When you first arrived in the United States to study, if you rented a house near the school, the apartment administrator would ask for your Social Security Number (SSN). If you didn't have it, you would have to pay an additional two months' deposit. Later, you discovered that living in the United States, whether it's taking a driver's license, seeking medical treatment, applying for a credit card, or a membership card, you may need to use an SSN social security number (abbreviated as SSN). But what exactly is this? How important is it? Let's explore it for everyone this time!

Social Security Number (SSN) is the personal account of Americans who report their income to the government and record their tax payment. In addition to paying taxes to federal and local governments, every salaried employee in the United States must also pay Social Security Tax (FICA) and State Disability Insurance Tax (SDI Corporation). When taxpayers become disabled, unemployed, or retired, the government will calculate the subsidy amount to be paid to them based on the records in the account.

It is also a set of nine digit numbers issued to citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents. Because the primary purpose of a social security number was initially to track an individual's tax information. Subsequently, with the popularization of use, social security numbers began to become personal identification numbers (similar to ID number numbers) in the fields of work, education, medical care, etc.

SSN Purpose

The use of social security cards includes but is not limited to the following situations

01 Loan Application

02 Credit Card Application

03 Driver's License Application

04 Tax reporting

05 Purchase a vehicle

06 Apply for mall membership

07 Loan application for renting a house

However, there is no absolute relationship between SSN and credit, and personal credit records can be established without SSN. But from another perspective, if you have an SSN, you can apply for higher quality credit cards and start building your personal credit score on Midea. Having a good credit score is crucial.

Note: Having only one social security number does not necessarily grant you legal rights to work in the United States. But if you have obtained legal authorization to work in the United States and are currently working, you must apply for and obtain a social security number.

How many types of social security cards are there

(1) Regular Card with Name and Number:

Issued to US citizens and permanent residents. Individuals holding this social security card are not restricted from working in the United States.

(2) Printed with name, number, and the words' Valid for Work Only with DHS Authorization ':

To foreigners who hold a work permit from the Department of Homeland Security and can work in the United States for a short time.

(3) Printed with name, number, and the words' Not Valid for Employment ':

It is issued to foreigners who have legal status but cannot work legally in the United States, such as international students and foreigners who enter the country with non work visas.

Application process and required materials?

01 SSN Application process

[Application Method]

Download and fill out the Social Security Card Application Form SS-5 from the SocialSecurity Online official website, prepare the necessary documents, and then submit it to the nearest SSA office

[Official website]

https://www/ssa/gov/ssnumber

[Required expenses]

Free Free

[Required time]

We will receive SSN cards mailed to the designated address within 1-2 weeks

【 Precautions 】

① The relevant documents required by the official website must be originals or legal copies. SSA does not accept photocopies, and the receipt provided by SSA must be kept properly. If there are any issues, it can be used as a basis.

② After receiving the card, please keep it safe and do not casually tell others your SSN number.

③ Applying for a social security card is completely free and the government does not charge any fees. There are no application or handling fees. But it needs to be processed at the social security bureau. The number of times each person can apply for a new card is limited. No more than 3 times a year and no more than 10 times in a lifetime. Therefore, the applicant must pay attention to properly keeping the social security card.

02 Carrying materials Carry materials

For the processing of SSN, the Social Security Bureau does not provide appointment services and requires on-site submission of materials. When going to handle it, you need to bring the following materials:

1. Passport and Visa Pages (Original and Copy)

2. SS-5 Application Form

3 I-94

4. Valid I-20

5. Work Certification Letter/EAD Card

6 Offer Letter

7. DS-2019 (J-1 visa holder)

be careful:

1. The above materials require original copies.

2. If letters and stamped envelopes sent together with the immigration bureau can be provided for EAD cards, please also bring them along. This can reduce the time for social security and immigration bureau to verify and speed up the processing. After completing everything, you can receive your social security card in about 10-14 working days! Remember to keep it safe, remember your exclusive social security number, and don't take it out easily. If someone requests an SSN over the phone or email, be sure to confirm whether the other party is a legitimate institution to avoid identity theft or fraud.

Precautions NOTES

Before applying:

1. Ensure that you are over 18 years old, have relevant immigration documents and visas, meet the application requirements, and have a mailing address in the United States.

2. F1 student visa can be applied for when finding a job. B1/B2 cannot be applied for.

3. To prepare the documents and save time, we suggest filling out the SS-5 form online and visiting the Social Security Office.

4. Visit the Social Service Office SSN office offline in almost every city, find one nearby and make an appointment. When making an appointment, explain your visa type to the staff. The staff has a corresponding document table, and you need to repeatedly verify with them the required documents to ensure that they are all available before making the appointment.

5. Bring your passport, visa, I -94， Submit the original application form and relevant documents mentioned by the staff to the Social Security Office.

After application:

Pay attention to your mailing address mailbox, the card with the social security number will be sent in about 15 working days.

Do you now have a clearer understanding of how to obtain SSN? If any friends want to consult more about studying abroad, please follow the INKAN Credit Certification Center! ICAC will provide you with more study abroad tips! Make your journey of learning worry free and easier~

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1 Project Introduction

The ICAC program is established to address the issue of credit imbalance between domestic and overseas universities. Its main goal is to transfer course credits obtained domestically to overseas universities and enable domestic students to obtain bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in a short period of time. The ICAC program has broken down the barriers between domestic and international credit transfer, allowing international students to choose their learning paths and schools more flexibly.

2 Forms of International Credit Transfer Programs

Junior college students; Up to 90 credits can be transferred; Studying abroad for one year can earn; Foreign Bachelor's Degree

Junior college students; Up to 90 credits can be transferred; Studying abroad for one year can earn; A bachelor's degree from abroad plus one year of study abroad can be obtained; Master's degree abroad

Second year vocational students; Up to 60 credits can be transferred; Studying abroad for 2 years can earn; A bachelor's degree from abroad plus one year of study abroad can be obtained; Master's degree abroad

Undergraduate students; Integrated Master's and Doctoral Programs  1+2=3 years; Can be obtained; Foreign doctoral degree

3 Recommended Universities

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03 L i n c o l n  U n i v e r si t y

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4 Application Process

step1  Students register on the ICAC official website                    

step2  ICAC will contact students within 2 working days     

step3  Students provide the necessary materials to ICAC      

step4  After evaluation by ICAC, a Credit Certification Report will be issued;

step5  Verified                                         

step6  ICAC handles the admission procedures for students to foreign universities 

step7  Apply for visa procedures                                

Step 8: Admission to American universities in May/August/January               

The long road of credits is the journey of every international student

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