# How to Get a Social Security Number: Visa, Work Permit or SSA Office

An SSN is free if you have work permission. How to request it on the DS-260, Form I-765 or at an SSA office, how long it takes, and when to use an ITIN.

To get a Social Security number, you need US citizenship or work permission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The number is free. Many new immigrants do not need to visit an office: they answer "Yes" to the SSN question on the DS-260 immigrant visa application or on Form I-765. Everyone else starts online and brings original documents to a local Social Security Administration (SSA) office.

An SSN is a 9-digit number that is unique to you. SSA lists the usual reasons you need one: filing taxes, starting a job, opening a bank account, applying for a loan, getting a passport and claiming benefits.

## Who can get a Social Security number

All US citizens can request one. For noncitizens, SSA's general rule is that you need permission to work from DHS. Students qualify through on-campus work or CPT, and a number without work permission is issued only when a law requires one.

| Your situation | Can you get an SSN? | What you show |
|---|---|---|
| Green card holder | Yes | Form I-551 or immigrant visa with admission stamp |
| Nonimmigrant visa whose class of admission permits work | Yes | I-94 or admission stamp in an unexpired foreign passport showing a work-eligible class |
| EAD holder (any category with an approved work permit) | Yes | Form I-766 (EAD) |
| F-1 student working on campus or on CPT | Yes, with a job | I-20 plus letters from the school and employer |
| J-1 exchange visitor | Yes, if the sponsor authorizes work | DS-2019 and a sponsor letter |
| Tourist (B-1/B-2) or anyone without work permission | Usually no | Only if a law requires it, see below |

Documents must be current. A receipt showing you applied for a document is not accepted.

## SSN for immigrants: getting it through your visa or green card

You file nothing separately; the agencies pass your data along. For Forms I-765 and I-485 SSA calls this automated process Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE).

**Immigrant visa from abroad.** Form DS-260 asks whether you want SSA to assign you a number and issue a card. Answer "Yes" to that question and to the Consent To Disclosure. The consulate sends your data to DHS, and DHS sends it to SSA when you are admitted. If the card has not arrived within 3 weeks of entry, go to the nearest SSA office or Card Center with proof of age, identity and work authorization.

**Form I-765 (work permit application).** It has an SSA section. If you complete it and USCIS approves the application, your SSN card is mailed separately to the address on the form. SSA gives two figures: its EBE page says no later than 14 days after you receive the EAD, and its documents page says 7 to 10 business days.

**Form I-485 (adjustment of status).** Same process and the same SSA figures, counted from the day you receive the green card. Form N-400 (naturalization) lets you order a replacement card and update your citizenship on SSA records.

Do not skip the SSA section or leave its fields blank. SSA warns it may not finish the card without your name, date of birth, parents' names, country of birth and sex, even if the immigration document is approved.

## Form SS-5 and applying at an SSA office

If you did not request a number through the visa, I-765 or I-485, apply yourself, but only after you have the EAD, green card or other status document in hand. If you are in the US, start on [SSA's first-time number page](https://www.ssa.gov/number-card/request-number-first-time), then book a visit to a local office and bring your documents. In-person help requires an appointment. The paper application is the Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5).

| What you prove | Document |
|---|---|
| Status and work permission | EAD (I-766), green card (I-551) or I-94 with an unexpired foreign passport |
| Age | Birth certificate; if you cannot get it quickly, SSA may accept your foreign passport |
| Identity | Foreign passport with I-94, EAD or green card |
| Students (F-1, J-1) | I-20 or DS-2019 plus school, employer or sponsor letters |

SSA takes only originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies are refused. One document can serve two purposes (an EAD proves status and identity), but you need at least two separate documents. Anyone 12 or older applying for a first number must appear in person for an interview.

## Cost and how long the card takes

| Route | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Through DS-260 | Free | Within 3 weeks of entry |
| Through I-765 or I-485 | Free | 7 to 10 business days (SSA documents page) or no later than 14 days (SSA EBE page) after the EAD or green card |
| Online start plus office visit | Free | 5 to 10 business days after approval |
| Office application | Free | Within two weeks after SSA has all documents, including USCIS verification; up to two more if verification is delayed |

Timelines checked on October 28, 2026 at ssa.gov.

Delays happen when SSA cannot verify your immigration document with USCIS right away, which can add two more weeks. If the time has passed, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213, weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

## SSN without a work permit, and ITIN vs SSN

Without work permission, you will almost never get a number. SSA says you do not need an SSN to open a bank account, enroll in school, buy private health insurance or apply for subsidized housing, and you cannot get one just for a driver's license. Our guide to [opening a bank account without an SSN](/en/immigration/open-bank-account-usa-without-ssn) covers the banking side.

A "nonwork" SSN is issued only when a federal law requires a number for a specific benefit or service, or when a state or local law requires it for assistance you already qualify for (with a letter from the agency citing the law). You cannot work with it; if you do, SSA informs DHS.

If you need a number for taxes and are not eligible for an SSN, the IRS issues an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number):

| | SSN | ITIN |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | SSA | IRS |
| For | Citizens and noncitizens with work permission | People with a federal tax need who cannot get an SSN |
| How to apply | Visa application, I-765, I-485 or SSA office | Form W-7 with your tax return, by mail or in person |
| Lets you work | Only together with work authorization | No |
| Time | Depends on the route, see the table above | 7 weeks; 9 to 11 weeks from January 15 to April 30 or from abroad |

IRS timelines checked on October 28, 2026 at irs.gov.

An ITIN gives no immigration status, no work authorization and no Social Security benefits. You cannot hold both numbers: once you get an SSN, stop using the ITIN and tell the IRS so your records are combined. See our [tax basics for new immigrants](/en/immigration/tax-basics-new-immigrants-usa).

## Replace a Social Security card and avoid phone scams

A replacement card is also free. Some people can order it online; others need an office appointment. The card arrives by mail 5 to 10 business days after approval, and the local office cannot print one for you. SSA notes that if you know your number, you usually do not need the physical card.

Scammers call, text and email pretending to be SSA. Red flags SSA lists:

- threats to suspend your SSN or have you arrested;
- pressure to act now and keep it secret;
- payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or cash;
- fees for forms or replacement cards that are actually free.

SSA never asks for sensitive information through social media, email or text. Hang up and report it at oig.ssa.gov/report. The FTC takes reports with an interpreter at (877) 382-4357, then press 3.

If your case is complicated (a denial, an overstay, mismatched records after a name change), talk to an immigration attorney from [our directory](/en/directory/lawyers). Once the number arrives, the next step is [building a US credit history](/en/immigration/building-credit-history-usa).

## Questions people ask

### Do I have to pay for an SSN or a replacement card?

No. SSA issues Social Security numbers and replacement cards for free. Anyone asking you to pay for an application, a form or a new card is showing a scam sign that SSA itself warns about. You can report it to the SSA Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report.

### Can I get an SSN on a tourist visa?

Usually no. SSA issues numbers to noncitizens who have work permission from DHS. Without it, a number is issued only when a federal, state or local law requires an SSN for a benefit you already qualify for. For taxes, a person who cannot get an SSN can apply to the IRS for an ITIN with Form W-7.

### What if my SSN card did not arrive after my green card?

If you requested the number on Form I-485 or I-765, SSA says the card should arrive 7 to 10 business days after the green card or EAD on one page and no later than 14 days on another. If you immigrated through DS-260, the guide is 3 weeks after entry. After that, contact your local SSA office and bring your original documents.

### Can I work with an ITIN?

No. The IRS says an ITIN is for federal tax purposes only: it does not authorize work, give immigration status or qualify you for Social Security benefits. Work permission comes from your status or an EAD, and a job needs an SSN. Once you get an SSN, stop using the ITIN and notify the IRS.


## Sources

- [SSA: Request Social Security number for the first time](https://www.ssa.gov/number-card/request-number-first-time)
- [SSA: Apply for your SSN while applying for your work permit and/or lawful permanent residency](https://www.ssa.gov/ssnvisa/ebe.html)
- [SSA: What you need to do, Social Security numbers and immigrant visas](https://www.ssa.gov/ssnvisa/whatyou_need.htm)
- [SSA: Learn what documents you will need to get a Social Security card](https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm)
- [SSA: Replace Social Security card](https://www.ssa.gov/number-card/replace-card)
- [SSA: Protect yourself from Social Security scams](https://www.ssa.gov/scam/)
- [IRS: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number)
- [SSA FAQ: How do I apply for a replacement Social Security number card online? (names Form SS-5)](https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/KA-02017.html)

Page: https://www.russiansinusa.com/en/immigration/how-to-get-ssn-usa
Facts checked: 2026-10-28