Social Security Number

In order to be able to work on-campus, you will need a Social Security Number (SSN). SSNs are issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA). You can apply for a social security card at the local SSA Office.

J-1 students are eligible to apply for an SSN without an employment offer.

F-1 students are not eligible for an SSN without an employment offer. Students are required to submit a job offer letter when applying for an SSN. The job offer letter must contain specific data, such as an Employer's Identification Number, and it can be obtained from the payroll office of the hiring department. Department payroll staff uses the Employment Eligibility Certification (EEC) online system to create the job offer letter with all the information required by the SSA for the SSN application.

Both F-1 and J-1 visa holders need a letter from ISS for SSN application. The ISS letter for F-1 students will be generated automatically once they are approved for employment in the EEC system; an email will be sent to the F-1 students when their letter is ready for pick-up from the ISS office. J-1 students should visit the ISS office and request the Social Security letter for SSN application.

In order to be issued a social security card, your data must appear in a database the SSA office uses to verify your legal non-immigrant status. It generally takes 12-15 days after the Port of Entry date stamped on your I-20 or DS-2019 for the Port of Entry officials to enter your information in the database. Because of this, the SSA Office encourages you not to submit your SSN application until you have been in the U.S. at least 12-15 days. If you choose to submit your application early and your data is not yet in the database, your application will then be forwarded to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for further review which usually adds an additional 2-6 weeks to the normal processing of your social security application.

If you apply for the SSN 12-15 days after arriving in the U.S., it will take approximately 6 weeks for the social security card to arrive at the mailing address on the SSN application form. Going to the SSA Office to check on the status of the application will not help, since once it is submitted, the process is not in the hands of local officials. Therefore, please DO NOT inquire about the status of an application before the end of 6 weeks.

The address you use on your SSN application is very important. An incomplete or wrong address, or one sent to a friend's house will prevent the U.S. Postal Service from delivering your social security card and it will send it back to the SSA. DO NOT use the term "c/o" as part of the address. ISS advises students to apply for an SSN only after they get a permanent address.

After completing your SSN application form, bring all of the documents listed below to your local SSA office:

• SSN Application completed using blue or black ink: The SSN Application Form and Instructions are available online.
• Original I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) and a photocopy,
• Original I-94 card and a photocopy,
• Original passport and a photocopy of the picture page, the page showing the expiration date, and your U.S. visa stamp,
• Social Security letter obtained from an International Student Advisor,
• Employment offer letter issued by the hiring department, generated by the EEC system (F-1 students only).

Use the Social Security Office Locator to find the closest SSA office in your area.

Please refer to the How to Contact Social Security page for more SSA contact information and the Social Security FAQ.

The SSA office for Bryan/College Station is located at 2120 West Briargate Drive in Bryan. The office hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The local phone number is (979) 731-1140.

ISS offers trips to the Social Security Office at the beginning of each semester. Please see the ISS Calendar or contact our office for further details.