International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

Social Security Number

A Social Security number (SSN) is a unique, nine-digit identification number issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). An SSN is a requirement for all persons who work and receive pay in the U.S. The SSN is used to report wages to the government.

Students needing an SSN with a GA/TA/RA or on-campus Student Worker position, please start at step 1.

Students needing an SSN who have been offered an off-campus internship through CPT, please start at step 3.

If you are a new international student, you MUST complete the new international student check-in process before you may begin the SSN application procedure. Please understand that your visa status takes prioirty and this may cause a small delay in the time it takes to recieve an SSN.

SSN Application Procedure

1) Collect  and organize your required SSN documents and make copies as well. These include your I-20, I-94, SIUE Job Offer, SSN Application Form, Visa, and Passport. Please view the table below to download any documents you may not already have. Please note that ISSS cannot make copies for students.

Make sure that your SIUE Job Offer form is completed and signed by both yourself and your hiring department.

2) Upload scanned copies of the SIUE Job Offer, Paper SSN Application, and I-94 to the SIUE SSN Document Request.  ISSS will review your application documents for errors, sign the job offer form, and email the form back to you along with instructions detailing the next steps, the availability of the Alton SSA office, and bus lines that will take you there. Once you  have uploaded all the required documents, you may start working.

Please Note, If an international student has requested a SEVIS Transfer to a new univeristy: Per ISSS policy, we do not process any SSN documents for students with a pending SEVIS Transfer request.

3) The Social Security Administration has requested that all students complete the online SSA Application before they come to the SSA office for their appointment. Completing this will provide you with a reference number that you will need to present at the SSA office in Alton during your appointment. On-Campus Student workers and Graduate Assistants should not begin this application until AFTER receiving the approved SIUE Job Offer Form WITH a signature from their DSO. Lastly, be sure to keep all of your documents in order, you will still need to provide physical copies of your documents at the SSA office.

4) Once you have completed the SSN Document Request and the SSA Application. You may attend the SSA office in Alton at your earliest convenience any Monday - Friday between the hours of 9AM and 3PM. Make sure you have all your documents as well as your SSA Application Reference Number when you attend. The SSA office address information and available bus routes are listed at the bottom of the page.

Required Documents

It is important that you follow the Social Security Sample to avoid having to complete it again.  After meeting, Social Security Administration staff will return all original documents to you, except the Social Security application. You will receive a receipt which will also detail how long it is estimated to take for your SSN Card to be provided. You may present this receipt to your employer. ISSS does not need a copy of this receipt.

For any questions or concerns regarding the SSN process, email the international affairs team at intlprog@siue.edu.

After Your Appointment

It takes about 2 to 4 weeks for your Social Security card to arrive at the SIUE Office of International Affairs. We will email you when our office receives your card. Once you have an SSN, it will never expire. Even if your employment is discontinued or you leave the United States for a few years and return, you will keep the same number.

It is very important that you do not share your SSN with anyone else, as this can lead to identity theft. Do not carry your social security card in your wallet. Memorize it! Do not give out your SSN to anybody unless it is absolutely necessary. 

Social Security Office:

• Address: Room 103 Federal Bldg., 501 Belle St., Alton, Illinois 62002
• Phone: 1-855-285-6006
• Hours: Monday-Tuesday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. / Wednesday 9 a.m.-12 p.m. / Thursday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 
• Directions: Located in downtown Alton in the Federal Building at 5th and Belle Streets, five blocks north of the Alton Belle Casino boat on US Highway 67 (Piasa Street)

Bus Transportation:

• Take bus 17 from SIUE to Edwardsville Station.
• Take bus 7 from Edwardsville Station to Wood River Station
• Take bus 1 from Wood River Station to Belle Street (Social Security office). Tell the driver you want to be dropped off close to the Social Security office.
• To return use the same route (bus 1, bus 7, bus 17)

View the bus schedule