Plan Your
UNC
Experience

Social Security
Number

J

H-1B

TN

O-1

F-1/OPT

Permanent
Residence

Expand Your
UNC
Experience

Taxes

OISSS > For International Academic Staff > Expand Your UNC Experience

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

The Social Security system in the United States functions, in part, as a type of pension and insurance plan for U.S. workers. Generally speaking, all persons earning money in the United States pay into the system through "FICA" (Federal Insurance Compensation Act) deductions from their paychecks. Most foreign students present in the United States for less than 5 years on F-1 or J-1 visas are exempt from this tax. However, all persons who work (including Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants) in the U.S. are required to obtain a Social Security number.

Students and Scholars who are employed in the United States must apply for a social security number through the offices of the Social Security Administration in Durham. The Social Security Number (SSN) is printed ona Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration.  Although most banks will allow an account to be opened without a SSN, once a SSN is obtained, it should be reported to your bank.  The State Employees’ Credit Union does require a SSN for an account to be opened.  A SSN is needed for the application for a North Carolina driver’s license.

All new UNC-CH international students and visiting scholars are assigned a Personal Identification Number (PID) for the purpose of University record keeping and access to information systems. The PID will be listed on your UNC One Card. When you receive your Social Security number, you should notify the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, your academic department, and/or the department employing you, and your bank.

The Social Security number is a private identification number. Be very cautious to whom you give this number. Do not give your number to telemarketers or solicitors.

Social Security Representatives come to the campus twice a year (at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters) to accept applications for SSNs.  Please check with OISSS for the dates and times of the next on-campus opportunity to apply.

Eligibility for SSNs:
Only those non-immigrants who have authorization to work in the U.S. are eligible to apply for a SSN.  Students in F-1 student immigration status will not be eligible for a social security number unless they are working on campus or have obtained a written job offer, or have been approved for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).

The Social Security Administration will verify documentation of all non-immigrants with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) before issuing SSNs.  You may not apply for a SSN until at least 10 days after you check-in with OISSS in order for your information entered in SEVIS to be processed from the USCIS database into the Social Security database.

Documents needed to apply for a Social Security Number:

• Passport
• I-94 Card (the small white card that you received when you entered the US; usually stapled into your passport)
• F-1 students: I-20 Form and letter from employer verifying employment or job offer
• F-1 students on OPT:  I-20 Form and Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
• J-1 visa holders: Form DS-2019
• Letter signed by International Student and Scholar Services staff (For F-1 and J-1 only)
• H-1 B / O-1 visa holders: I-797 Approval notice
• Birth Certificate (if available; not required)

Also all students in F or J immigration status should obtain a special letter from the Office of International Student and Scholar Services before applying for a Social Security card. If you are not able to apply for the card at this time, you can come to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services for the letter and then go to the Social Security agency in Durham and apply. The Social Security Office is a twenty-minute drive from UNC.  Maps to the Durham Social Security Office are available at OISSS.