Visa/Employment Type	Eligible?	What to Bring to SSA
F-1 On Campus Employment (including Graduate Assistantships)	Yes, up to 30 days before employment begins. Not eligible after employment has ended.	Passport, I-20 and Form I-94 Employment offer letter  DSO Letter from ISSS Application for SSN
F-1 CPT	Yes, up to 30 days before CPT begins. Not eligible after employment has ended.	Passport and Form I-94 I-20 with CPT authorization Application for SSN
F-1 OPT	Yes, from start date listed on EAD.Not eligible after employment has ended.	Passport, I-20 and Form I-94 EAD Application for SSN
F-1 No Employment	Not eligible
F-2	Not eligible
J-1 Students On Campus Employment	Yes, up to 30 days before employment begins. Not eligible after employment has ended.	Passport, DS-2019 and Form I-94 Employment Offer Letter ISSS Employment Authorization Letter Application for SSN
J-1 Student Interns	Yes, up to 30 days before employment begins. Not eligible after employment has ended.	Passport, DS-2019 and Form I-94 Employment Offer Letter ISSS Employment Authorization Letter - Request via "Update Funding Documentation" in ISSS Scholar Portal Application for SSN
J-1 Students Academic Training	Yes, up to 30 days before AT begins. Not eligible after employment has ended.	Passport and Form I-94 DS-2019 with Academic Training notation ISSS Academic Training Approval Letter Application for SSN
J-1 Scholar	Yes Not eligible after employment has ended.	Passport, DS-2019, I-94 Application for SSN
J-2	Yes, if you have an EAD. Not eligible after employment authorization has ended.	Passport, DS-2019 and I-94 EAD Application for SSN
No employment – Denial letter needed for DMV		Passport, I-20 or DS-2019 and I-94 Application for SSN   See How to Apply for Rejection Letter

New students and scholars must wait 10 days after submitting arrival documents to ISSS before applying to SSA.

Step 1: Submit Arrival Documents to ISSS if you are a new student or scholar.

Step 2: Fill out the Foreign National Information Form with UConn Payroll, if you are employed through on-campus employment. Do not fill this out if your employment is based on CPT or OPT. 

Step 3: F-1 students must apply to ISSS for a "DSO Letter" to bring to SSA if you have on-campus employment.  J-1 students must apply for a "J-1 Work Authorization Letter" to bring to SSA.  F-1 students with authorized CPT or OPT, or J-1 visiting scholars (research scholars, postdocs, short-term scholars) may skip to Step 4.

F-1 Students: submit a Social Security Letter Request in the ISSS Portal.  You will need to upload your employment offer letter from your on-campus employer (must be on UConn letterhead and signed). If your on-campus employer does not normally issue offer letters, they may use this template.pdf.

J-1 Students: submit a J-1 Work Authorization Letter request in the ISSS Portal.

Step 4: Submit application to Social Security Administration (SSA)

Visit the Social Security Administration office closest to where you live to apply for your SSN.  You will need to search for the SSA office by Zip code to find the address and business hours.  Enter the zip code where you live.  If you are unsure of your zip code in the town where you live, use the US Post Office Zip Code locator tool and search for your zip code with your address.

Bring your immigration and employment authorization documents listed in above table to your appointment. Your card will be mailed to you within 2-4 weeks after you submit your application.

Locations:

Willimantic SSA (most Storrs campus students): 1320 Main St, Willimantic. This is on the Storrs-Willimantic bus line (stop: Tyler Square).

Hartford SSA (most Hartford campus students): 135 High St, Suite 101, Hartford, CT 06103

East Hartford SSA (some Storrs and some Hartford campus students): 478 Burnside Ave, East Hartford, CT 06108

Stamford SSA (most Stamford campus students): 2 Landmark Square, Stamford.

After you receive your SSN you must upload a copy of  your card on the UConn payroll website Here. Additionally, you need to update your SSN in the Student Admin. Follow these instructions from the Bursar to update your SSN in Student Admin. Do not mail or email a copy of your card to your employer. Do not provide a copy of your number to ISSS. 

It is important that you keep your SSN information private, except when needed to disclose for official purposes, because the number can be used to open up accounts in your name. Do not keep the SSN card in your wallet and try to memorize the number.

Keep the card in a safe place after leaving the U.S. because if you come back in the future, you may need to use the number again.

Students applying at the Hartford and Willimantic Social Security Offices see below to apply by mail.  Students applying at the East Hartford Social Security Office, follow the instructions above to visit in person.

When you apply for a CT Driver’s License or Non-Driver’s Identification Card, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles asks you to provide either an SSN, or documentation that you are not eligible for a SSN. Therefore, you may need to apply for an SSN even if you do not have a job or work authorization.

To apply for a Social Security Rejection Letter for the DMV you must follow these steps.

1. Fill out the online application  Social Security Administration (SSA) (contact ISSS Advisor for help or questions). Be sure your address is correct!
2. Attach a note to the SSN Application indicating that you are only applying for a rejection letter to bring to the DMV.
3. Find the Social Security Administration office closest to where you live and mail your Application for SSN to this address.  You will need to search for the SSA office by Zip code.  Enter the zip code where you live or if you are unsure use the zip code of your UConn campus.
4. SSA will send your rejection letter to you by mail.