Electrical and Computer Engineering

How to get a Social Security Number (SSN)

Payroll and Tuition Benefit Instructions

After arriving on campus, students will not be paid until Steps 1-4 are complete. It is important to complete every step as soon as possible as each of these steps may take a several days or weeks to process. Please read the instructions for each step carefully before beginning.

On-Campus Employment Steps & Policy
  1. Complete the Online SSN Application. Save a copy of the confirmation page.

Notify the Graduate Student Coordinator of your arrival date and schedule a time to pick up employment paperwork. The Graduate Student Coordinator will send you a scanned copy of the On-Campus Employment Offer Letter for SSN Application that you will need to upload to UAtlas (see instructions below).

  1. Login to UAtlas
  2. Select F-1 Student Services on the left side column
  3. Select Social Security Number Form for On-Campus Employment.
  4. Upload the scanned copy of the On-Campus Employment Offer Letter for SSN Application to this e-form.
  5. Once submitted, it could take up to 10 days to be reviewed and processed and an email will be sent to your UMail account when they have processed the form and are ready for you to come get a wet-ink signature.

ECE Department

Schedule to meet with the Graduate Student Coordinator to review steps and optain physical copies of the following:

  • Offer letter, (wet-inked, signed by ECE Department)
  • On-Campus Employment Offer Letter for SSN Application Form (wet-inked, signed by ECE Department)

ISSS Office

Students will receive a notification to their UMail account once their e-form has been processed and they are ready.

  • Bring the signed On-Campus Employment Offer Letter for SSN Application Form to the ISSS office during Walk-In Advising Hours to get an additional wet-ink signature from an ISSS Designated School Official.

Step 3: Apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)

Go to the Social Security Office

Show the following documents:

Request a receipt and ask if you can call to get your Social Security Number (SSN). If you cannot call, it will be mailed to you in approximately 2 weeks.

If you are told you do not qualify for an Social Security Number (SSN), tell them you are an F-1 or J-1 student and need the SSN to open a bank account in the U.S. and file a tax return as required by the IRS.

Social Security Office
1-866-851-5275
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM

175 East 400 South
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111

  1. Complete the Personnel Information form
  2. Complete the Employee Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement (For Non-Benefits Eligible Employees and Student Employees)
  3. Schedule an appointment with Bob Knudsen (robert.knudsen@utah.edu) in the ECE department to begin processing your payroll. Payroll processing can take several days/week, please plan to meet with Bob at least 1 week before your requested start date.
  4. Bring documents listed below to appointment
  5. After payroll has been set up, sign up for direct deposit through CIS

Bring the following before your receive your card:

  • Passport / Visa
  • I-94
  • I-20
  • Social Security application receipt

After you receive your Social Security Card

  • Sign your Social Security Card
  • Meet again with Bob Knudsen to show him the card and complete your records.

When you receive an email from Tax Services, set up your correct tax status with GLACIER as soon as possible.

Employees are required to enter information into GLACIER and submit the required forms and documents to the Tax Services Dept. within seven (7) days of receipt of the email from support@online-tax.net (this is not spam). Otherwise, the maximum amount of tax will be withheld from their paychecks.

All Forms Required

Form Name
 Needed for Step(s) Notes
Passport / Visa 3, 4
I-20 2
I-94 3, 4
On-Campus Employment Offer Letter for SSN Application Form (Digital)
 1 The Graduate Student Coordinator will email you a scanned copy that you can upload to UAtlas before arriving.
On-Campus Employment Offer Letter for SSN Application Form (Wet-Ink Signed)
 1, 2 You will pick this up from the Graduate Student Coordinator after arriving on campus.
Department Offer Letter (Wet-Ink Signed)
 1, 2, 3 You will pick this up from the Graduate Student Coordinator after arriving on campus.
Printed confirmation page from Online SSN Application 3 Can be completed before arriving on campus. If the online application does not work, complete and print page 5 of the SS-5 Form. (If you need help with printing, email a copy to the Graduate Student Coordinator to pick up with your other documents)
Social Security Receipt 3 After step 3, do not wait to receive SS card, schedule appointment with Bob Knudsen l to get on payroll.