Getting a social security number after immigration

There are a lot of things that you have to do when you move the US; one of the most important is to apply for a social security number. Fortunately this is very easy to do and ideally it should be done before you get to the US. If you wait until you get here you will have to apply in person which can be a hassle.

If you are immigrating to the United States you are going to have to get a social security number. The reason that you need a social security number is that it is the way that the government keeps track of how much tax you owe. This may not give you much incentive to get one but you do have to have one in order to get a job. Your employer will have to provide your social security number to the government when you start work so without one they will not be able to hire you.

The other reason that you need to have a social security number is that it will largely determine what government benefits you are eligible for. You need to have one in order to apply for things like unemployment insurance or welfare. The most important reason that you will need one is that your retirement benefits from the government will depend in large part on how much you worked when you were younger. The way that this is determined is by using your social security number to look at how much you contributed to the social security system.

The easiest way to get a social security number as an immigrant is to fill out an application when you are applying for your visa. You will be able to fill out the form at the same time so that if your visa application is successful you will also get your social security number at the same time. In most cases you will get the number right away but the card will be mailed to your residence in the US. If you don't know where you intend to live you can still apply for the number at the same time you get the visa and then have them mail you the card after you get to the US. You don't need the actual card to start working.

If you are not able to apply for a social security number when you are filling out the visa application you will have to get one when you get to the US. This requires that you go to the nearest social security office to apply. You will need to bring along all of the paper work that proves you are a legal immigrant. After you apply your card will be mailed to you in a few weeks but you will get the card right away.