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: Complete the Online Social Security Number Application & Schedule In-Person Appointment
- 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 3: 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.
- Email template will also contain information about the next steps for applying for the SSN
STEP 4: Bring Required Documents to Your Previously Scheduled Social Security Number Appointment (within 45 days of when you created your application)
Apply for your SSN in-person and bring:
- A hard copy of the fully completed and signed F-1 Certification of On-Campus Employment for SSN
- All of your I-20s (including any previously issued to you by other institutions or by MassArt)
- Your passport (including current visa stamp)
- I-94: Printed copy of your current electronic I-94: click link, and then click box that says "Get Most Recent I-94"
- Proof of your current address (for ex. a bank statement, utility bill or other showing your current address)
- If you do not have proof of address, please request an Enrollment Verification from the Registrar's Office; make sure you ask them to include your local address on it.
From the date you apply in person, It normally takes 1-2 weeks for you to receive the SSN card in the mail.
STEP 5: Enter your SSN number in the Human Resources Employee Tracking System
-
Enter your number in the MassArt Human Resources job system, Interview Exchange.
There should be a place to enter your SSN in the Interview Exchange system, the same system you used to apply for your position
-
VERY IMPORTANT: You must enter your Social Security Number before you can be paid
-
If you have questions about how to enter your SSN or any other onboarding questions, please contact MassArt Human Resources directly
-
DO NOT share your SSN or send it to anyone, except HR. None of the staff at MassArt International Education should have or know your SSN. The number is private and should be kept private with the exception of sharing it with HR in a secure location.
CPT & OPT
CPT STEPS
- Complete the Online Social Security Number Application & Schedule In-Person Appointment
- Receive I-20 with CPT endorsement on it
- Bring Required Documents to Your Social Security Number Appointment (within 45 days of when you created your application)
- You cannot apply more than 30 days prior to your CPT start date and you must bring the following documents to your appointment:
- Your most recently issued I-20 showing your CPT authorization on it
- All previously issued I-20s
- Your passport (including current visa stamp)
- Copy of your current electronic I-94: click link, and then click box that says "Get Most Recent I-94"
- 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