Keep permission to work and Social Security administration in separate rows. An SSN is not a substitute for checking the person's actual employment authorisation and its conditions.
Identify the status or document relied on for employment permission
SSA explains the use of a Social Security number for wage reporting and requires evidence of work-authorised immigration status for the relevant application. It distinguishes accepted immigration documents, including an Employment Authorization Document, from the SSN itself. It also describes limited non-work SSN situations. Read US Social Security Administration: Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens.
Your working sheet
The following is an editorial organisation tool, not an official application checklist. Copy the rows that help and fill them with your own verified records.
| Check | What to record |
|---|---|
| Immigration permission | Identify the status or document relied on for the proposed work |
| SSA task | Use SSA's current instructions for the actual SSN application situation |
| Employer process | Ask what employment-verification process applies without sending unnecessary identifiers publicly |
A practical example
Imagine a person has an SSN from an earlier stay but now holds a different status. The old number does not answer whether the new activity is permitted. The reader should check the current status and any relevant EAD through the responsible official instructions.
Before the next step
Use current DHS or USCIS guidance for work authorisation and SSA guidance for the number. Keep sensitive numbers private. Resolve a mismatch between employment plans and immigration records before relying on an old card or an employer's assumption.
Continue with the guide library or save the next task in the moving planner. Official requirements can change; the source above was checked on 17 October 2026.