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  Applying for a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
  In order to receive payment from Northwestern University, Kellogg doctoral students must have either a:
Social Security Number (SSN) or
Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Once you obtain your SSN or ITIN, please update the following offices:

  • Northwestern Payroll Office, 720 University Place, 2nd Floor
  • Registrar's Office, located at 633 Clark Street, Rebecca Crown Center, 1st Floor

Social Security Number (SSN)
To qualify for a SSN, you must have a job at Northwestern and receive wages for work performed. Please note, doctoral students in their first year of study receive fellowship money only and no work is required for the fellowship; consequently, no wages are paid. Unless you will be employed by the department or a professor, you do not qualify for a SSN. You would then apply for an ITIN, which is explained in another section. 

The rules for applying for a SSN are found on the International Office’s website.  It is highly recommended that you wait until you are registered full time before you apply for a SSN; however, the minimum requirement is to be in the country for at least 10 days before applying.  A warning – If a student enters 30-days prior to the start date of their program and applies for an SSN before the effective date (or start date of the program as listed), he/she may be refused. 

Social Security application forms are available at the International Office and the Social Security Office, which is located at 2116 Greenbay Road in the Walgreens Plaza in Evanston.  Here is the link to the form (.pdf) available from the Social Security Office.

The Social Security Office can be reached by telephone at the following numbers:  1-800-772-1213 or 847-328-2208 (local Social Security Office in Evanston).

When applying for a Social Security Number, in addition to the application form, you will need to take the following documents with you:

  • passport; I-20 or DS-2019
  • letter from the professor who is employing you, who will provide the details for your employment and the position title (teaching assistant or research assistant); here’s a sample letter (.doc).
  • letter from the International Office, which you will request online using their online request form:
These requests for letters are processed by the International Office twice per week - Mondays and Thursdays - and are available after 3pm.  When you pick up your letter from the International Office, you must also show them the letter you received from the Kellogg professor verifying your work appointment and need for a SSN.
 
IMPORTANT: Your Social Security Number should be protected. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet, and do not release that number to anyone except your employer or other authorized agent (bank, loan officer, etc.). Identity theft is a problem in the USA and often linked to your Social Security Number. Be careful!

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
Students who are not working at Kellogg will need to apply for an ITIN for tax identification purposes. These are nonresident aliens who will receive stipends from a fellowship but will not be employed in any other way, such as an assistantship or other confirmed temporary employment. The Payroll Office at Northwestern has information on the ITIN process. 

During the first year of study, Kellogg doctoral students are funded by a fellowship, and no work is required for this payment. Therefore, unless you are being paid wages, you do not qualify for a SSN. If a job with a professor becomes available to you in year one, then you would need to apply for a SSN and refer to the process noted above. 

The paperwork for the ITIN will be generated for you by Payroll once you begin the payroll process. If you participated in ISI in August, you should have already prepared the ITIN forms for your August stipend payment.

Please note: Beginning in year two, students will have a formal appointment at Kellogg as a graduate assistant and will provide TA/RA services for wages. At that time, you would qualify for a SSN. If you become eligible for a SSN in year one, due to employment at the University such as a graduate assistant or temporary employee, you must apply for a SSN. Once you receive your Social Security Card, you should provide a copy to the offices listed below because this SSN will replace your ITIN:
  • Northwestern Payroll Office, 720 University Place, 2nd Floor
  • Northwestern University Registrar, Rebecca Crown Center