F-1 Requirements to Obtain SSNs
Posted Sep 17, 2004
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The Social Security Administration (SSA) published its final rule in the Federal Register on September 13, 2004, requiring F-1s (academic students) to provide certain evidence before being eligible to obtain Social Security Numbers (SSNs). These rules become effective as of October 13, 2004.
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F-1 students must submit evidence that they have been authorized for work by their schools and have secured employment or promises of employment before the SSA will issue them SSNs. The exception to this requirement is if an F-1 has Optional Practical Training and an Employment Authorization Document or if the F-1 has Curricular Practical Training indicated on his/her SEVIS I-20.
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The SSA states that it is implementing this rule to better assure the authenticity of the student's work authorization and legal work intentions. The Designated School Official (DSO) must provide the F-1 student with documentation of the nature of the employment the F-1 is or will be engaged in, and the identification of the employer for whom the F-1 is or will be working. In addition to this and other standard documents that the SSA requires, the F-1 must also provide documentation that shows s/he is already working for the employer or has a job offer from the employer. This may be a statement from the employer or potential employer.
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All of these requirements are to assure that SSNs and social security cards are not being issued to F-1 students unless there is a bona fide, job-related reason. The purpose is to minimize fraud and improve security since the SSN is often used as an identification document.