{"id":40,"date":"2008-12-12T12:58:38","date_gmt":"2008-12-12T18:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.messersmithlaw.com\/?p=40"},"modified":"2008-12-12T12:58:38","modified_gmt":"2008-12-12T18:58:38","slug":"on-social-security-numbers-and-drivers-licenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.messersmithlaw.com\/?p=40","title":{"rendered":"On Social Security Numbers and Driver’s Licenses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Foreign nationals in the United States require a tax identification number from the Social Security Administration (SSA)<\/a> or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)<\/a> to perform certain actions in the United States such as banking, taxes and obtaining a driver’s license.\u00a0 While, generally, a foreign national must have work authorization<\/a> to obtain a social security number (SSN)<\/a>, he or she may obtain a individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)<\/a> for tax and banking purposes.<\/p>\n

In order to obtain an ITIN, a foreign national must file Form W-7<\/a> and be within the following categories of person eligible for ITIN issuance.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 A nonresident alien individual eligible to obtain the benefit of reduced withholding under an income tax treaty;<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 A nonresident alien individual not eligible for an SSN who is required to file a U.S. tax return or who is filing a U.S. tax return only to claim a refund;<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 A nonresident alien individual not eligible for an SSN who elects to file a joint U.S. tax return with a spouse who is a U.S. citizen or resident alien;<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 A U.S. resident alien (based on the substantial presence test) who files a U.S. tax return but who is not eligible for an SSN;<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 An alien spouse claimed as an exemption on a U.S. tax return who is not eligible to obtain an SSN;<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0 An alien individual eligible to be claimed as a dependent on a U.S. tax return but who is not eligible to obtain an SSN;<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0 A nonresident alien student, professor, or researcher who is required to file a U.S. tax return but who is not eligible for an SSN, or who is claiming an exception to the tax return filing requirement; or<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0 A dependent\/spouse of a nonresident alien holding a U.S visa who is not eligible for an SSN.<\/p>\n

Foreign nationals who wish to apply for an SSN must file Form SS-5<\/a> with the SSA and meet the following requirements.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Provide proof of legal immigration status.\u00a0 Form I-94 must be presented.\u00a0 F-1 Visa<\/a> holders must provide their current I-20 and J-1 Visa<\/a> holders must provide their current DS-2019.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Provide proof of work authorization.\u00a0 For visa holder who are eligible to work incident to status, such as H-1B<\/a>, L-1<\/a> or O-1 visa<\/a> holders, the I-94 is sufficient.\u00a0 For others, such as applicants who have filed for adjustment of status<\/a>, they must provide a work authorization card<\/a> or green card<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 Proof of Age.\u00a0 In most circumstances, a passport or birth certificate is sufficient.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 Proof of Identity.\u00a0 Any document used must show your name and a recent photograph.\u00a0 Commonly accepted documents include green card\/immigrant visa and passport, I-94 card and passport or work permit.<\/p>\n

While every state has their own requirements to obtain a drvier’s license, they will all genreally require<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Proof of Identity;<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Social Security Number; and<\/p>\n

3. Proof of residency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Foreign nationals in the United States require a tax identification number from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to perform certain actions in the United States such as banking, taxes and obtaining a driver’s license.\u00a0 While, generally, a foreign national must have work authorization to obtain a social security number … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,17,14],"tags":[168,169,16,167],"class_list":["post-40","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-drivers-license","category-itin","category-ssn","tag-drivers-license","tag-itin","tag-social-security-number","tag-ssn"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t