How to Apply for Social Security Number (SSN)?
A Guide For Participants In The J-1 Internship & Trainee Programs In The United States
After arriving in the United States on a J-1 Intern or Trainee Program, you need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). J-1 Visa holders are eligible to apply for Social Security Number and it will be needed in order to receive stipend payments from the host company. The process of obtaining the SSN is simple, but you will be required to complete some steps. Our teams at ITN & Odyssey International Exchange will also send you information and instructions on how to apply for the Social Security Number after your arrival in the United States.
J-1 Exchange Visitors may arrive in the United States up to 30 days before the start of their program and we recommend that you apply for SSN during this period if possible.
How to apply for a Social Security Number as a J-1 Intern or Trainee?
Arrival Check-In: Upon arrival in the USA, you will be informed by your J-1 sponsor, Odyssey International Exchange, to complete your check-in on their secure website. The Odyssey team will validate the J-1 visa within the government SEVIS system after the arrival check-in is completed.
Although you may be very excited and distracted by all of the new experiences upon arriving, completing your Arrival Check-In is very important. Please complete the check-in as soon as you receive the link from Odyssey in your email. You must complete your arrival check-in before you can apply for your SSN.
Make a Social Security Office Appointment: You will need to visit a local Social Security Office with all the required documentation in order to apply for the SSN. You may use this tool in order to find the closest Social Security Office. We recommend that you apply for an SSN within 5 days after completing the check-in with Odyssey.
The address of your nearest Social Security Office is also provided in the Arrival Package.
Bring the Following Documents to the Appointment:
Passport with J-1 Visa
Letter of Sponsorship (You will receive this letter from Odyssey after completing the Arrival Check-In)
Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility)
Form DS-7002 (Official Training Plan)
I-94 Form
Birth Certificate or at least one Official Picture ID (identification document including birthdate that is at least one year old. (If the passport and other official ID, such as a driver’s license, are both less than one year old, a birth certificate is required.)
Form SS-5. You may find it on the Social Security website or it will be provided at the appointment.
Now You Can Wait: It may take over 2 weeks to receive the Social Security Number, which will be mailed to the address provided on the Form SS-5.
Important Information
The Social Security office will not process your application until you have been validated in the SEVIS system.
We recommend that you ask the Social Security officer for a Form SSA-5030 proving that you have applied for the card and provide it to your host company. Host companies may use temporary numbers in their payroll system (zeros) if the actual number is not available before the first payroll. If your host company is not sure how to report your stipend before you have received your Social Security number, please ask them to go to the Social Security Administration’s website here.
If you have a social security number from a previous experience in the United States then you can use this and do not need to apply for another one.
As always, if you have questions in regards to the topic, kindly reach out to ITN & Odyssey for assistance!
