Receiving my Social Security number as an international student

Please read through all information on this page, Social Security Card & Work Permit, before starting the process. Please remember, you must have a job offer before you can get a social security number. 
 
If you have an on-campus job offer and need a Social Security card, please follow these steps: 
 
STEP ONE: EMPLOYER INFORMS KEARNEY CENTER OF YOUR EMPLOYMENT

  • Have your employer fill out the Verification of F-1/J-1 On-Campus Employment form. Your employer will need to upload the form to link.mnsu.edu/intlemployment. 
  • Until further notice, the Kearney Center will be accepting digital signatures on the Verification of F-1/J-1 On-Campus Employment form. You must download the form and open it in Adobe to enable digital signatures. 

STEP TWO: YOU RECEIVE A LINK FROM THE KEARNEY CENTER TO UPLOAD ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

  • Once your employer has submitted your Verification of F-1/J-1 On-Campus Employment form, you will receive an automatic response from the Kearney Center that provides you a link to the Student Work Permit Application.
  • The application link is the same for Social Security and Work Permits. 

STEP THREE: SCHEDULE YOUR MANDATORY 15-MINUTE APPOINTMENT WITH THE KEARNEY CENTER

  • The link to schedule your appointment will be in the Student Work Permit Application.
  • Lost the link to schedule your appointment? SCHEDULE IT HERE

STEP FOUR: MEET WITH KEARNEY CENTER STAFF TO REVIEW AND COMPLETE SOCIAL SECURITY APPLICATION OR WORK PERMIT APPLICATION

  • Students renewing their work permit do NOT need to meet with Kearney Center staff to complete the process. 
  • During the appointment, the Kearney Center will confirm that all forms are filled out correctly and have all required signatures. If there are minor mistakes on your form, you will be able to correct them during the appointment. 

STEP FIVE: WATCH YOUR EMAIL FOR UPDATES ON YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY OR WORK PERMIT APPLICATION

  • On your application, you will be able to select how the Kearney Center informs you of a completed work permit. 
  • You are responsible for checking your University email and/or text messages to pick up your work permit. The Kearney Center will only send one email/text notification out to you.