<p>Hey guys, I'm a mexican student who will be studying in the US next year, I've had already solved most of the things related to it, but I'm still not sure what will happen when I'm in the US with the SSN.</p>
<p>For example if I were to contract a cell phone plan, what they usually do for US people is to check their social security numbers, but do you guys have any idea as an international student who won't work while in university, what form of ID are we actually going to be able to us in this kind of stuff like contracts, bank accounts, etc.</p>
<p>You'll probably need a social security number in the long run. Even if you don't plan to work, you can just apply for a social security number because your student visa (assuming you have a student visa) allows you to work.</p>
<p>Banks need your SSN to open a bank account, though one bank let me open an account with the confirmation letter from the social security office that I have applied for a SSN. They also needed a copy of my passport and my visa. Cell phone vendors usually want to have your SSN as well before you can apply for a cell phone plan as well.</p>
<p>Banks need your social security number (or a tax payer identification number) for the reports they have to file with the IRS, and other businesses often want it to check your credit history, and it also makes it easier to collect outstanding bills should that ever be necessary.</p>
<p>So I've been looking around how to apply for the SSN, but somehow they are asking for some employer information, and as I have non, what did you do in that case?</p>
<p>Your employer would be your college. Just get a letter from the international student office stating that you intend to work on campus and therefore need a SSN. It doesn't matter that you are not actually intending to work on campus since you are legally not even allowed to work before you get your SSN anyway. Once you have it, you can just change your mind about the employment part :)</p>
<p>I just wanted something: I am not sure what you intend to major in, but chances are that you will want to work at some point during college. You might want to work as a research assistant for your major department (not because you need the money but because it looks good on a resume), or you might want a summer job on OPT for which you would also need a SSN. Since it can take a while until you get your SSN once you apply for it (officially it's 4-6 weeks), it's better to get it early if you can.</p>
<p>Well, since we dont get SSNs until after 4-6 weeks, what do we do about banking and cell phones untill then? I mean we would need money and cellular network access almost immediately on our arrival. Wouldn't we?</p>
<p>What banks/cell phone providers have you come accross that accept an application letter for SSN as enough guarantee?</p>
<p>Wachovia let me open a bank account with the letter from the social security office. Cell phone providers probably wouldn't accept the letter because they want to have access to your credit history before they give you a plan. (Well, we obviously don't have a credit history in the US yet, but for all that a cell phone provider knows we could be lying.) But you can get a cheap pre-paid phone at first until you get a SSN. I sticked to my pre-paid phone even after I got my SSN because most cell phone plans start at $40 a month and I am not using my cell phone enough to make a plan worthwhile. I also have a land line phone in my room: no monthly fees, on-campus and local calls are free, and for other calls I have to use a calling card which I am also using for oversea calls.</p>
<p>Any idea if Chase Bank needs your SSN? Its the most popular bank at my university so i'll have to open an account there.
Also what cell-phone provider offered you the pre-paid sevice? Verizon? </p>
<p>Thanks alot anyway. I had no idea about these things untill now.</p>
<p>@aj16: A lot of providers offer pre-paid service.. We have AT&T, T-mobile, Verizon, and probably some others.. Just check on the coverage around the campus area to tell which one will work the best so that you wouldn't have to switch. Also, if you have relatives that are here, they can help you ordering a cell-phone plan so you wouldn't need SSN.. I am not sure if cellphone company needs your SSN, but you can go to their websites, choose the plan you want, try to check out, and see if they want you to put your SSN or not.. :)</p>
<p>I've already asked my university and the told me I had to be given a job offer before I could actually get my SSN. They told me that Wachovia and Wells Fargo usually let you open accounts with just your passport, as well as AT&T, Verizon and T Mobile as long as you show them you passport and your F1/J1 Visa</p>
<p>@mex_pablo: Yes, you have to be offered a job in order to get a SSN (at least that's the case with me). So, I don't think they will allow you to apply for SSN when you have no job and you say you will work on campus (there are some papers that the authorized person from where you work should sign)..</p>
<p>Yes, officially you have to be offered a job to apply for a SSN. However, depended on who you talk to at the Social Security Office you might be lucky and can get by without a "real" job offer. I know a few people who didn't have a job and could get a SSN by simply trying. But I also know a lot of people who have tried it and couldn't get one.</p>
<p>For bank accounts and cell phones: Without a SSN you won't be able to get a contract or open an account online, but if you go to a local branch office and explain your situation most carries/banks will allow you to enter a contract or open an account right on the spot. You simply have to pay a higher desposit than Americans. You can even get an iPhone 3G without a SSN ;p</p>
<p>Citibank, Washington Mutual, Wachovia. I think Bank of America as well, but I'm not 100% sure about BoA.</p>
<p>Maybe it also depends on a bank's local office or the person you're dealing with. I'm living in a College town and banks here have a lot of experience with international students, so it never was a problem. </p>
<p>When I opened an account I didn't have a SSN either and the guy I was talking to simply had the power to leave the field blank. But if he/she didn't have any experience with F-1 students I'm not so sure If he would've done that.</p>