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SSA

RIN: 0960-AF87

Publication ID: Fall 2003

Title: Evidence Requirement for Assignment of Social Security Numbers (SSNs); Assignment of SSNs to Foreign Students (960P)
Abstract: Abstract: We propose to clarify our rules for assigning Social Security Numbers (SSNs) to foreign academic students in the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS, formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service or INS) classification status F-1. Specifically, we propose to add additional evidentiary requirements for F-1 students who apply for SSNs. In addition to meeting SSA's requirement to provide evidence of age, identity, legal alien status, and work authorization, an F-1 student who does not have a valid BCIS-issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD) will be required to present evidence that on-campus employment has been secured before we will assign an SSN.
Agency: Social Security Administration(SSA)	Priority: Other Significant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage
Major: No	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 20 CFR 422.105 20 CFR 422.107
Legal Authority: 42 USC 405

Legal Deadline: None

Statement of Need: These revised regulations are necessary to further enhance the integrity of SSA's enumeration processes for assigning SSNs. By clarifying the evidence requirements for assignment of SSNs, we intend to reduce the opportunity for fraud through misuse and/or improper attainment of SSNs.

Summary of the Legal Basis: None.

Alternatives: We considered just requiring schools to certify the number of on-campus jobs available (including as a subset those being held for F-1 students) and the number of F-1 students who want to work. However, we do not believe it adequately addresses our need to ensure that the individual student applicant for an SSN is working or has obtained a job before we will assign him or her an SSN. As such, this alternative would do little to achieve our objective in making the regulations changes, which is to reduce the opportunity for fraud through misuse and/or improper attainment of SSNs.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: The program costs associated with these revised regulations are negligible. Also, there are negligible administrative costs (i.e., less than 25 work years and less than $2 million). Benefits to SSA include enhancing the integrity of SSA's enumeration processes and helping to alleviate the proliferation of SSNs thereby resulting in fewer opportunities for SSN fraud, including the fraud associated with identity theft.

Risks: None.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	12/00/2003
Final Action	08/00/2004

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No	Government Levels Affected: State
Small Entities Affected: No	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes
Agency Contact: Robert J. Augustine Social Insurance Specialist Social Security Administration Office of Regulations, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401 Phone:410 965-0020