In the United States, a Social Security Number (SSN) is a 9-digit number issued to citizens, permanent residents and temporary (working) non-residents by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Its primary purpose is to track individuals for taxation purposes; it is not intended to be used for identification purposes.
Per current legislation, a Social Security number can only be issued to someone who:
- Is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or
- Has a valid job offer and/or is eligible for legal employment
Currently, SSNs for non-immigrants are issued to F-1/J-1 students, J-1 Scholars and dependents in J-2 status who have an employment offer. Dependents in F-2 status are not eligible for an SSN since they are not permitted to work.
Please note that students do not need an SSN to register for classes at USC, get a driver’s license in California or open a bank account. However, landlords and utility, cable and cell phone companies may request an SSN to do a credit history check (see Credit History below) to determine the amount of deposit they will require to secure housing, or to activate services.
The SSA provides more information on SSNs.
Students and scholars who are not eligible for an SSN may be eligible for a Tax Identification Number (ITIN) to use for filing taxes during tax season reporting.