How an immigrant can apply for an SSN
Most international founders running a U.S. company remotely are simply not eligible for a Social Security Number — this explains why, and what we do instead.
The fundamental rule
An SSN requires legal U.S. work authorization tied to a specific immigration status. It is not a general-purpose ID, and it is not a tax number available to any resident — the ITIN exists precisely to cover tax purposes for people who don't have work rights.
Who is eligible
- Green Card holders.
- Temporary work-visa holders (H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-2, TN, and similar).
- Employment Authorization Document (EAD) holders — pending asylum, DACA, pending adjustment of status, or L-2/H-4 spouses with an EAD.
- F-1/J-1 students, but only with authorized on-campus employment, OPT, or practical training.
A founder running an LLC remotely, without residing in the U.S., typically fits none of these categories — that's the exact case our EIN-without-SSN path is built for.
Documents needed (in person, at an SSA office)
Always originals — no copies:
- A valid foreign passport.
- Original birth certificate (translated if required).
- Form I-94.
- EAD card (Form I-766), if applicable.
- Form I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1), if applicable.
- Green Card (Form I-551), if applicable.
- Form SS-5, pre-filled online.
How to apply
Path 1 — through your visa or immigration process
If you mark automatic SSN issuance on your consular or adjustment-of-status forms, the card arrives by mail 7-14 days after you enter the U.S. or your Green Card is approved.
Path 2 — in person at a U.S. SSA office
For a temporary work visa or student with a job offer: wait about 10 days after entry for your records to sync, book an appointment online, present your original documents, and the card is mailed in 2-3 weeks.
Cost
The SSA charges nothing — an SSN is always free. The barrier is the immigration-status requirement itself, not a fee, and there is no shortcut around it.