Social Security Card

A letter from your on-campus employer on the employer's letterhead verifying that you have secured employment. If it is not on original office letterhead, it must have an original signature in blue ink.

• Your academic department cannot issue the employment letter.
• There are several employers at UB (State of New York, Research Foundation, UB Foundation, Campus Dining & Shops). If you are not sure who your employer is, please ask your department who will pay you.
• If you are employed by the State of New York or Research Foundation, your letter will automatically be sent to you when your new hire paperwork is received by Human Resources. If you have not received the employer letter, please check with your department to see if your paperwork was submitted. If your paperwork was submitted and you still have not received the employer letter, please contact the appropriate person below.

Curricular Practical Training authorization on page 2 of your I-20 (The CPT employment start date must be within 30 days of the date on your Social Security application.)

OR

Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card) for Optional Practical Training or Economic Hardship Employment Authorization.

Letter from a Designated School Official (DSO) confirming your full-time enrollment at UB. Instructions on how to apply for a DSO letter are below.

Letter from ISS (or your program sponsor if UB did not issue your DS-2019) verifying your employment or eligibility to work in the U.S. Instructions on how to apply for the employment eligibility letter are below.

 A letter confirming your immigration status is not needed.  You will need your EAD Card.

Follow the directions below to submit a request to ISS:

• Login to UB Global using your UBIT Name and Password.
• Find the e-form:
  • F-1 Students: Click on “F-1 Student Services” and then “Social Security DSO Letter Request.” 
  • J-1 Students: Click on “J-1 Student Services” and then “Social Security ARO Letter Request.”
•  You must complete the entire e-form and upload a copy of your On-Campus Employment Letter. Generally this is issued by your employer's Human Resources (HR).
  • This letter must be on letterhead and is different from your offer letter.     
  • Only documents saved as a PDF or JPEG are acceptable.

• Go to the Social Security Number and Card page located on the Social Security Administration’s public website (www.ssa.gov),
• Click “Request number for the first time” under “Number and card”. Then click Start application, and answer the questions when prompted.
• Click the "Continue" button.
• Click on the "Apply Now" to complete the Online Social Security Number Application.
• You will receive a control number upon successful completion of the online application (You will be instructed to print/write down your control number to bring into the Social Security office).
• In the bottom left corner of the confirmation page you will see a button that says “Schedule an Appointment”. Please click that button and then click “create an account” on the next screen.
• From there you will be able to schedule an appointment. Please note, any problems scheduling an appointment should be directed to the SSA office (800-772-1213). ISS can not help schedule appointments.
• Please only go to their office on the day/time you scheduled an appointment, with all required documents.
  
  • Walk-ins are not encouraged.
• Your application is not complete until you have met in-person with SSA staff.  You must present your original documents to Social Security on the date of your appointment which must be within 45 days of completing the online Social Security Number application.

• Citizenship – Check “Legal Alien Allowed to Work”
• Mother’s Maiden Name – Please put the name your mother had before marriage (if it was different). 
• Mother’s Social Security Number – If your mother ever lived in the U.S. and had a Social Security Number, put it here. If not, leave this blank.
• Father’s Social Security Number – If your father ever lived in the U.S. and had a Social Security Number, put it here. If not, leave this blank.
• Mailing Address = Your Residence in Buffalo

1. Valid passport
2. Valid I-94 card (if you were issued one when you entered the U.S.) OR Admission stamp in passport + Print-out of electronic I-94 card

    3. Your original I-20 (F-1 Students) OR DS-2019 (J-1 Students and Student Interns).

The letter you received from your on-campus employer on the employer's letterhead verifying that you have secured employment.

Curricular Practical Training authorization on page 2 of your I-20 (The CPT employment start date must be within 30 days of the date on your Social Security application.)

OR

Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card) for Optional Practical Training or Economic Hardship Employment Authorization.

Letter from a Designated School Official (DSO) confirming your full-time enrollment at UB. Instructions on how to apply for a DSO letter are below.

Letter from ISS (or your program sponsor if UB did not issue your DS-2019) verifying your employment or eligibility to work in the U.S. Instructions on how to apply for the employment eligibility letter are below.

Your Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card). 

The Social Security Administration uses the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to verify your status and help determine your SSN eligibility.

Before visiting the Social Security office we recommend checking the status of your record in SAVE to confirm it's up to date.

• The Social Security Office where you will need to finish your Social Security Card application is based on the zip code of your U.S. address (the U.S. address where you are currently living).  You can look up the address for your local Social Security office by using the SSA Office locator.

• Once you know the SSA office where you will need to finish your application process, you can visit based on your SSA appointment details.
  
• The SSA may continue to require certain safety measures including masking, physical distancing, and self-health checks for COVID-19 symptoms.  Additionally, if you have traveled outside the U.S. by means other than land travel, such as car, bus, ferry, or train, you must be inside the U.S. for 5 or more days before you can enter a Social Security Office.