Social Security Numbers and ITINs for New Residents

If you are a resident on a J-1 or H-1B visa, you can generally get a Social Security number (SSN), and you should apply for it soon after you arrive. You do not need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which is a different number for people who have a tax filing purpose but cannot get an SSN. This page explains the difference and the practical SSN steps.

SSN versus ITIN #

Because residents are employed, you should be in the SSN column. A spouse on a J-2 or H-4 visa is a different matter, see below.

Who is eligible for an SSN #

SSA's publication for noncitizens says that, in general, only noncitizens authorized to work by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can get an SSN. A J-1 exchange visitor in an ECFMG-sponsored residency and an H-1B employee both qualify. SSA's own manual states that field staff verify immigration information with DHS before finishing the application, so your status record must be in order.

Step by step: getting your SSN #

1. Confirm your own timing. Ask your program's HR or international office when they want you to apply and whether they must give you a letter. SSA's published requirements for J-1 applicants include a sponsor letter authorizing employment in some categories. Ask whether it applies to you and who issues it. I could not find a single universal rule for J-1 physicians, so rely on your sponsor and the SSA office instructions.
2. Gather originals. Typically this means your passport with visa, the I-94 arrival record, and for a J-1 the DS-2019 (SSA says exchange visitors must show it). For an H-1B, bring the I-797 approval notice. Also bring your offer or employment letter. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted as substitutes for originals unless SSA says otherwise.
3. Start online if SSA's page offers it, then book an appointment at a local office or card centre. SSA's publication describes an online start and an in-person visit.
4. Attend the appointment. Do not mail your passport or immigration documents. Bring all originals, and keep any receipt or notice SSA gives you.
5. Wait for the card. It is mailed to the address you provide, so use a stable address (an employer address or temporary housing that will still receive mail). SSA suggests timelines on its site that change, so check there rather than relying on a figure from someone else.
6. Give the number to HR as soon as you have it, and keep the card somewhere safe. Do not carry it in your wallet.

When the SSN has not arrived yet #

You will probably start work before the card is in your hands. Ask HR:

• Can I be paid with a documented SSN application in progress?
• Do I need to bring a receipt or letter from SSA?
• When should I submit the number after it arrives?

Banks and landlords may also accept an application receipt or a passport for a first account. See banking and credit.

Who needs an ITIN #

An ITIN is for a tax filing purpose when you are not eligible for an SSN. The IRS page lists nonresident aliens with a US work visa as not needing one, because they qualify for an SSN. A J-2 or H-4 spouse or dependent who is not authorized to work may need an ITIN if they are claimed on a return or must file one.

• How to apply: Form W-7, with your tax return and identity documents, by mail or in person per the IRS instructions. The IRS says to allow roughly seven weeks for a status notice, longer in tax season or when applying from abroad. The IRS may update these timings.
• Do not use an ITIN for work. It does not authorize employment.
• If you later receive an SSN, stop using the ITIN and tell the IRS.

Tax questions around an ITIN, especially for a spouse, are complicated. See taxes for J-1 and H-1B residents and consider a preparer who works with international taxpayers.

Protecting your number #

New arrivals are targets for identity theft and phone or email scams. Government agencies do not call to demand payment in gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency, and SSA does not charge for a card. Share your SSN only with your employer, tax preparer, bank and similar parties who need it, and verify who is asking.