Social Security Number Information
A Social Security number (SSN) is a lifelong nine-digit number that the U.S. government issues to eligible individuals to track income and the number of years worked. U.S. employers will request a social security number from all employees.
Students and scholars who have secured a position at Brandeis, on-campus employment, research appointments, PhD fellowships, or have been authorized for off-campus employment may be eligible to apply for a Social Security number (SSN).
If you are not eligible for a Social Security number but you are interested in applying for a driver's license, you can request a Denial Letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to apply for a Massachusetts Learner's Permit/Driver's License/State ID. You must go in person, to an SSA office with your immigration documents to request a Denial Letter.
Obtaining an SSN
Depending on your immigration status and employment authorization there may be different processes to follow to apply for a Social Security number.
Follow the appropriate guidelines below:
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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:
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.
Bring the following documents to the Social Security Administration Office:
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.
Bring the following documents to the Social Security Administration Office:
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:
- 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.
- Bring the following documents to the Social Security Administration Office:
If your Program Sponsor is Brandeis University and you have an on-campus job offer:
- 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.
- Bring the following documents to the Social Security Administration Office:
If your Program Sponsor is Brandeis University and you have been authorized for Academic Training:
- Bring the following documents to the Social Security Administration Office:
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.
Bring the following documents to the Social Security Office:
Once you have gathered all of the required documents to apply for an SSN in your specific situation, you will need to go to the Social Security Administration Office to apply for your SSN in person.
To locate the nearest SSA Office use the Social Security Office Locator. The Social Security Administration offices in Waltham and Cambridge are now open to walk-ins. No appointments are necessary.
The Waltham SSA Office is located at:
135 Beaver St., Suite 120
Waltham, MA 02452
If your SSN application is accepted, you will receive a receipt confirming that you have applied for an SSN. For more detailed information on how to apply for an SSN, visit the Social Security Administration website.
After you apply for an SSN, your Social Security card will be sent to you by mail within 12-15 business days at the address that you indicated on your SSN Application. Once you receive your card, keep it in a safe place and be cautious about sharing it with others. Remember that once you have a Social Security number, you do not need to apply for another one.
Keep in mind that having a Social Security number does not authorize you for employment. For information on employment authorization please visit the Employment/Internship page on our website.