TN 7 (04-10)

RM 10225.050 SSNs for Applications Submitted Outside the United States

A. Introduction

SSA issues original and replacement cards to the following applicants who live outside of the U.S.:

  • U.S. citizens

  • Noncitizens admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence or with other current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to work in the United States

  • Noncitizens who need an SSN to receive a federally-funded benefit to which entitlement is established.

B. Policy

SSN cards will be issued to the following applicants outside the United States.

1. U.S. Citizen Born in the U.S.

A U.S. citizen can receive an unrestricted SSN card. They will need to submit:

  • Evidence of age, identity and U.S. citizenship for an original SSN.

  • Evidence of identity and age if the DOB appears incorrect for a replacement SSN card.

2. U.S. Citizen Born Outside the U.S.

A U.S. citizen can receive an unrestricted SSN card. They will need to submit:

  • Evidence of age, identity and U.S. citizenship for an original SSN.

  • Evidence of identity, U.S. citizenship (as explained in RM 10210.020 and RM 10210.500) and age if the DOB appears incorrect for a replacement SSN card.

3. Nonresident Alien Living Outside the U.S.

A nonresident alien living outside the U.S. can receive a SSN card that bears the nonwork legend. They will need to submit:

  • Evidence of age, identity, and documentation that an SSN is required by U.S. law as a condition of receiving a federally-funded benefit to which the applicant has established entitlement for an original SSN.

  • Evidence of identity, documentation that an SSN card is required by law as a condition of receiving a federally funded benefit to which the applicant has established entitlement and of age if the DOB appears incorrect.

NOTE: An individual who cannot be issued a replacement card can have their record corrected or changed by submitting the required evidence to support the change. The request will be processed as explained in RM 10225.115.

C. Procedure

If you receive an application in the field office from an applicant living outside the U.S., process it only if all of the required evidence is included, and if required, the mandatory in-person interview has been conducted. If the applicant must be recontacted for additional development, forward the application to the appropriate servicing office for foreign address application (RM 10205.080). This section lists the servicing SSA offices responsible for foreign address applications.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110225050
RM 10225.050 - SSNs for Applications Submitted Outside the United States - 09/23/2010
Batch run: 04/16/2013
Rev:09/23/2010