No earlier than 10 days after your arrival in the U.S., you must present the following to apply for the SSN:

• A completed Form SS-5, Application for Social Security Number, available at the Social Security Administration, which must include your legal name as the name to be printed on your Social Security Card.  Your legal name is the name in your passport.  The name you enter on Form SS-5 must EXACTLY match the name reflected in your passport;

• At least two documents that establish your age and identity including a passport and one additional document establishing identity; and

• Form I-94.

F-1 students must also present:

• SEVIS Form I-20;

• Proof of employment authorization. The nature of the proof depends on the type of employment eligibility being used to support the application for an SSN:
   

  • For proof of eligibility for on-campus employment, you must have two letters, which include the following: 1. A letter from your on-campus employer providing verification of the offer of employment. Per SSA requirements, the letter from your on-campus employer must conform to the attached sample letter; and 2. A letter from your ISSS Advisor affirming that you are attending the University of Miami and have been offered an on-campus job. Please note that all F-1 students applying for a Social Security Number for on-campus employment must be enrolled for the current academic term at the University of Miami and must be in SEVIS Active status in order to receive the requested letter from the ISSS Advisor. (Fill out the letter of certification application available at ISSS and attach your on-campus employer letter and your Form I-94 to the application. ISSS will give you a letter to take to SSA in three business days.);**
     

  • For proof of eligibility for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), you must show the CPT authorization on the employment page of Form I-20;
     

  • For proof of eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or off-campus employment, you must present an employment authorization document (EAD) issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

** Upon initial entry to begin a new course of study, an F-1 student may not begin on-campus employment more than 30 days prior to the actual start of classes.

J-1 students must also present:

• SEVIS Form DS-2019;

• Proof of employment authorization. You must have a letter from your exchange program sponsor authorizing employment. (Fill out the letter of certification application available at ISSS and attach your Form I-94 to the application. ISSS will give you a letter to take to SSA in three business days.)

It takes approximately two weeks for SSA to issue the SSN but the process may take up to one month if your records do not immediately appear in CIS’s pre-processing immigration document/status verification check called “SAVE” (Systematic Alert Verification for Entitlements). For those who need immediate verification that they have applied for a SSN, SSA can issue a receipt. You should request a receipt at the time that you apply for the SSN.

You should report your SSN to the Office of the Registrar, 121 University Center, in order to avoid problems with your records and payments. The SSN is an important document and should be safeguarded.