Applying for a Social Security Number

On-Campus Employment

F-1 and J-1 students who are eligible to work on-campus and have been offered an on campus job can apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). Students can start working before they get an SSN, but need to apply for a Social Security card immediately and report this number to the USF Student Employment office within 45 days of beginning employment.

To apply for a Social Security card students need to have their on-campus supervisor complete the below form confirming that they have been offered a position on-campus. The supervisor will need to print this form in color, complete it, and sign it by hand. 

• F-1 Student On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN) with Letterhead
• J-1 Student On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN) with Letterhead

If your on-campus employment is through our bookstore under Barnes and Noble or another on-campus employer that is not USF, your supervisor will need to add their letterhead to this form before printing it in color and completing it. See On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN) with no letterhead below: 

• F-1 Student On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN) without Letterhead
• J-1 Student On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN) without Letterhead

View Supervisor Instructions

Students should submit their completed On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN) to the ISSS front desk on UC 5th floor. ISSS will review the request, provide our signature, and notify you when your letter is ready for pick-up within standard processing time. Please use the appropriate On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN) and download the instructions for applying for a Social Security Number (SSN).

IMPORTANT: Please note that if your on-campus employment is not at our campus locations within the city of San Francisco, you will need to mail your hand-signed On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN) to our office. See our office address below: 

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND SCHOLAR SERVICES
University Center, 5th Floor
2130 Fulton St.
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080

Please make sure the return address (your address in the upper left corner of the envelope) is the physical address you would like us to send it to. This process may take up to 2-3 weeks, so it’s important to plan ahead. If you have any questions, you can email us at isss@usfca.edu

Learn how to mail your letter here

Off-Campus Employment

Not working on campus and still need a Social Security Card? If you are a student who has been approved for Optional Practical Training, you should use your I-20 and Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) in place of the On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN). For students who have been approved for Curricular Practical Training, you should use your CPT Authorized I-20 instead of the On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN). J-1 students who are approved for Academic Training can use the DS-2019 instead of the On-Campus Employment Confirmation Letter (SSN).

Please note that Social Security Numbers do not grant work authorization. You will need to make sure you are authorized to work before beginning any employment, whether or not you already have a Social Security Number.