University of Michigan

How to obtain a Social Security Card/Number

What is a Social Security number?

A Social Security number is intended to accurately record your earnings in this country. International students in F-1 status have permission to work on campus and are therefore eligible for Social Security numbers. (Note: there are limitations to this permission -- consult an International Student and Scholar Advisor for details.) Students or scholars in J-1 status are eligible for Social Security numbers provided that they have the J-1 sponsor’s permission to work.

Most employees are required to pay a certain percentage of their earnings to the Social Security System through the Federal Insurance Compensation Act, otherwise referred to as the FICA tax. However, most F-1 and J-1 employees are usually exempt from the FICA tax.

Note: If you need a Social Security number for any of the reasons listed below but are not eligible for one, you can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) at the U-M Payroll Office (phone number 764-8250). The Payroll Office is located in Room G395 Wolverine Tower-Low Rise, 3003 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1279. You can take AATA bus #36 to Wolverine Tower free of charge by showing your M-Card to the bus driver. Since the ITIN number itself is not issued by the Payroll Office, but by the United States government, you will not receive the number immediately. You may have to wait weeks or even months to receive the number.

Do I need a social security number?

Social Security numbers are needed for:

· Employment: You must have a Social Security number in order to work in the United States. Therefore, if you plan to work in this country you should apply for a Social Security number.

· Fellowships: If you are going to receive a fellowship or scholarship payment from the University, you will need a Social Security number or an ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) if you are not eligible for a Social Security number.

· Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Forms: All students and scholars in F-1 or J-1 status who are non-resident aliens for tax purposes are required to fill out an Internal Revenue Service form every year even if they have no U.S.-source income. A Social Security number or ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) is required on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms. For additional information about these requirements, please consult the International Center.

Social Security numbers are not needed for:

· Registration: It is not necessary to have a Social Security number in order to register for classes. Students use an eight-digit number called the UM ID number to register for classes.

· Banking: F and J-visa holders do not need a Social Security number to open a bank account or for most other financial transactions. The bank may ask F and J-visa holders to fill out Internal Revenue Service form W-8BEN to prove that they are exempt from the requirement of providing a Social Security number.

Social Security Card Information, continued

· Driver's License: Although some states require that you have a Social Security number in order to obtain a driver's license, the State of Michigan does not have such a requirement. Therefore, you do not need a Social Security number to obtain a driver's license in Michigan.

How do I apply for a Social Security card?

· To begin, obtain a letter from the International Center on Central Campus.

F-1 Students : The International Center will give you a letter verifying that you are eligible for on-campus employment.

J-1 students or scholars : The International Center can provide a letter to J-1 students or scholars who are on the University of Michigan's Exchange Visitor program (P-1-142) and have our permission to work.

· Go to the Federal Building on Liberty Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. They are open weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm. Take the letter from the International Center, your passport, the I-94 form in your passport, and your I-20 form or IAP-66 form with you.

· Complete the Social Security application form, which asks for a mailing address. If you do not yet have a permanent address in Ann Arbor, then you can use the International Center’s mailing address:

University of Michigan International Center

603 East Madison Street

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1370.

· Your card will be mailed to you one or two weeks after you apply for it. You may be able to obtain your Social Security number by phone a few days after applying for it. For further information, call 1-800-772-1213.

· Once you receive a Social Security number, please notify the Registrar’s Office at 1524 Literature, Science & Arts (LS&A) Building or 1212 Pierpont Commons (North Campus). You will need to bring your Social Security card with you to change your record.

PLEASE NOTE: If your employment (eg. your position as a GSI, GSRA, etc.) begins before your receive your Social Security Card, please ask for a receipt from the Social Security Office. When your department gives you employment forms to fill out, give the receipt to the department administrator together with the employment forms.

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12/15/03

Ann Arbor Banks

National City Bank (www.nationalcity.com)

· Central Campus Address: 1100 S. University Tel.: 995-7830

· North Campus Address: 2901 Plymouth Tel.: 995-7870

Comerica (www.comerica.com)

· Central Campus Address: 777 N. University Tel.: 1-800-643-4418

· North Campus Address: 2665 Plymouth Tel.: 1-800-643-4418

TCF Bank (www.tcfbank.com)

· Central Campus Address: 401 E. Liberty Tel.: 213-2265

· North Campus Address: 2701 Plymouth Tel.: 213-2265

Key Bank (www.key.com)

· Central Campus Address: 100 S. Main Tel.: 741-6582

· North Campus Address: 2421 Plymouth Tel.: 327-7000

Bank One (www.bankone.com)

· Central Campus Address: 125 S. Main Tel.: 995-8155

· North Campus Address: 3500 Plymouth Tel.: 995-8090

UM Credit Union (www.umcu.org)

· Central Campus Address: 333 E. William Tel.: 662-8200

· North Campus Address: Pierpont Commons 2101 Bonisteel Tel.: 662-8200 (ext. 4300)

Standard Federal Bank (www.standardfederalbank.com)

· Central Campus Address: 201 S. Main Tel.: 747-7600

Ann Arbor Commerce Bank (www.annarborcommerce.com)

· 2950 S. State St. Tel.: 887-3100

Bank of Ann Arbor (www.bankofannarbor.com)

· Central Campus Address: 125 S. Fifth Tel.: 662-1600

· North Campus Address: 2649 Plymouth Tel.: 662-3800

Flagstar Bank (www.flagstarbanking.com)

· Central Campus Address: 413 E. Huron Tel.: 663-9699

· North Campus Address: 2001 Commonwealth Blvd. Tel.: 994-7800

University Bank (www.university-bank.com)

· 959 Maiden Lane Tel.: 741-5858

Bank Information, Terms & Explanations

Credit Unions: Credit Unions are different from banks because they may have lower fees and higher interest rates for checking and savings accounts. They may also offer car loans and credit cards with lower interest rates than other banks.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM): You can complete many transactions at an ATM—cash withdrawals, deposits, and transfers between checking and savings accounts. You can also view your account balance. This is free at your own bank and its branches, but you will incur a $1.50 - $2.50 charge from your bank AND the other bank when you use another bank’s ATM. You will need an ATM card or a debit card to use the ATM machine. See below for Safety Tips when using ATMs.

Debit Card (also called Check Card): A debit card is connected to your checking account and is used almost like a regular credit card (such as MasterCard or Visa), except that the charges made are deducted from your checking account immediately upon purchase. Your debit card can also be used in the ATM machine. There is no charge for this service, but there may be a limit on the number of transactions that can be done per month for free. Check with your bank.

Certificate of Deposit (CD): If you will be depositing large sums of money in the bank, CDs have higher interest rates than regular checking or savings accounts. However, if you withdraw money before the CD matures, a penalty is assessed.

Credit Card: A credit card allows you to charge items without having to pay the costs immediately. A monthly statement will show the charges made on the card and the amount the cardholder has to pay the credit card company. If the full amount is not paid by the due date, fees and high interest rates might apply.

Online Banking & Bill Paying: Online banking allows you to visit a secure website to check your bank balance, transfer funds, etc. As of May 2002, all campus area banks offered online banking, which is usually free. Online bill paying, however, costs $5-8 per month.

Direct Deposit: Direct Deposit can be used to have your salary directly deposited into your bank from your employer. There is no charge, but there may be a limit to the number of free direct deposit transactions per month.

Currency Exchange Services: Services to exchange currency are not offered by most banks. However, there is a currency exchange service at Boersma Travel, located at 12 Nickels Arcade, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, 994-6204. A fee is charged.

You don't need a Social Security number to open a bank account, but: if your bank asks for a Social Security Number and you do not have one, fill out Internal Revenue Service (IRS) W-8 BEN Form, which will prove to the bank that you are exempt from this requirement. The W-8BEN Form is available at banks or on the web at world.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf. There is no charge for the form.

Safety Tips when using ATMs

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are conveniently located all around Ann Arbor and in some areas of the UM campus. They are convenient, but you must be cautious when using one. Thefts do occur, usually at night and in poorly lit areas. You can protect yourself and your property by following these easy tips:

· Choose a well-lit ATM and have someone with you when using the machine at night.

· Stand directly in front of the ATM, so no one can see you enter your personal identification number (PIN).

· Do not keep your PIN in your wallet or with your ATM card. It should be memorized upon receiving it and then destroyed.

Telephone Services

LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICE ON CAMPUS

Residence Halls

The phone in your residence hall room should be in operation when you arrive. The Residence Hall will advise you on long distance services and how to obtain them. You can also call 763-0252 for more information.

Family Housing

Set up your telephone service (both local and long distance) by calling ITCommunications Services at 763-2000, or by going to their office in the Arbor Lakes Buildings (Building Two, Floor One, Suite 1400), 4251 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. You can rent a phone from them. Their hours are 8am - 5pm, Monday through Friday, for both telephone calls and walk-ins. Please call first with your question before you visit. More information about rates, including international rates, is available at om.itd.umich.edu/telephone/fam h ouse.html.

LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICE OFF CAMPUS

GETTING A TELEPHONE

You must either rent or buy your own telephone. Inexpensive phones are available at Meijer, Target or Best Buy (for as little as $10). Should you choose to rent a telephone, you can get one from an AT&T office.

GETTING LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICE

1) To order phone service, call Ameritech at 1-800-244-4444. It's a good idea to order your phone as soon as you know your Ann Arbor address.

Before calling, be sure that you have at least two valid pieces of identification such as:

· passport

· birth certificate

· home country identification card

· social security number (The number is used to check your credit history; if you do not have one, explain to the operator that you are new to the country. Provide your passport number instead.)

· U.S. driver's license or official state identification card

Ameritech may also ask you any one of these general questions:

· Your name, your date of birth and your local address.

· Have you had prior service with Ameritech?

· What is your social security number? (If you don't have one, tell them the type of identification you are using and they will ask for those numbers. Hint: it is best to use your passport.)

· What is the name, address and telephone number of a close family member in your home country?

· Where are you employed? (If you are not employed and if you attend classes at the U of M, tell them you are a student.)

· Who will be providing your long distance service? (You do not have to know for sure.)

· Do you want your number listed in the phone book or not? (An unlisted phone number will cost an extra $4.95 monthly.)

· Is there a phone number where the company can call or leave a message? (If you don’t have a phone number that you can give, you can use the International Center’s number, 734-764-9310.)

· Do you want extra options such as call waiting (allows you to receive other calls while you are talking on the phone), caller ID (displays the name and the number of the person calling you), voice mail (functions like an answering machine, so people can leave you messages when you cannot answer the phone), etc.

2) Ameritech may ask for additional information. Be prepared to fax the following to the Ameritech Customer Verification Center at 1-800-668-6613:

· your name.

· a photocopy of your passport photo page and Social Security Card (if available).

· statement saying you are requesting telephone service in the State of Michigan.

Ameritech will use this information to verify its accounts. To request service, call at least 48 hours after you have faxed this information. Tell them you have already faxed the above information to the Customer Verification Center.

3) Once you have completed all the necessary steps in the process, the operator will tell you your telephone number and the date it will go in to effect. It usually takes 2 workdays to check references and 1 - 2 days to install, but it could take longer at busy times of the year.

*Remember you can change the services or plans provided by your local or long distance companies at any time, so you might want to start with the cheapest plan (e.g. no call-waiting, etc.) and then add more options later if you want them.

LONG DISTANCE SERVICE

Local phone service is arranged through Ameritech, but long distance service is arranged separately. If you are going to call home often, you will want to choose the company with the best rates for calls to your home country. You might ask students from your home country for their opinion.