Social Security Number (SSN) Procedures for International Students
Social Security Administration regulations prohibit the issuance of Social Security Numbers to F-1 student visa holders for non-work purposes. To obtain an SSN, international students in F-1 status must submit the following documentation along with the SSN application:
- Proof of F-1 status (passport, I-94, and I-20)
- Letter printed on the hiring department's letterhead with original signature, verifying the on-campus employment offered
- Letter from Office of International Affairs (OIA) further confirming the employment and its appropriateness for the student. To request an SSN Letter from OIA, go to https://istart.iu.edu and complete the Social Security Letter Request form under F-1 Student Services. The letter will be issued within 2-3 days of your request.
Please note the following:
- A student may be hired and paid before the SSN is issued. In this case, it is most important that the SSN be reported to Payroll as soon as it is available.
- If you are applying for an SSN based on an academic appointment or assistantship, your offer letter from your employer will not be sufficient unless it covers all of the information listed in the sample letter.
- The SSA recommends that newly-arrived students wait to apply for the SSN until they have been in the U.S. for 15 days. New students will need to have attended new international student orientation, including the immigration check-in, and have their registration confirmed in the SEVIS system before applying for the SSN.
575 N. Pennsylvania Street, Room 617
(Federal Office Building, corner of Michigan and Pennsylvania Streets)
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday
Call 1-800-772-1213 for general information
See also the SSA page for International Students