Office of International Services
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  • Social Security Number

Social Security Number

A Social Security number (SSN) is a nine-digit number issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and certain nonimmigrants authorized to work in the United States, including some F-1 and J-1 students and scholars. The SSN is primarily used for employment and tax reporting purposes.

Under current regulations, F-1 and J-1 students and scholars may obtain an SSN only if they have valid employment authorization. F-2 dependents are not eligible for an SSN because they are not authorized to work in the United States. J-2 dependents may obtain an SSN only after receiving employment authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

On-campus employment generally refers to work performed for USC and paid by USC Payroll Services. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and Hebrew Union College (HUC) are educationally affiliated with USC; therefore, qualifying employment at CHLA or HUC may also be considered on-campus employment.

  • When a student receives a job offer for on-campus employment, they become eligible for an SSN. The student must then request an SSN eligibility letter from OIS before applying for an SSN through the Social Security Administration.

    If you have received an on-campus job offer, follow the steps below to obtain your SSN, which you will need in order to begin working.

    Step 1: Obtain an On-Campus Employment Letter

    Ask your hiring manager for a letter printed on official employer or company letterhead that contains the following:

    1. Date
    2. Student’s name as it appears on their passport
    3. Name of employer/company or USC hiring department
    4. Name, title and phone number of supervisor
    5. Student’s job title
    6. Description of employment/job responsibilities
    7. Anticipated or actual employment start date
    8. Average number of work hours per week
    9. Compensation or hourly rate
    10. Employer Identification Number (EIN). If employed by USC, use 95-1642394.
    11. Wet signature (i.e., in ink). Typed or electronically generated signatures are not accepted by the Social Security Administration. 
    12. Name and title of the person signing the letter typed under the wet signature

    The Social Security Administration may reject an application if the employment letter does not meet any of the above requirements.

    Step 2: Request an SSN Eligibility Letter From OIS

    Once you have your employment letter, fill out the SSN Eligibility Letter Request in Trojan International.

    Enter information fully and accurately. Failure to enter information correctly will cause additional processing delays and/or result in rejection by delays with processing and/or result in rejection from the Social Security Administration.

    New students must wait 10 business days after entering the United States, as indicated on their I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, to request an SSN eligibility letter from OIS, to allow time for their I-94 information to be updated with the Social Security Administration.

    Step 3: Wait for OIS to Process the Request

    OIS takes up to four business days to process this type of request following the submission date. Students will receive a confirmation email from OIS when the eligibility letter is available for pickup.

    OIS will process SSN eligibility letter requests in the order they are received. OIS and the Social Security Administration cannot expedite SSN requests.

    Step 4: Schedule an Appointment With the Social Security Administration

    Upon receipt of the SSN eligibility letter signed by OIS, immediately schedule an in-person appointment with the Social Security Administration. The appointment must take place no more than 30 days before your employment start date.

    Gather the following original documents to provide at your appointment:

    If you need assistance scheduling an appointment, call a local Social Security Administration office. 

    Submit F-1 SSN Eligibility Letter Request
    Submit J-1 SSN Eligibility Letter Request

  • Step 1: Obtain an Offer Letter From Your Employer

    Ask your hiring manager for a letter printed on official employer or company letterhead that contains the following:

    1. Date
    2. Student’s name as it appears on their passport
    3. Name of employer/company name
    4. Name, title and phone number of supervisor
    5. Student’s job title
    6. Description of employment/job responsibilities
    7. Anticipated or actual employment start date
    8. Average number of work hours per week
    9. Compensation or hourly rate
    10. Employer Identification Number (EIN)
    11. Wet signature (i.e., in ink). Typed or electronically generated signatures are not accepted by the Social Security Administration. 
    12. The name and title of the person signing the letter are typed under the wet signature

    In addition, the student’s personal and employment information on the CPT I-20 must match the information provided on the offer letter. The Social Security Administration may reject an application if the employment letter does not meet any of the above requirements.

    Step 2: Schedule an Appointment With the Social Security Administration

    In order to apply for an SSN, schedule an in-person appointment at a local Social Security Administration office no more than 30 days before your employment start date. An OIS SSN eligibility letter is not required for students on approved CPT. 

    Gather the following original documents to provide at your appointment:

    • Completed Form SS-5
    • Passport with an F-1 visa
    • Most recent I-94 admission record
    • USC CPT I-20
    • Offer letter from employer (see step 1 for requirements)

  • An OIS SSN eligibility letter is not required for students applying for OPT. 

    Students must schedule an in-person appointment at their local Social Security Administration office no more than 30 days before their employment start date in order to apply for an SSN. 

    Refer to our OPT instructions and guide to filling Form I-765 for further guidance.

  • An OIS SSN eligibility letter is not required for students on approved OPT. 

    Students can apply for an SSN by scheduling an in-person appointment at their local Social Security Administration office. Students must provide the following original documents to the SSA when requested:

  • All exchange visitors in the research scholar, professor and short-term scholar categories are eligible to apply for an SSN by right of their J-1 status. J-1 exchange visitors are not required to obtain an SSN eligibility letter from OIS; the J-1 invitation letter fulfills these requirements. 

    After the J-1 scholar’s ISV submission with OIS is approved and the SEVIS record becomes “active,” scholars must schedule an in-person appointment at their local Social Security Administration office. Scholars must provide the following original documents to the Social Security Administration when requested:

The Social Security Administration office closest to the USC University Park Campus is at:

1122 W. Washington Blvd., Second Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90015
1-800-772-1213

The Social Security Administration office closest to the USC Health Sciences Campus is at:

215 N. Soto Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033
1-800-772-1213

Before visiting an office, students are encouraged to confirm office hours and appointment requirements with the Social Security Administration.

An SSN is a key piece of information that can be used in identity theft incidents. Therefore, it is very important to keep your SSN confidential at all times. For your protection, do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet or with your passport.

  • Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your permission, often to commit fraud or access financial accounts. Personal information may include your Social Security number (SSN), date of birth, address, bank account information, usernames and passwords.

    Protect your personal information by safeguarding sensitive documents, monitoring your online accounts and being cautious of emails, phone calls or text messages requesting personal information. When disposing of physical records that contain confidential information, use a secure method of destruction.

    The U.S. Department of Justice provides additional information on identity theft and identity fraud.

  • There are several precautions you can take to minimize your risk of identity theft, including:

    • Safeguard your Social Security number (SSN) and other sensitive personal information.
    • Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
    • Properly destroy documents containing personal information before disposal.
    • Regularly review bank, credit card and other financial account statements for unauthorized activity.
    • Monitor your credit reports periodically for signs of identity theft.

  • If you believe your identity has been stolen, report the incident immediately to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and file a police report if appropriate.

    Students and scholars can find guidance and recovery resources on the FTC website. The USC Department of Public Safety may also be able to assist with local reporting and documentation.

In the United States, a credit history shows an individual’s past record of paying bills, loans and more, and is used to verify that they are financially responsible. Although it was never its intended purpose, the SSN became the requested identification number for checking personal credit history in the United States. It is still commonly requested when applying for an apartment, opening financial accounts or setting up services. Landlords, banks and service providers use SSNs to obtain credit history reports.

Students and scholars who are not eligible to obtain a SSN probably don’t have a credit history in the United States; as a result, they may be asked to pay higher security deposits for housing and services or be restricted in the type of bank accounts they can open. Unfortunately, if a student or scholar does not meet the eligibility requirements to be granted an SSN, they cannot obtain one merely for credit purposes.

  • One way to build “credit” is to obtain a U.S. credit card and pay all bills in full and on time; however, please note that the use or misuse of U.S. credit cards becomes a key part of the credit history. Over time and if fiscally responsible, it is possible to develop a good credit history in the United States that can be used to request better rates or lower deposits on loans, services and more. However, missed payments or bills sent to a collection agency may result in difficulty in renting, getting financial assistance or obtaining loans/credit in the future.

    The Federal Trade Commission provides additional information on understanding and building credit history.

  • The Federal Trade Commission provides guidance on how to request a free credit report. Additionally, some banks or credit card companies may have services that regularly monitor an individual’s credit for an additional monthly fee.

Social Security payroll taxes are collected under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and are sometimes referred to as “FICA taxes.” These taxes also fund the Social Security system. More information about FICA taxes can be found on the Social Security Administration website.

Refer to our U.S. taxes page to learn how to obtain a reimbursement if your FICA taxes were withheld in error.

  • No.

  • No.

  • F-1 and J-1 students do not need an SSN to apply for a California driver’s license, but J-1 scholars do. Refer to our transportation page for more information.

  • Landlords and utility, cable and cellphone companies may request an SSN to do a credit history check to determine the amount of deposit they will require to secure housing or activate services. Students and scholars without an SSN may be required to pay a higher deposit prior to receiving a service.

  • Yes. More information about this policy can be found on the Social Security Administration website.

  • No, the application for an SSN is always free of charge. Be aware of SSN scams targeting international students.

  • All documents, except the printout of the I-94, must be original. The Social Security Administration does not accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. The Social Security Administration will then verify the documents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before assigning the SSN.

  • An SSN card will be issued within about two weeks of receiving certification from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In most cases, the Social Security Administration can quickly verify the documents online.

  • The student or scholar may be eligible for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to use for filing taxes during tax season reporting.

U.S. Taxes

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number