You are eligible to apply for a SSN only if you are in valid status and are authorized to work. 

1. F-1 students must have a valid on-campus job offer, or have been approved for curricular practical training (CPT), post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), or another type of valid F-1 employment..
2. J-1 students must have a valid job offer for on-campus employment or off-campus Academic Training.
3. J-1 scholars are permitted to apply for a SSN based on their J-1 status.
4. H-1B employees are authorized to work for their H-1B employer, and can apply for a Social Security number on that basis.

It is important to apply for your SSN up to 30 days before or shortly after you have started your employment. You cannot apply for a SSN if you are close to finishing or have finished your employment.
 

1. To obtain a Social Security card, first you must complete the Social Security card application online and schedule an appointment to apply.
2. Once the SSN application is completed online, applicants will receive a confirmation number starting with an "O" which can be given to a worker at the Social Security Administration at the time of your appointment.
3. Along with your confirmation number, you must present the following documents listed below, in person to a Social Security representative. All documents submitted to the Social Security Office must match EXACTLY with the spelling of all names, date of birth, etc. contained in the Department of Homeland Security’s records.

When to Apply

If you have only just arrived in the U.S. to begin your academic program/or employment,  wait at least two weeks from the time of your entry to the U.S. and completion of F-1/J-1 registration, before applying for a Social Security card. The Social Security Administration will need to verify your immigration information, and it may take up to two weeks before that information is available through their systems.

Otherwise, you should apply for a SSN as soon as possible once you are aware that you will be receiving work-based income. In general, you can apply as early as 30 days before the start of any employment which will require a SSN. It is important to apply for your SSN up to 30 days before or shortly after you have started your employment. You cannot apply for a SSN if you are close to finishing or have finished your employment.
 

Where to Apply

You should get an Individual Taxpayer ID Number (ITIN) if you are receiving U.S. taxable income that does not involve work. Common examples include taxable scholarships, awards, or grants, including financial aid packages that do not require work.

SSN versus ITIN

The SSN is the appropriate tax ID if you have income based on employment (work). If you received a Social Security Number (SSN) in the past, you do not need to apply for an ITIN, since the SSN is a permanent, lifetime number and should be used instead. In addition, if you qualify for a SSN in the future, you must apply for the SSN. The ITIN will no longer be valid once you receive your SSN.

When to Apply

You may apply for an ITIN once you are know that you are going to receive non-compensatory income that must be reported for tax purposes. In general, for new student arrivals, ISSS recommends applying in the fall semester (October / November) before the start of the tax season in the following April.

The instructions apply only to F-1 or J-1 students and are in the process of being updated.

F-1 and J-1 students are eligible for an ITIN only if they are in valid status, do not qualify for a Social Security Number, and are receiving taxable, non-compensatory financial aid, scholarships or fellowships (i.e., income that do not require work). 

1. Download IRS Form W-7 and complete it following these instructions
2. Collect the following original documents
   1. Your financial aid or scholarship letter from Brown
   2. Your passport
   3. Your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
   4. Your I-94 admission record
3. Schedule an appointment with Andrew Shiotani, ISSS Director, by emailing andrew_shiotani@brown.edu.
4. Bring all of the above documents with you to the appointment.
5. After the documents are reviewed, you will be issued an ITIN support letter from ISSS, and other materials needed for your application packet.
6. Mail the complete application, including the ITIN support letter to the address listed below. Keep a copy for your records.
7. Wait for the ITIN to be mailed to you. Update your Sprintax-Calculus record when you receive it.

Internal Revenue Service
ITIN Operation
P.O. Box 149342
Austin, TX 78714-9342