{"id":1830,"date":"2025-11-13T15:20:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T20:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/?page_id=1830"},"modified":"2026-07-27T14:21:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T18:21:52","slug":"social-security-card","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/resources\/u-s-tax-information\/social-security-card\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Security Card"},"content":{"rendered":"<nav class=\"toc-wrapper\" id=\"toc\" aria-label=\"Page Section Navigation\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"toc-heading toc-nav-toggle\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Toggle Page Contents Navigation\" aria-expanded=\"true\">Page Contents<\/span><\/nav>\n<p><span>A Social Security Number (SSN) is a unique ID used by the U.S. government to track taxable wages. International students or scholars can get an SSN only if authorized to work in the U.S. The SSN itself does not grant employment authorization; it enables payment and tax reporting to the IRS.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Eligibility<\/h2>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">F-1 Student<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>You are eligible to apply for a SSN if you have any of the following types of U.S. work authorizations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On-Campus Employment<\/li>\n<li>Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization, within 30 days of the start date of the CPT authorization.<\/li>\n<li>Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization, and received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD); and the validity period of your EAD has begun<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">J-1 Student Sponsored by Boston University<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>You are eligible to apply for an SSN if you are pursuing a full course of study.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">J-1 Scholars (Professor, Research Scholar, Specialist, Short-Term Scholar, Student Intern) Sponsored by Boston University<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span>You are eligible for U.S. employment as reflected on your DS-2019 and can apply for a SSN at any time up to 15 days prior to the end of your DS-2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">J-1 Students or Scholars Sponsored by an Outside Agency<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span>Consult with your J-1 Exchange Program Sponsor to ask about whether you are eligible for U.S. work and about the documentation you will need to apply.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Other Employees (H-1, O-1, TN, etc.)<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span>You can apply for your SSN anytime after your I-797 start date or upon entering the U.S. with proper status, but no later than 15 days before your employment authorization ends.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Students and Employees with an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span>You can apply for your SSN once your EAD is valid and no later than 15 days before it expires.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Social Security Certification Form<\/h2>\n<p>F-1 students must follow these steps to document their on-campus employment to support their SSN application.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Ask your employer to complete the SSA-approve <a href=\"\/isso\/files\/2025\/07\/Certification-of-F-1-Student-On-Campus-Employment-for-Social-Security-Number-Application.pdf\">Certification of On-Campus Employment form for Boston University<\/a>. You will need a copy of this form printed on department letterhead and signed by your on-campus employer.<\/li>\n<li>Bring the printed and signed Certification of On-Campus Employment form to the ISSO front desk any time during business hours to request a Designated School Official (DSO) signature.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>F-1 students must present the completed, signed original form along with their passport, I-94 arrival record, and I-20s when applying for an SSN at the SSA office.<\/p>\n<h2>Applying for a Social Security Card<\/h2>\n<p><span>To work in the U.S., get your Social Security Card before starting. If you begin work without an SSN, notify your employer as soon as you receive it to adjust payroll tax withholding&#8217;s.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>SSN Application Steps:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><span><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.ssa.gov\/ossnap\/public\/landingOSsnap\">Apply online<\/a> for a new or replacement card following <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/pubs\/EN-05-10181.pdf\">SSA guidelines.<\/a><\/span> Make note of your confirmation number.<\/li>\n<li>Book appointment with the Social Security Administration.<\/li>\n<li>Gather the required documentation:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Unexpired passport<\/li>\n<li>I-94 arrival record<\/li>\n<li>Additional documents depending on your immigration status to show U.S. employment authorization. Review ISSO <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/files\/2023\/08\/Social-Security-Application-Instructions-08-16-2023.pdf\">chart of the necessary additional documents<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>4. Bring all required documents to your scheduled appointment<\/p>\n<h2><strong>After You Apply for your SSN<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Most employers will request your SSN before the start of your employment.\u00a0 If you begin employment without your SSN, notify your employer as soon as you receive your number so they may adjust your tax withholdings.<\/p>\n<p>The Social Security Administration may take time to verify your immigration status before issuing your Social Security Card, which is usually mailed within 14 business days. If you don\u2019t receive it within 30\u201360 days, contact SSA at 800-772-1213 or check their\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/\">website<\/a>\u00a0for your application status.<\/p>\n<p>Your card will state \u201cValid for Employment Only with DHS Authorization,\u201d indicating you need separate work authorization to start employment.<\/p>\n<p>You do not need to report your Social Security Number to the ISSO.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Social Security Number (SSN) is a unique ID used by the U.S. government to track taxable wages. International students or scholars can get an SSN only if authorized to work in the U.S. The SSN itself does not grant employment authorization; it enables payment and tax reporting to the IRS. Eligibility Social Security Certification [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10133,"featured_media":0,"parent":2990,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1830"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10133"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1830"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4172,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1830\/revisions\/4172"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}