You must apply for a Social Security Card immediately after entry to the U.S. or you cannot work legally in the U.S.. Your Social Security Number is used by the government to track tax payment and is an important form of identification. You must apply for your Social Security Card as soon as you arrive at your destination. Follow the below steps:

1. To find the nearest Social Security Office, visit: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp
2. Take your DS-2019 form and passport, including your J1 visa and I-94 card, to the Social Security Office. Note: If your passport is less than one year old, be sure to bring another official government document that is at least one year old (such as a birth certificate or driver’s license with photo) to the Social Security Office to serve as proof of your age.
3. Be sure to fill out the Social Security Application correctly or your card will take several weeks to process and your employer will not be able to pay you.
4. The Social Security Administration will mail the card to whichever U.S. address you have listed on your application form in line 2. It is best to use your employer’s mailing address for this. If this is not possible, use your permanent accommodation address in the U.S. or a friend’s address. (Make sure your name is on the mailbox.) Once you have applied for your card, the mailing address cannot be changed.
5. Ask the Social Security Officer for a receipt acknowledging your application while documents are being verified. The receipt should contain a confirmation number.
6. Make a note of the Social Security Officer’s name, direct phone number, fax number, and/or email address. You will need to give this to ERDT if there is a problem with your Social Security Number.
7. Ask the Social Security Administration to telephone you with your Social Security Number as soon as they have processed your application.

You may work legally in the U.S. even before you receive the Social Security Card in the mail. Show your receipt to your employer to prove that you have applied for a Social Security Card, and he/she will usually allow you to work immediately.

It may also help to give them a copy of this letter, which explains the situation:

Or, you may direct them to this link: www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/hiring.htm

If you have not heard from the Social Security Administration within 7-10 days of applying for your card, call 800-722-1213 to find out the status of your application. You will need to give them the Confirmation Number listed on the receipt from the Social Security Office. If Social Security does not have a record of your application, return to the Social Security Office and re-apply. (If you have a receipt, this should not happen.)

If the Social Security officer tells you any of the following things:

1. You must wait 7-10 days after your arrival to apply for the card.
2. Your status is not "Active" or "Validated" in SEVIS
3. Your name or birthdate is wrong in their computer
4. Your name is not in their computer
5. There is a problem with Homeland Security / ERDT needs to contact Immigration

contact ERDT immediately. You will need to give us the name of the Social Security officer that you spoke with, as well as their phone number (the number or extension at their desk, not the phone number for the whole office), and if possible, their email address.

You may wish to have the Social Security Officer write down what the problem is. If you cannot clearly tell ERDT what the problem is, we cannot help you, and will ask you to return to the Social Security Office to find out what the exact problem is.

The Social Security Administration is a government agency, not affiliated with ERDT. ERDT is not authorized by the Social Security Administration to obtain information regarding the status of applications.

If you leave a place of employment after receiving wages, but before receiving your number, you will still be required to report your Social Security number to your former employer. Be sure to bring your card home with you in order to file your taxes.