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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
Email your Supervisor: Be sure to include the following information (or view sample template) and cc mshirland@massart.edu
In your email, explain (politely):
- They should complete Section A of F-1 Certification of On-Campus Employment for SSN
- they can sign Section A electronically using their real signature (not a computer generated version as is sometimes the default) OR
- they can print the letter and sign it in pen/ink and then scan it back in to share it
- They should email the letter to your international student adviser mshirland@massart.edu and copy you.
- You are providing the following required information for them to include in Section A of the letter:
- Your name exactly as it appears on your passport
- Last (Family) Name(s): you do not need to include middle names but you MUST include all last names; BOTH names must be included on the letter for students who have 2 last names on their passport & I-20
- Preferred or English Name(s): should not be included on the letter unless the name(s) are on your passport and I-20
- Your MassArt Student ID number
STEP 3: International Student Adviser 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 Adviser 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
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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
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VERY IMPORTANT: You must enter your Social Security Number before you can be paid
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If you have questions about how to enter your SSN or any other onboarding questions, please contact MassArt Human Resources directly
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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.
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DO NOT lose your SSN or the SSN card - the number will be yours for life and if you lose the number or the card, you will need to repeat the same process all over again in order to receive the number or a replacement card.
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
After you receive your EAD card:
- Complete the Online Social Security Number Application & Schedule In-Person Appointment
- 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 OPT start date and you must bring the following documents to your appointment:
- Your EAD card for OPT
- Your most recently issued I-20 showing your OPT 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.