Your Immigration Link to the World

As a U.S. permanent resident you are given the right to obtain a Social Security number and card.  A Social Security number is a number assigned to you by the government to help track your earnings and notify you of any benefits you may be eligible for.  In addition to this, it is also used by banks and institutions such as schools as a form of identification. 

Obtain a Social Security Card if you
1. Did not ask for a Social Security number or card when you applied for an immigrant visa; or
2. Applied for your immigrant visa before October 2002; or
3. Were under the age of 18 when you entered the U.S.

Obtain a Social Security Card if you
1. Locate a Social Security Office near you using 1-800-772-1213 or www.socialsecurity.gov.
2. Go to the Social Security Office.
3. Take your birth certificate or a document such as your passport to show when and where you were born.
4. Take your permanent resident card or passport with an immigration stamp or visa label in order to show your immigration status.
5. After you apply you should receive a Social Security Card in about two weeks.