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Social Security Number
Office of International Education
U.S. federal law requires all individuals employed in the U.S. to have a Social Security Number (SSN). SSN’s are used to identify employees and tax salaries, and are only issued for the purpose of employment. Please note that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will not issue a SSN for the purpose of opening a bank account, or obtaining driver's license or telephone.
A SSN is not required to begin employment, but must be obtained immediately after being hired. In order to be eligible to apply for a SSN, your initial entry to the U.S. must have been more that 10 days prior to filing the application. Additionally, for non-EAD based F-1 student employment (CPT and on-campus employment) SSA will not process an application for a SSN if it is more than 30 days in advance of the scheduled employment start date; in the case of EAD-based F-1 employment, the employment start date on the EAD must already have been reached before SSA will process the application for a SSN
Work on the ESF Campus
Social Security Administration procedures require employers to certify employment of international students. Please have ESF Human Resources and your on-campus employer type the requested employment information directly into Section A of the appropriate Social Security Memo (in the “Employment Requests” section), print on department letterhead, and sign. Please note that there are Social Security Memos for F-1 and J-1 students with State and Research Foundation funding so be sure to select the correct one for the student employee. Once Section A is completed, the Social Security Memo should be returned to the student; the student must bring the Social Security Memo to the Office of International Education for the Coordinator of International Education to complete Section B.
Work on the SU Campus
Please have your SU hiring department type the requested employment information directly into Section A of the appropriate Social Security Memo (in the “Employment Requests” section), print on department letterhead, and sign. Please note that there are Social Security Memos for F-1 and J-1 students with SU on-campus employment so be sure to select the correct one for the student employee. Once Section A is completed, the Social Security Memo should be returned to the student; the student must bring the Social Security Memo to the Slutzker Center for International Services (310 Walnut Place) to do your I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Process and for Section B to be completed.
Work with Off-Campus Employers
To be eligible to apply for a SSN due to off-campus employment you must have valid work authorization (e.g., CPT authorization, EAD); you must be employed/ have a promise of employment; and have your off-campus employer complete section A of the appropriate Social Security Memo (in the “Employment Requests” section), print on company letterhead, and sign. Please note that there are Social Security Memos for F-1 and J-1 students with off-campus employment so be sure to select the correct one for the student employee. Once Section A is completed, the Social Security Memo should be returned to the student; the student must bring the Social Security Memo to the Office of International Education for the Coordinator of International Education to complete Section B.
Sponsored J-1 Students and SSN's
J-1 sponsored students may attempt to apply for a SSN without the promise of employment, however it is possible that the application will be denied since the student is not pursuing employment, the grounds upon which one qualifies for a SSN. If the application is denied, a J-1 sponsored student may apply for an Individual Tax Payer Identification Number (ITIN) or pursue on-campus employment (if the J-1 sponsor issues a letter in support of the employment). If a student pursues on-campus employment, s/he would follow the process noted above and would obtain an Employment Memo to include in the SSN application.
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