US Social Security number: how to apply for your SSN on the E-2

1How do I apply for a Social Security number and card?

Once you have entered the US on your E-2 visa, you can apply for a Social Security number (SSN). Getting an SSN matters for life in the US: you need it to pay taxes, and plenty of others, such as banks and lenders, will ask for it too. As a rule, only foreign nationals with US work authorization, for example on an E-2 visa, are eligible for an SSN. Here is how to apply:

• Fill out an Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5).

(Form SS-5 is a PDF. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it free from http://www.adobe.com to open the file.)

• Gather the following original documents:

1. A valid passport with your E-2 visa and your most recent entry stamp.
2. Your I-94 arrival record, showing that you entered the US on an E-2 visa. Go to the US Customs and Border Protection website at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/ to print your I-94.
3. If your dependent spouse holds an E-2 visa, also bring your original marriage certificate with a certified English translation, plus your spouse's valid passport with E-2 visa, entry stamp and a printout of their latest I-94 record.

• Take the completed application and your original documents to your nearest Social Security office.

The Social Security Administration will mail you your number and card once it has verified your documents with the US Department of Homeland Security. You can find your nearest Social Security office at http://ssa.gov.

Everything you need to know about the US Social Security number is here.

Want to travel to the United States without a visa? Find out all about the ESTA application here. For every requirement of the visa itself, see our overview page on the E-2 investor visa.