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42 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(C) / Form SS-5 / SSA Regulations

U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) Guide

Complete checklist and timeline for newly arrived H-1B, L-1, F-1, and J-1 visa holders. Avoid common processing delays.

The Critical 10-Day CBP Sync Rule

When you land in the United States, a CBP officer processes your entry and creates an electronic Form I-94 Arrival Record. This record must sync from CBP systems into the federal SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) database, which the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to verify your legal status.

Additionally, check your I-94 record online via the official CBP portal (i94.cbp.dhs.gov) the day after you land. Make sure your First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, and Visa Class (e.g. H1B) are spelled 100% correctly.

📋 Mandatory Documents to Bring to the SSA Office

You must apply in person at a local Social Security Administration office. Bring original copies of the following documents:

Official Application Form (SS-5)

Fill out Form SS-5 online or print it and fill it out in black ink beforehand to speed up your office visit.

Valid Foreign Passport & U.S. Visa

Your physical passport containing your unexpired U.S. visa stamp.

Printed Form I-94

Retrieve and print your latest electronic I-94 Arrival Record from i94.cbp.dhs.gov.

Visa Support Documents

H-1B/L-1/O-1 holders must bring their original Form I-797 Approval Notice. F-1 students must bring their Form I-20 (with employment endorsement for CPT/OPT) plus a letter of work eligibility from their university's DSO.

SSN Rules for Spouses & Dependents

Eligibility for an SSN depends on the type of dependent visa held:

Visa TypeWork Authorization StatusSSN Eligibility
L-2S / E-2S SpousesAuthorized Incident to StatusEligible Immediately. Under the 2021 USCIS update, L-2 and E-2 spouses do not need to apply for a separate EAD. Bring your I-94 showing 'L2S' status directly to the SSA to get an SSN.
H-4 SpousesRequires Approved Form I-765 (EAD)Ineligible unless they have a physical H-4 EAD card in hand. If they do not work, they can obtain an SSN Ineligibility Letter (SSA-L676) for driver's licenses.
F-2 DependentsStrictly Prohibited from WorkIneligible. F-2 spouses and children cannot apply for an SSN. They must use an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) for tax returns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Social Security Number system is established under the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(C)). SSNs are issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and are required for employment authorization reporting and tax purposes under 26 U.S.C. § 6109.

CBP entry records (Form I-94) must sync from CBP systems into the federal SAVE database before the SSA can verify your immigration status. Applying before this sync causes a manual secondary verification that delays card delivery by 4 to 8 weeks.

H-1B and L-1 workers must present their original valid foreign passport, physical U.S. visa stamp, printed electronic Form I-94 arrival record from i94.cbp.dhs.gov, and original Form I-797 Approval Notice.

Yes. Under the 2021 USCIS settlement (Shergill v. Mayorkas), L-2 and E-2 spouses are authorized to work incident to their status. Bringing an electronic Form I-94 displaying 'L2S' or 'E-2S' class of admission directly to the SSA office allows them to obtain an SSN without filing Form I-765.

H-4 spouses are only eligible for an SSN if they possess an approved Form I-765 Employment Authorization Document (EAD). F-2 spouses and children are strictly prohibited from working and are ineligible for an SSN; they must use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for tax returns.

Dependents who are legally ineligible for an SSN (such as F-2 holders or H-4 holders without EADs) can visit a local SSA office with their passport and I-94 to request Form SSA-L676 (SSN Ineligibility Letter), which state DMVs accept to process driver's license applications.
Official Government Portals

• SSA Official SSN Portal: ssa.gov/ssnumber
• CBP Form I-94 Retrieval Portal: i94.cbp.dhs.gov

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