Social Security is the name of the US welfare system. It is funded largely by a tax on wages earned in the US. A Social Security Number (SSN) connects your US wage to the Social Security system. If you are authorized to work in the US and you have a job you must have a SSN.
To be eligible for a SSN, both of the following must be true:
To apply for a SSN, please do the following in this exact order:
F-1 Visa | Passport, valid I-20, current I-94, employer SSN letter, GEO SSN letter |
J-1 Student Visa | Passport, valid DS-2019, current I-94, employer SSN letter, GEO SSN letter |
J-1 Scholar Visa | Passport, valid DS-2019, current I-94, employer SSN letter, GEO SSN letter |
H-1B Visa | Passport, valid Form I-797A H-1B approval notice, current I-94, hiring department job offer letter (no specific SSN letters required) |
Obtain your current I-94 Record