Social Security Information - International Visitors
A social security number is required for all compensation paid to international visitors.
Please note that all U.S. individual income tax returns submitted without a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) will not be accepted or processed by the Internal Revenue Service.
All nonresident aliens who work or are engaged in a trade or business in the United States are required to file a U.S. income tax return regardless of the amount of your income or whether your income is exempt from U.S. tax.
Also, see the following section in the table of contents on "Tax Forms, Publications, and Resources for International Visitors".
F-1 and J-1 visa holders qualify for a social security number. An application for a social security number must be made in person at any Social Security Administration Office. In Lansing, the Social Security Office is located at 5210 Perry Robinson, Lansing, MI (1-800-772-1213). After an application has been filed, the Social Security Administration should issue a social security number in approximately 2 weeks.
Individuals applying for a social security number will be required to bring various original documents such as a birth certificate or passport, and INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) documents such as Form I-94, I-20 or DS2019.
If you’d like to obtain information and an application form, prior to your visit to the nearest Social Security Administration office, you may download this information (SSA form -SS-5 and locations of the nearest Social Security Office) from the Social Security Administration website (pdf).
A social security application form can also be obtained through the Payroll Division by calling 5-5010.
Some countries have U.S. government officials in their local embassies that can process the Social Security Administration application prior to the arrival to the United States. See "How to Reach Social Security Administration (outside of the U.S.).