A social security number (SSN) is required for everyone who works in the United States, including international students. Social security numbers are issued by the Social Security Administration, a United States government agency.

A social security number is not a work permit. You must have work authorization before beginning any employment.

If you previously had a SSN, but do not have the card or do not remember the number, you can apply for a duplicate card if you meet the eligibility requirements.

International students become eligible for a SSN once they have been approved for some form of work authorization (examples: CCA on-campus job, CPT, OPT) and are in the US maintaining valid F-1 non-immigrant status.

The Social Security Administration is required to verify legal presence in the United States before issuing an SSN, so you cannot apply for a SSN from outside the US.

You must also have an employment start date that is within 30 days of the day you apply for the SSN. The Social Security Administration may reject or delay your application if you apply too early.

Once you have submitted your application to the Social Security Administration, it generally takes 2 weeks for you to receive your SSN card in the mail.

• Step 1: Obtain work authorization. You are considered eligible to apply for a SSN once you have been offered a CCA on-campus job.
• Step 2: Download the CCA Social Security Number Request Form from this page (see Resources)
• Step 3: Have your CCA supervisor complete the top portion of the SSN Request Form. Please note your employment start date must be in the future.
• Step 4: Once you have part one completed, please make an appointment to come into the CCA ISS office for an original signature on the form.
• Step 5: Visit the Social Security Administration website and answer all questions accordingly. Complete this step before going into the Social Security Office.
• Step 6: Visit your local Social Security Administration Office to apply for the SSN, bringing the following documents with you:
  • • Most recent I-94 (printed paper document required)
    • I-20 (printed paper document required)
    • Passport / Visa (original documents, not photocopies)
    • CCA SSN Request Form with all signatures (printed paper form required)

• Step 1: Obtain work authorization. You are considered eligible to apply for an SSN under the following circumstances:
  • CPT: Once ISS has given you a new I-20 with CPT authorization on the second page. You can not apply for a SSN without a new CPT I-20.
  • OPT: Once you have received your EAD card from USCIS as proof of approval for OPT.
• Step 2: Visit the Social Security Administration website and answer all questions accordingly. You must complete this step before going into the Social Security office for your appointment.
• Step 3: Visit your local Social Security Administration Office to apply for the SSN, bringing the following documents with you:
  • • Most recent I-94 (printed paper document required)
    • CPT I-20 with CPT employment authorization (printed paper document required)
    • Passport / Visa (original documents, not photocopies)
    • Job Offer Letter (printed paper document required)

Please be aware scammers will try to scare you with threats that something is wrong with your SSN! The Social Security Administration (SSA) will NEVER call you unexpectedly unless you have put in a request specifically to be called about an issue. The SSA has warning information about scams here. 

If you receive a call from someone you do not know, do not provide any of your contact information or bank information, and never provide your SSN over the phone. US government officials will NEVER ask for your SSN over the phone.