How Can Illegal Immigrants Get a Social Security Number?

Immigration law forbids working without legal authorization and a social security number. Yet millions of illegal immigrants are earning income, using fraudulently obtained identification or other documents.

They are also misusing legitimately issued Social Security numbers by reporting earnings to the government, in violation of federal law. Audits by the Social Security Administration have found this practice to be widespread.

How do they get a SSN?

Undocumented immigrants can obtain a social security number (SSN) in several ways. One way is by being in a situation that authorizes them to work in the United States. This may include being a student, receiving a visa, or having an employer provide permission to work in the U.S.

Another way that illegal immigrants can get a SSN is by being in a situation that authorizes they to receive certain government benefits. These include the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the ACTC.

A worker whose employer pays a premium for the EITC or ACTC must have a valid Social Security number in order to qualify for these benefits, according to the IRS website. In addition, those in these situations can file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Some people who have not been given a Social Security number may be eligible to obtain an ITIN by filing a tax return and providing information about their residence in the U.S. These individuals are usually foreign nationals, spouses, or dependents of U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have been in the country for a specified number of days.

Illegals can also use their own Social Security numbers or other people’s SSNs to get jobs. Many try to get a SSN by using forged DHS work authorization documents, or they can use someone else’s number without their knowledge.

In addition, the Social Security Administration issues nine-digit Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers to foreign nationals who need to file federal tax returns but do not qualify for a Social Security number. Audits have shown that these numbers are widely misused by illegal immigrants to obtain employment.

There are three kinds of social security cards that a person can get: those with the words “Valid for work only with DHS authorization,” those with the words “Not valid for employment,” and those without any words at all. The Social Security Administration says that the words “not valid for employment” mean a person’s immigration status does not authorize them to work in the U.S.

They could have gotten a SSN when they were previously in a situation that authorized them to work in the U.S.

A social security number (SSN) is a unique nine-digit code used to track earnings. It was introduced in 1936 to help people track their income and benefits over the course of their lives. Today, SSNs are a de facto national identification number for the United States.

It is used to identify you and report your income and taxes to the IRS and Social Security Administration (SSA). Depending on your immigration status, it may be required for employment.

The number is also used for tracking employee wages in a payroll system. If you employ an immigrant or refugee, you will need to collect their SSN and list it on a state W-4 form before paying them. You can also collect proof of application from the employee, including a copy of their Online Social Security Number Application confirmation page and their application receipt.

Some immigrants, such as those who arrived as refugees, received an SSN with their immigration entry paperwork. Others, such as those with employment authorization, must apply for an SSN through the SSA.

For example, F-1 and J-1 students who are on campus or have off-campus employment through Academic Training must show their SSN to the University Payroll Office. The number is also used for government reporting that the University must complete for employers.

If you are an illegal immigrant, your SSN can be stolen by identity thieves. This can cause you to lose your green card and any other immigration benefits you are currently pursuing.

You can protect your SSN by avoiding giving it to other people, especially through email or the telephone. You can also keep your SSN secure by storing it in a safe place, and not sharing it with others.

Your SSN is an important document, and it should never fall into the hands of a stranger or someone who isn’t authorized to have it. You should also avoid providing it to other people unless they have a legal basis to do so, such as with an employer or a credit card company.

For more information about Social Security, visit the SSA website or contact a local SSA office. You can also find out how to get a replacement Social Security card if you have lost one. You can also learn about how to change your name, birthdate, sex identification, citizenship or legal status.

They could have gotten a SSN after they crossed the border

Despite the rumors, illegal immigrants do not receive Social Security numbers at the border. They can only get them by completing a lengthy Department of Homeland Security process, immigration experts say.

To obtain a SSN, undocumented immigrants typically apply for a number using false documents or they create or purchase a counterfeit Social Security card, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). This is a form of fraud that can cause the Agency to issue an SSN to the wrong person, such as someone who has already been assigned one, or it may be a SSN the Agency never assigned to an individual in the first place, like a stolen SSN or a fake SSN.

In addition, undocumented immigrants can only receive work authorization after undergoing a long process that requires their case to be approved by the Department of Homeland Security, immigration experts say. This authorization typically takes several months.

Some people who come to the United States in other ways, such as refugees or asylum seekers, can also get work authorization after entering the country. But they typically have to wait months before receiving this authorization, said Evelyn Cruz, clinical professor of law at Arizona State University.

Other people, such as undocumented parents or spouses of U.S. citizens, can only receive Social Security numbers after obtaining work authorization, but the authorization is only granted under very specific circumstances, Gilman said.

Even then, they are often not given a SSN by the government. It is rare for someone who is not a citizen to have a SSN, and if it is given, it is usually not for more than a year, Gilman said.

Asylum seekers, however, can receive work authorization only after a long process that involves applying for asylum and meeting other requirements, such as showing they fear persecution in the United States. If they meet those requirements, they will be given a Social Security number in a few months, Gilman said.

But many people who come to the United States on short-term tourist or business visas don’t have a SSN. In fact, the population of visa-overstayers makes up about 46% of the total undocumented population in the U.S., compared with 38% of the overall undocumented population, Gelatt said. But because they do not have a SSN, they are not eligible for any benefits from the government, including social security and unemployment insurance.

They could have gotten a SSN at a port of entry

A social security number (SSN) is a 12-digit code that is issued to individuals by the Social Security Administration. It is used to identify individuals and to verify their identity in many situations, including when they apply for loans, bank accounts, and other government services. It is also sometimes used by people involved in identity theft.

A SSN is unique and can be easily matched with other data, making it a valuable tool in the fight against identity theft. For this reason, financial institutions often require it for opening accounts.

However, noncitizens are not automatically granted SSNs as soon as they enter the United States. It usually takes at least 10 business days for entry data to be entered into the Department of Homeland Security system and made available for verification purposes. It is therefore important for individuals to wait at least this long before filing their SSN applications.

Denise Gilman, director of the Immigration Clinic at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, told the AP that it would take “months” for asylum seekers to get a SSN under current policies. That’s because they need to be granted work authorization by the Department of Homeland Security first.

Besides, the Covid restrictions that have caused officials to return border crossers to Mexico means many of these migrants make multiple attempts to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a CBP report.

It’s also not clear how many of the immigrants at the border are even legally allowed to cross. Some of the people who crossed the border last year were returned to Mexico under Covid restrictions, while others were sent back to their countries of origin.

Some of these immigrants — including asylum seekers and other migrants from South America — were able to apply for a social security number at ports of entry, according to the CBP report. But most of the migrants who cross the border are not legally authorized to do so.

Regardless of whether or not these migrants obtained a SSN, it’s important for them to know that their status at the border is very different from that of a citizen. If you are stopped by a police officer or an immigration agent, stay calm and show them your papers. You can also refuse to provide documents, though that can lead to additional questions.