States
5
Social Security Administration. Request a Social Security Number for the First Time
6
Study in the States. Obtaining a Social Security Number
7
Social Security Administration. A Faster and More Convenient Way to Request a Social Security Number and Card
8
Social Security Administration. POMS RM 10211.395
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Social Security Administration. Employer Responsibilities When Hiring Foreign Workers
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Social Security Administration. Types of Social Security Cards
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Study in the States. Beware of DHS Imposters: Protecting Foreign Students from Scams
12
Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers
13
Social Security Administration. Update Citizenship or Immigration Status
14
Internal Revenue Service. Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) for Foreign Students and Scholars
15
Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-7