SSN or ITIN

[Guest Cridamour]

Which of the two do I need to request if I don't intend to work outside the university? Normally ITIN, right? But is this also the case if I get a J-1 visa? Under a J-1 visa, I would be allowed to work, but if I'm not going to work, can I just request a ITIN instead of a SSN? Help! I'm not sure yet whether I'll have a J-1 or F-1 visa, because if I get a certain scholarship (which still hasn't been decided), the organization will request a J-1 for me, and I will have to take that one.

So, if someone knows...

[Guest Romlit]

Which of the two do I need to request if I don't intend to work outside the university? Normally ITIN, right? But is this also the case if I get a J-1 visa? Under a J-1 visa, I would be allowed to work, but if I'm not going to work, can I just request a ITIN instead of a SSN? Help! I'm not sure yet whether I'll have a J-1 or F-1 visa, because if I get a certain scholarship (which still hasn't been decided), the organization will request a J-1 for me, and I will have to take that one.

So, if someone knows...

I could be wrong but I thought:

Apply for SSN if you have on campus employment

Apply for ITIN if you are not working

[Panda77]

I think that if you have a job (any type of job, even if only inside the university as a TA for example) you'll need a SSN.

I'm not sure though. Anyhow, why are you worring about that right now? There is really no need to. Get your VISA first (I would prefer an F-1 to avoid any foreign recidency requirement if at all possible) and deal with the SSN issue once you are in the US, I'm sure you'll have help and support by your university in dealing with it, they will help you decide the best option given your specific case.

[Guest Cridamour]

I need to have an ITIN or SSN for the payment of a scholarship from an independent organization and they are pushing me to get started on the paperwork so that I can receive the payment upon arrival in the US. (which I also want, of course) I'm currently stuck on the visa front as I'm still waiting for my Fulbright interview and the results. If it's a Fulbright, I'll need to get a J-1, which is good in case my boyfriend and I decide to get married in a couple of years and he wants to come live and work in the US. I already need to go back to my home country for 2 years or so because of another scholarship, so I might as well get a Fulbright on top. I'm sure I could arrange some nice job here for that time and, if I want to, go back to the US after that...

[Panda77]

ok, I guess now I see the point of worring.

Anyhow, I think I have the answer

1. your immigration status (assuming you will have an F or J VISA) has nothing to do with the status you will have for tax purposes. There is no correlation between your VISA and your need of a SSN/ITIN (these are used ONLY to file your tax return!) so no matter on which type of VISA you will be you are still eligible for both the SSN and the ITIN.

2. The only distinction between having a SSN and a ITIN is your eligibility to be employed in the US. If you'll be working (eighter on or off campus) then you will be eligible for a SSN. As discussed somewhere else, in fact, even if your only job will be a TA/RA the money you gain from it will be taxable and that's why you need a SSN. Indeed, a ITIN is only issued in the "special" case in which you are not eligible of working, otherwise the SSN is the standard.

From the IRS web site we read: "Most foreign students and scholars in F-1, J-1, M-1, Q-1, and Q-2 nonimmigrant status are eligible to be employed in the United States, and are therefore eligible to apply for an SSN if they are actually employed in the United States."

Here are the links to the IRS and SS web sites, they are full of useful information as for exapmle that we internationals (on F, J,M,and Q visas) don't have to pay social security and medicare taxes, yuppy!!)

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/int ... 31,00.html

http://www.ssa.gov/

[Guest Cridamour]

Oh, thanks, Panda, this really cleared up a lot of questions I had! I'll have to apply for a SSN then.