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What identification or immigration documents does the Social Security Administration require for an SSN?
Executive Summary
The Social Security Administration requires applicants to prove three core elements with original or certified documents: identity, age/date of birth, and U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status. Typical acceptable documents for citizens include a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or Certificate of Naturalization and a state driver’s license or state‑issued ID for identity, while noncitizens supply DHS documents such as a Permanent Resident Card (Form I‑551), an Employment Authorization Document (Form I‑766), an I‑94 Arrival/Departure Record, or visa plus passport; applicants generally must present these in person at an SSA office unless the immigrant‑visa process forwarded the information to SSA [1] [2] [3].
1. What the analyses consistently claim and why it matters
The collected analyses converge on a clear triad: the SSA will accept only documents that together verify age, identity, and immigration or citizenship status, and these must be original or certified copies; photocopies and notarized copies are not acceptable. Multiple sources reiterate that documents commonly used are birth certificates, U.S. passports, state driver’s licenses or state non‑driver IDs, and DHS immigration documents like Form I‑551 or an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The Washington State DSHS manual emphasizes that noncitizens must show lawful immigration status and that some nonstandard cases require proof of entitlement to benefits or a government request for an SSN [2] [1] [4]. This matters because applicants who bring incorrect or photocopied documents will be turned away, delaying access to employment, benefits, or tax filings.
2. The specific documents SSA commonly accepts — a catalog you can rely on
For U.S. citizens the analyses list U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, plus a current photo ID such as a state driver’s license or state‑issued non‑driver ID to show identity. For noncitizens the common documents are Permanent Resident Card (I‑551), Employment Authorization Document (I‑766/EAD), I‑94 with unexpired foreign passport, visa‑stamped passport, DS‑2019 or I‑20 for exchange/students when work authorization exists, and I‑797 approval notices for certain statuses. Several sources stress that the SSA may also accept a government agency letter or forms used in immigration processing when applicable, for example when an SSN request is made through a visa application [5] [2] [6] [4]. Applicants should bring documents that collectively establish all three required elements.
3. The procedural rules you cannot ignore: originals, in‑person, and DHS verification
All sources emphasize one nonnegotiable procedural rule: documents must be originals or certified copies issued by the agency that created them; the SSA will not accept photocopies or notarized duplicates. Applicants normally must apply in person at a local SSA office, especially noncitizens who need immigration verification, because the SSA often verifies status with DHS before assigning an SSN. Some materials note that all immigration and work‑authorization documents must be current and unexpired to be accepted. The practical effect is that missing or expired documents will usually cause delays and require applicants to return with corrected paperwork [1] [7] [6].
4. Exceptions, special cases, and how the immigrant‑visa pipeline changes the process
The analyses point out a crucial exception: when an SSN was requested as part of the immigrant‑visa process (on forms DS‑230/DS‑260), the Department of State and DHS forward the necessary information to the SSA so that a card will be mailed automatically, and no in‑person visit is needed. Conversely, if the SSN was not requested during visa processing, new arrivals must appear in person with a machine‑readable immigrant visa (MRIV), Permanent Resident Card, and birth certificates for each applicant. Replacement cards for recent arrivals typically require only proof of immigration documents like the MRIV or I‑551. Student and exchange visitors often need additional evidence of employment authorization pages signed by school officials or EADs when applying [3] [8] [4].
5. Where guidance diverges, what to watch for, and practical next steps
Sources vary in how much they list specific alternative IDs the SSA might accept when standard documents aren’t available; some manuals and college HR pages enumerate secondary IDs (employee ID, school ID, health‑insurance card), while SSA handbooks and state manuals stress primary, government‑issued proofs. There is also an administrative angle: state agencies and educational institutions provide operational guidance aimed at their populations and may emphasize particular document workflows or agency‑specific letters, potentially reflecting institutional priorities. Applicants should therefore verify requirements with the local SSA office before visiting, bring originals for all three core elements, and, if applicable, check whether the visa process already transmitted their data to SSA to avoid redundant steps [2] [4] [1].