Question

As a J-1 student, when can I apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)?

1) Before entering the United States
2) After entering the United States
3) During the first week of classes
4) At any time during my stay in the United States

Answer 1

A J-1 student can apply for a Social Security Number after entering the United States and being validated in SEVIS.

Step-by-step explanation:

As a J-1 student, you can apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) after entering the United States. You cannot apply for an SSN before your arrival in the U.S. Once you are in the U.S. and have secured qualifying employment or have a requirement as part of your J-1 program, you can apply for an SSN. Note that you should also be registered for your courses and have your arrival validated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) by your program sponsor before applying. It is not restricted to the first week of classes, and there's no rule that it must be done within any specific time frame of starting classes as long as you are eligible and require one for employment or other valid reasons.

You will need to wait until you have been in the United States for at least 10 days before applying for an SSN. Once you have your J-1 visa and have entered the United States, you can visit a Social Security Administration office to apply for an SSN.