Social Security

The Social Security Administration will only issue Social Security numbers to F-1 or J-1 students if they have either a job or a job offer. The IES office can issue you a letter stating that you are eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN). In order to get such a letter, please come to our office with a printout of your transcript from myUMBC, your passport, I-20, and a letter from your employer describing your current or prospective job, during our office hours.

Listed below you will find contact information for the three closest Social Security offices.  Click on the links to get directions.

Columbia/Oakland Mills - 410.872.4758
8865 Stanford Blvd.
LakesideBuilding, Suite 110
Columbia, MD21045

Note: This office is hard to reach except by car, but we recommend that you go here if possible. The staff is pleasant and seem to understand the regulations concerning international staff and researchers better than those at other offices we deal with.

Baltimore City - 410.962.4863
1010 Park Avenue, Suite 200

Note: Easily reached by shuttle to UMB and then on foot, bus or taxi.Call for directions.The Social Security office is in an office complex called the SymphonyCenter directly behind the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

Benson Avenue - 410.962.4716
3431 Benson Avenue
BaltimoreMD

revised 1/2005