The following information was received from the Social Security Administrationfs on-line customer support team, in response to an inquiry submitted by the office of AILA member Paul L. Zulkie:

Q. I am in the U.S. on a temporary visa. Can I get a Social Security number?

A. If you are lawfully admitted to the United States with Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) permission to work in the U.S., you are eligible for a Social Security number. If you are lawfully admitted but do not have INS permission to work in the United States, we can assign you a Social Security number only if you have a valid nonwork reason for needing a number.

Effective March 1, 2002, the Social Security Administration will no longer assign Social Security Numbers when the sole reason for needing an SSN is to comply with a State statute that requires an SSN for issuance of a driver's license. SSA will continue to issue SSNs to aliens who are not otherwise eligible for SSNs for the following nonwork purposes:

œ a Federal statute or regulation requires that the alien provide his/her SSN to get the particular benefit or service; or

œ a State or local law requires the alien to provide his/her SSN to get general assistance benefits to which the alien has established entitlement.

If you don't have permission to work, but still need a number for one of the reasons mentioned above, you must provide a statement on letterhead stationery from the government agency that is requiring you to provide an SSN. The letter must specifically identify you as the applicant; cite the law requiring you to have a Social Security number; and indicate that you meet all the agencyfs requirements to get the benefit or service except for having an SSN.