Social Security Number

A Social Security Number (SSN) is a unique, 9-digit taxpayer identification number used for taxpayer identification, income reporting, and record-keeping purposes. A Social Security Number is not work authorization. The Social Security Administration (SSA) issues numbers to all U.S. citizens and permanent residents and to eligible foreign nationals. Eligibility to apply for a social security number is dependent on one's eligibility for employment in the U.S.

Everyone who is employed in the U.S. must have a social security number. Once issued, the number is valid for a lifetime. If you have been issued a number previously, do not apply for another as this will cause confusion in your tax records. If you do not have a social security number, you will need to visit one of the local Social Security Administration offices to apply for one.

Employers withhold social security tax, or FICA (Federal Insurance Contribution Act), from workers' wages for redistribution after retirement. In general, students and scholars in F-1 or J-1 status who are nonresidents for tax purposes do not have social security tax withheld. However, individuals filing as residents for tax purposes –dependents in J-2 status and scholars in H-1B, O-1, and TN status – do have social security tax withheld. F-1 and J-1 students generally are considered nonresidents for tax purposes for their first five years in the U.S. J-1 scholars are generally considered nonresidents for tax purposes for their first two years in the U.S.

The immigration status of all nonimmigrant applications for social security numbers must be verified by the Department of Homeland Security. Processing time for a social security number can take several weeks.

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
Scholars who visit the university for nine days or less and receive honoraria or reimbursement do not need social security numbers. Instead, they will be asked by the university to complete, among other papers, a W-7 form to obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) necessary to file their tax returns.

Eligibility Requirements
F-1 and J-1 students are eligible to apply for a social security number only if they are in status and authorized to work. The application for a social security number MUST be made before the on-campus job ends or the off-campus work authorization expires.

F-1 work authorization must be in one of the following forms:

• An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with a start date that has already been reached
• Curricular Practical Training authorization issued by the OISS with the start date of employment no more than 30 days into the future
• An on-campus job offer letter (with the start date of employment no more than 30 days into the future) and an accompanying OISS approval signature. The job offer letter must be on official school or departmental letterhead and must contain the employer's original signature.

J-1 students must have a work authorization letter from their J-1 program sponsor.

Students in certificate or non-degree programs who are ineligible to accept on-campus employment, or students who are otherwise not maintaining F-1 or J-1 status, are not permitted to apply for a social security number.

Application Procedures

F-1 students with on-campus employment

1. Complete full-time academic registration
2. Bring a photocopy of your I-94 card and your NYU job offer letter to the OISS, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (be sure to check here for office closings before coming to the OISS). The job offer letter must be downloaded from the OISS site and copied onto department letterhead. Before submitting these two required documents, be sure that

• You have attended an OISS check-in workshop for new and transfer students.
• You are registered full time for the current semester
• You have a current local address in SIS/Albert

3. OISS processing time is five business days from the date a complete application is submitted. Once you have obtained the OISS approval, you may go to a Social Security Administration office to submit an application for a social security number. Students may not apply earlier than 30 days before your work begin date or work authorization start date. You must present the following documents:

•  Unexpired passport (valid at least six months into the future)
•  I-94 card marked "F-1 D/S”
• NYU I-20
• NYU ID Card or another form of photo ID
• Evidence of employment authorization in the form of an NYU job offer letter with OISS approval

F-1 students with off-campus work authorization should bring their passport, I-20, and Employment Authorization Document OR Curricular Practical Training I-20 to the Social Security Administration. You DO NOT need a letter from the OISS. Students with CPT may not apply earlier than 30 days before the work authorization start date. Students with an EAD may not apply until the EAD start date has been reached.
 
J-1 students

1. Complete full-time academic registration
2. Obtain a work authorization letter from your exchange visitor program sponsor.

      If you are sponsored by NYU, you must apply for your on-campus employment authorization letter in person at the OISS. Bring your passport, I-94 card, and most recent DS-2019 to the OISS during walk-in hours. Otherwise, contact your J-1 program sponsor (as indicated in Section 5 of your DS-2019) for directions.

3. Once you have obtained an employment authorization letter, you may go to a Social Security Administration office to submit an application for a social security number. You must present the following documents:

• Unexpired passport (valid at least six months into the future)
• I-94 card marked “J-1 D/S"
• DS-2019
• NYU ID Card or another form of photo ID
• Employment authorization letter

If you lose your Social Security Card
If you have been assigned a Social Security Number but lost your card, you will need to re-apply for a new Social Security card. You must be eligible for a Social Security card under the current Social Security Administration regulations, and you need to follow the procedure listed above.

Scholars
Applying for a Social Security Card

1. Check in at International Scholar Services. The records of J-1 scholars must be validated in SEVIS before an application can be filed.
2. Go to a Social Security Administration office with the following documents:

• Unexpired passport (valid for at least six months into the future)
• I-94 card
• DS-2019 (for J-1 scholars) or I-797 (H-1B and O-1 scholars)

Social Security Office Locations
The Social Security Administration maintains offices throughout New York City and the tri-state area. You may wish to go to the following offices, which are accustomed to serving NYU students. Other offices may be found using the SSA Office Locator.

Brooklyn Residents must apply at
625 Fulton Street (10 Metrotech Center)
6th Floor
Train: M/N/Q/R lines to DeKalb Avenue
2/3/4/5 lines to Nevins Street

Queens Residents must apply at one of two locations:
Queens SS Card Center, 155-10 Jamaica Avenue, 2nd Floor
Train: Take the E, J, or Z line to the Jamaica Center Parsons/Archer station
or
625 Fulton Street (10 Metrotech Center)
6th Floor
Train: M/N/Q/R lines to DeKalb Avenue
2/3/4/5 lines to Nevins Street

Manhattan:
Midtown West
237 W. 48th Street, 5th Floor
(Between 8th Avenue and Broadway)

Midtown East
755 2nd Avenue @ 41st Street, 3rd Floor

SoHo/Chinatown
32 Mercer Street, 8th Floor
(Between Grand & Canal Street)

East Village
650 E. 12th Street
(Between Avenue B and Avenue C)

Lower Manhattan
26 Federal Plaza, 31st Floor, Room 120

Harlem
55 West 125th Street, 6th Floor
(near Lenox Avenue)

Be prepared for long lines and security checkpoints.

Processing Times
Once your application has been approved, the Social Security Administration will send a Social Security card to the address you provided when you submitted your application. Due to security procedures, processing times may range from 4-8 weeks.

You must ask for a receipt from the Social Security Administration when you submit your application for a card. This serves as proof that you applied for an SSN. A receipt is not automatically issued; you must make a specific request for a receipt.

Spouses and family members

• F-2 spouses and family members are not eligible to accept employment in the U.S., and are therefore not permitted to apply for SSNs. However, F-2 spouses and family members may apply for Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) via Form W-7, available through the Internal Revenue Service.
• H-4 and O-3 spouses and family members are not eligible to accept employment in the U.S., and are therefore not permitted to apply for social security numbers.
• J-2 spouses and family members who have been granted employment authorization by the INS may apply for SSNs.

Security and Identity Theft
Your SSN is a unique, identifying number that should kept safe and provided only as needed to U.S. government agencies or credible financial institutions. Keep your card in a safe place and guard against "identity theft." Click HERE for more information on identity theft, or review the SSA's information on Social Security fraud.