New Social Security Card Procedures

Social Security Administration (SSA) will not process an SSN application if the employment start date for general on-campus work or curricular practical training (CPT) is more than 30 days in the future.

SSA will not process an SSN application if a DHS-issued Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766 or I-688B) shows a future work authorization date (as shown by the issue or "valid from" date on the employment authorization card).

The SSA will only issue Social Security Numbers (SSN) and SSN cards to international students and scholars for work purposes only. The following evidence is required for each of the categories below.

Major Changes for F-1 On-Campus Employment

The F-1 student will have to provide a statement from his or her on-campus employer on UH department letterhead (1st letter), to prove that the student is engaging in, or has secured, specific employment.

For your convenience, ISSSO has provided a template for on-campus employers. You can fill the form by clicking here . Please print the form on your letterhead.

F-1 students who apply for an SSN on the basis of on-campus employment will also have to present a letter from a Designated School Official (2nd letter) at the International Student and Scholar Services Office (ISSSO), 302 Student Service Center 1, stating that the student is authorized to engage in on-campus employment, the nature of the employment to be engaged in, and identifying the on-campus employer for whom the student will be working. The F-1 student needs to bring the 1st letter to ISSSO to request the 2nd letter.

Bring your 1st and 2nd letter along with your passport, I-94 card and I-20 to Social Security Administration Office to apply for SSN.

Off-Campus Employment

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

F-1 students on Curricular Practical Training need to show their passport, I-94 card and I-20 with work authorization typed on page 3.

Optional Practical Training & Economic Hardship Work Permission

F-1 students on Optional Practical Training or Economic Hardship Work Permission need to show their passport, I-94 card, I-20, and Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card.

Working While Awaiting for an SSN

An F-1 student may work while the Social Security number application is being processed. Employers may wish to reference SSA’s fact sheet, Employer Responsibilities When Hiring Foreign Workers. This fact sheet contains information on how to report wages for an employee who has not yet received an SSN and is available online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/hiring.htm.