Overview
A Social Security Number (SSN) is a number assigned by the US government to track your income levels and determine your correct rate of tax withholding. It is required by all employers in order to pay you for any work you do. It does not provide legal authorization to work in the U.S.
Individuals without a social security number (SSN) are not authorized to work in any capacity until a SSN is provided to the Office of Human Resources.
The Office of Human Resources is located on the 8th floor of the Tower Building, Room 806 and can also be contacted by emailing hr@massart.edu. It is your responsibility to give the number to the Human Resources Office as soon as you receive it in order to avoid any delays in receiving payment.
Additional Information
On-Campus Job Offer
STEP 1: Ask your future supervisor to complete Section A only of the F-1 Certification of On-Campus Employment for SSN
- Ensure your name is spelled and formatted exactly as on your passport
- Supervisor may sign Section A electronically using their real signature (and not a computer generated version as is sometimes the default).
- Start date for employment cannot be more than 30 days in the future
Then, your supervisor emails a PDF of the Section A completed F-1 Certification of On-Campus Employment for SSN to IEC
- Supervisor sends to International Student Advisor (ISA) Maggie Shirland, Designated School Official: mshirland@massart.edu (or an alternative campus DSO if the ISA is out)
- Please ask them to copy you, the student, in as well
STEP 2: International Student Advisor or another campus Designated School Official completes Section B of F-1 Certification of On-Campus Employment for SSN
- Please note, a MassArt Designated School Official (DSO) must sign the letter
- International Student Advisor (or another campus Designated School Official) will email F-1 student when the form is signed and ready
- This normally happens within 1 week of DSO's receipt of the form.
STEP 3: Find your local Social Security Office
Then, apply for your SSN in-person within two weeks of the date on the letter and bring:
Then, enter your number in the MassArt Human Resources job system.
- There should be a place to enter your SSN in the Interview Exchange system, the same system you used to apply for your position
- It is your responsibility to enter it as soon as you receive it in order to avoid any delays in receiving payment
CPT & OPT
CPT STEPS
- Receive I-20 with CPT endorsement on it
- Find your local Social Security Office
- Normally you need to apply less than 30 days prior to your CPT start date and also bring (or send):
- All I-20s (including any previously issued to you by other institutions or by MassArt)
- Your passport (including current visa stamp) - if sending DO NOT send original, only send a copy
- Copy of your current electronic I-94: click link, and then click box that says "Get Most Recent I-94"
- The Social Security Administration has launched a new online portal. OSSNAP – Online Social Security Number Application Portal allows you to enter your personal information prior to your visit to the SSA, so that when you go to the office, the SSA representative will only need to verify your information and check your documents. We strongly encourage students to complete the online application prior to visiting the SSA office in person. It will save time and speed up the process for you.
- Present your number to your employer. It is your responsibility to give the number to your employer as soon as you receive it in order to avoid delays.
OPT STEPS
- Receive I-20 with OPT endorsement
- When e-filing your I-765 (request for OPT) form, check the box indicating your wish to apply for the SSN and complete all required information
- You will receive SSN card and number around the same time you receive your EAD
- Present your number to your employer. it is your responsibility to give the number to your employer as soon as you receive it in order to avoid delays