A Social Security Number (SSN) is a nine-digit number issued by the U.S. federal government to its citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents. The main purpose of a social security number is to keep track of an individual’s tax information, and it has now become a de facto identification card. (Quoted from Wikipedia)
Uses of SSN
- Apply for a credit card. Generally speaking, an SSN is a prerequisite for applying for a credit card, as only with an SSN can the bank establish and track your credit history. Therefore, it is recommended to apply for a credit card after obtaining an SSN. (Of course, some banks also agree to guarantee a certain amount of deposit in order to apply for a credit card.) Specific credit card application techniques are covered in a separate topic.
- Deposit waiver for phone plans. Many telecom companies will require SSN as a guarantee of identity and credit when applying for a multi-person family plan. If you don’t have an SSN, you may need to pay a deposit of a few hundred dollars. Of course, the deposit is refundable when you cancel your plan.
- Salary Transfer. If a student has an on-campus job while studying, the salary can be transferred directly to the personal bank account through bank transfer. But first, you’ll need to enter your SSN and personal bank account information under the Employment section of the Staff (or Faculty) page of MyASU so that the school can transfer the salary to your bank account.
- SSN is not required for driver’s license and car insurance, and you will need to fill out a driver’s license application form before taking the driver’s license test, in which the SSN field can be left blank and replaced with passport and I-20 information. Similarly, SSN is not required when purchasing car insurance.
How to get and apply for an SSN
For students, the way to get an SSN is generally to get a legal job (on-campus or off-campus). There are usually the following situations: (1) the applicant has been offered a teaching assistant (TA) or research assistant (RA) job at the time of admission, or has applied for a job during the study period; 2. Get a part-time job on campus or an internship outside of school (but whether you are eligible to apply for SSN still needs to be confirmed with the employer); Third, get a legal full-time job after graduation.
Once you are eligible to apply for an SSN, prepare the required documents and bring them to the Social Security Administration to apply. The address is: 250 N 7th Ave #100, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Keep your SSN safe
SSN is an important form of identification, so be sure to keep your SSN card properly to prevent it from being lost. SSN numbers should also not be disclosed or lent to others.