{"id":1276,"date":"2024-12-12T12:44:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T18:44:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/?page_id=1276"},"modified":"2026-04-14T15:12:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T20:12:59","slug":"social-security-number","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/international-staff-and-students\/tax-information-for-foreign-nationals\/social-security-number\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Security Number (SSN)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading lead-in\" id=\"h-what-is-a-social-security-number\"><strong>What is a Social Security Number?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"lead-in\">A Social Security number is only assigned to people who are authorized to work in the United States. It is used to post wages to Social Security records so workers can become eligible for Social Security benefits. Social Security will only issue you a number if you are working, have specific authorization to work, or have a government requirement to be issued a number.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col uwm-l-col--4 uwm-l-offset--1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading default\" id=\"h-what-if-you-need-a-number-for-tax-purposes\"><strong>What if you need a number for tax purposes?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"default\">If you need a number for tax purposes and you are not authorized to work in the U.S., you can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Please see our ITIN page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"uwm-c-link--external\">Or submit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-w-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Form W-7<\/a>, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to the IRS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row uwm-l-row--6\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-if-a-business-requires-me-to-have-a-social-security-number-in-order-to-receive-services\"><strong>What if a business requires me to have a social security number in order to receive services?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"uwm-c-link--external\">Many private service providers in the U.S. such as mobile phone and cable television companies ask you to provide a social security number in order to receive their services. These companies use the social security number as a convenient way to perform personal credit checks as well as assign you a unique personal identification number for their records. Legally, these companies cannot require you to provide a social security number as it can only legally be requested by your employer or the U.S. government. However, because many of these companies have policies and forms that ask for social security numbers, they may be difficult to work with if you are without one. Many international students encounter problems with these companies because they are unable to provide a social security number. Be patient and search for a good company that will provide you the services you need. It may also be helpful to ask other international students how they overcame this problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Social Security Administration will only issue you a number if you are working, have specific authorization to work, or have a government requirement to be issued a number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-do-i-need-a-number-for-other-government-services\"><strong>Do I need a number for other government services?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Lawfully admitted non-citizens can get many benefits and services without having a Social Security number. You do not need a number to purchase savings bonds, conduct business with a bank, register for school or apply for educational tests, obtain private health insurance, apply for school lunch programs or apply for subsidized housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-i-apply-for-a-social-security-number\">How do I apply for a Social Security Number?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row uwm-l-row--6\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading default\" id=\"h-f-1-students\"><strong><div class=\"clear_column\"><\/div>F-1 Students<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"uwm-c-link--external\">The Social Security Administration (SSA) will issue a number for F-1 students who already have a campus job; have been authorized to participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT); or have been authorized to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT) and have secured employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Employment Letter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Passport<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I-94 arrival\/departure record information*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I-20<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A letter from CIE verifying full time enrollment issued for the purpose of obtaining a social security number<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading default\" id=\"h-j-1-students\">J-1 Students<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If 51ÁÔÆæ is your sponsor, apply for on-campus work permission at CIE. If not, you must request work permission from your sponsor listed on your DS-2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>J-1 students will take the following items to the Social Security Administration (SSA):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Passport<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I-94 arrival\/departure record information*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DS-2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Letter from sponsor authorizing employment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row uwm-l-row--6\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading default\" id=\"h-all-f-1-and-j-1-students\">All F-1 and J-1 Students<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"uwm-c-link--external\">* All F-1 and J-1 student visa holders entering the U.S. will receive I-94 arrival\/departure record information. For individuals entering the U.S. via an air or sea port, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) gathers travelers\u2019 arrival\/departure information automatically from their electronic travel records. Travelers can retrieve and print their I-94 number and other admission information online at&nbsp;the <a href=\"https:\/\/i94.cbp.dhs.gov\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Form I-94<\/a> website. For individuals that enter the U.S. via land border ports of entry, U.S. CBP will still issue a paper form I-94 that travelers can use to as an admission record to verify immigration status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-for-more-information\"><strong>For More Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Please contact the Social Security Administration for complete details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>U.S. Social Security Administration<br>310 W. Wisconsin Ave #260<br>Milwaukee, WI 53203<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phone: 1-800-772-1213<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"uwm-c-link--external\">Website: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.ssa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do I apply for a Social Security Number?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3280,"featured_media":0,"parent":1262,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"class_list":["post-1276","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1276"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2447,"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1276\/revisions\/2447"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}