The first thing that you’ll hear and want to get done is a Social Security Number or a SSN. This is an unique number that is given to every citizen or immigrant to USA. It is a 9 digit number that you get it you are going to be employed in USA and will be used to track all your wages, taxes, bank accounts etc. Applying for a SSN is free.

• H1B, L1 visa holders need to apply for SSN.
• H4 (dependents) are not eligible for SSN as they are not authorized to work – they need to apply for ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) so that the main H1 holder can show the dependents in the tax filing forms
• L2 dependents can apply for SSN after they apply and get their EAD (Employment Authorization Document) after the first 6 months
• Tourists are not immigrants and hence they don’t get a SSN.

IMPORTANT: Do not carry your social security card with you. Keep it in a safe and secure place and do not give the number to anyone else as it can be misused. Share it only in authorized places like banks and only if requested by authorized personnel. Do not share SSN to anyone over phone.

To apply for one at the earliest, visit nearest social security office with documents like your passport, I94 copy that’s given at the port of entry. You should wait for at least 1 week after you arrive into the USA before you go to SSA office so that they would have received your I94 document from Immigration authorities. The below is the form you will be required to fill at the SSA office. If you have access to a printer, you can print this form, fill it in advance and take it to SSA office as well.

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf

Refer the following site for documents to carry and where to apply etc. The office locations can be found in Google as Social Security Administration office (SSA) and you can apply in any office. It is a very easy process and you can finish the entire process within one hour (depending on the crowd). The forms are available in the SSA office itself to fill or online as mentioned above. Typically you would need two forms of verification (Passport + I94 should be okay)

https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

If you have dependent or child who are not eligible for SSN they must get ITIN from SSA office so that you can file tax with their details.

What if I do not have a copy of I94?

Click here for the details as to how to retrieve your I94 record

Other Links for Reference:

• https://www.immihelp.com/l1-visa/l2-visa.html
• https://redbus2us.com/file-taxes-us-h4-visa-dependents-apply-itin-number/