International Students and Scholars Office

On-Campus Employment

Students who have been offered on-campus employment are eligible to apply for an SSN. New students should complete the ISSO Check-In and wait approximately 10-12 days after their most recent entry to the U.S. in F-1 status to apply. This is to ensure that their SEVIS record can be verified as "Active."  It is not possible to apply for an SSN with an employment start date that is more than 30 days in the future.

SSN Application Process:

Step 1: Complete section 1 and 2 of the International Student On-Campus Employment Form (pdf) with your hiring manager.

Step 2: Submit the "On-Campus Employment Form Request" in the ISSO Portal. An ISSO Advisor will review and sign section 3 of the form and upload the completed document to the portal.

Step 3: Complete the SSN Online Application

Step 4: Schedule an appointment at a Social Security Administration Office within 45 days of completion of the online application.

Step 5: Visit the Social Security Administration Office and bring the following documents:

• Control Number (received upon completion of the SSN Online Application)
• Completed "International Student On-Campus Employment Form"
• Valid passport
• F-1 Visa
• Most recent Form I-20  
• Most recent  Form I-94 

Off-Campus Employment

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

If you are authorized for CPT, the earliest you can apply for a social security number is 30 days before the start date of your CPT.  

Step 1: Complete the SSN Online Application

Step 2: Schedule an appointment at a Social Security Administration Office within 45 days of completion of the online application.

Step 3: Visit the Social Security Administration Office and bring the following documents:

• Control Number (received upon completion of the SSN Online Application)
• Valid passport
• F-1 Visa
• Form I-20 with CPT authorization
• Most recent  Form I-94 

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

If you are applying for OPT you can request a social security number with your OPT application on Form I-765.  If you are authorized for OPT, and you did not apply for a social security number with your OPT application, the earliest you can apply for a social security number is 30 days before the start date of your OPT.

Step 1: Complete the SSN Online Application

Step 2: Schedule an appointment at a Social Security Administration Office within 45 days of completion of the online application.

Step 3: Visit the Social Security Administration Office and bring the following documents:

• Control Number (received upon completion of the SSN Online Application)
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD) 
• Form I-20 with OPT authorization
• Valid passport
• F-1 Visa 
• Copy of most recent Form I-94 

J-1 Students can apply for a social security number with or without a job.  New students should complete the ISSO Check-In and wait approximately 10-12 days after their most recent entry to the U.S. in J-1 status to apply. This ensures that their SEVIS record can be verified as "Active."

SSN Application Process

If your Program Sponsor (the organization that issued your Form DS-2019) is not Brandeis University, you will have to contact your Program Sponsor directly to request a "J-1 SSN Letter."

If your Program Sponsor is Brandeis University and you do not have a job offer:

Step 1: Request a "J-1 SSN Letter" by emailing the ISSO at isso@brandeis.edu. The letter will be prepared and uploaded to the ISSO Portal for you to download. 

Step 2: Complete the SSN Online Application

Step 3: Schedule an appointment at a Social Security Administration Office within 45 days of completion of the online application.

Step 4: Visit the Social Security Administration Office and bring the following documents:

• Control Number (received upon completion of the SSN Online Application)
• J-1 SSN Letter 
• Form DS-2019
• Valid passport
• J-1 Visa 
• Copy of most recent Form I-94

 If your Program Sponsor is Brandeis University and you have an on-campus job offer:

Step 1: Go to the ISSO Portal and complete a "Student On-Campus Employment (J-1) Request" to obtain a "J-1 On-Campus Employment Letter." The letter will be prepared and uploaded to the ISSO Portal for you to download. 

Step 2: Complete the SSN Online Application

Step 3: Schedule an appointment at a Social Security Administration Office within 45 days of completion of the online application.

Step 4: Visit the Social Security Administration Office and bring the following documents:

• Control Number (received upon completion of the SSN Online Application)
• J-1 On-Campus Employment Letter 
• Form DS-2019
• Valid Passport
• J-1 Visa 
• Copy of most recent Form I-94 

If your Program Sponsor is Brandeis University and you have been authorized for Academic Training:

Step 1: Complete the SSN Online Application

Step 3: Schedule an appointment at a Social Security Administration Office within 45 days of completion of the online application.

Step 4: Visit the Social Security Administration Office and bring the following documents:

• Control Number (received upon completion of the SSN Online Application)
• J-1 Employment Letter 
• Form DS-2019 with AT authorization
• Valid passport
• J-1 Visa 
• Copy of most recent Form I-94

J-1 research scholars, short-term scholars, and professors may apply for an SSN as early as 30 days before the Form DS-2019 program start date. If you have recently arrived, you should wait at least two business days after completing your ISSO Check-In to ensure that your SEVIS record can be verified as "active." H-1B scholars may apply for an SSN on, or after, the "valid from" date on their Form I-797B Approval Notice. 

Step 1: Complete the SSN Online Application

Step 2: Schedule an appointment at a Social Security Administration Office within 45 days of completion of the online application.

Step 3: Visit the Social Security Administration Office and bring the following documents:

• Control Number (received upon completion of the SSN Online Application)
• Form DS-2019 (for J-1 visa holder)/Form I-797B (for H-1B holders)
• Valid passport
• Visa 
• Copy of most recent Form I-94