Office of International Affairs

Social Security Number

Applying for a Social Security number

Please follow these steps if you need to apply for a Social Security number (SSN):

  1. Print the Employment Verification Letter (SSN)(EVL) form and take it to your Ohio State employer for their signature (students on CPT will need their CPT offer letter and the CPT-endorsed I-20 but not the EVL)
    • The Social Security Administration is still requiring wet signatures – digital signatures will not be accepted
  2. Drop off your Employment Verification Letter for signature at the Office of International Affairs
    • EVLs can only be dropped off Monday-Friday using the Office of International Affairs Dropbox located by the office’s front doors without an appointment
  3. Schedule an appointment to pick up the EVL once the Office of International Affairs has emailed to confirm it is ready for pickup
  4. Once you have the completed form with signatures from both your employer and the Office of International Affairs, please visit a local Social Security Administration Office to apply for your SSN. Social Security Administration (SSA) Offices accept walk-ins, and you do not need to schedule an appointment.

Social Security Administration Office Locations:

You will need to bring the following documents with you to your appointment:

  • Before going to the Social Security Administration Office, please complete the SSN application online. When you complete the form online, you will be provided a control number to print off or write down and provide to the SSA when you submit your documents.
  • Passport
  • I-94
  • I-20 or DS-2019
  • Completed Employment Verification Letter (only if employment is on-campus; not required for CPT)
  • CPT job offer letter and CPT-endorsed I-20 (if approved for off-campus CPT employment)
  • Control Number you received when completing the SSN application. If you do not do that step and get a confirmation number, you must print and bring the completed Form SS5, which might delay the processing time.

You can begin employment without having an SSN. Once you have received your SSN card, please report this number to:

  • Glacier: Log in to your Glacier profile and update your number. Print, sign and send the Glacier forms to the email provided.
  • Ohio State Human Resources: Log into your Ohio State Workday account and update your number. Read instructions. If you have any questions, email HRConnection@osu.edu.

Identity theft and your Social Security Number

Be careful with your Social Security card and number. Show your card to your employer when you start a job so your records are correct. Provide your Social Security number to your financial institution(s) for tax reporting. Keep your card and any other document that shows your Social Security Number in a safe place. DO NOT routinely carry your card or other documents that display your number. Learn more about protecting your Social Security Number from identity theft.

Tax information

Each year, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that all workers file a tax return due on April 15 of the following year. As a nonresident alien, you are also required to file a tax return, which is sometimes called Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ. As an employee of The Ohio State University, you will complete your tax return through Glacier.

Form 1042-S

To complete your tax return, you will need some basic information about your employer and detailed information about how much income you earned over the past year. As a nonresident alien, you will receive this information through Form 1042-S; U.S. citizens receive this information through Form W-2.

Ohio State is required to furnish your yearly 1042-S by March 15 of the following year. You may elect to receive your 1042-S online through Glacier. Otherwise, you will receive a copy of Form 1042-S by U.S. mail.

Some nonresident aliens may receive both a W-2 and a 1042-S. If this applies to you, then you may refer to W-2 Online for instructions on how you can access your W-2 through the ePayroll system.

Glacier

As a foreign national, you may already know how daunting understanding your tax obligations can be. That’s why the university has provided you with a program called Glacier.

Glacier is a web-based computer program that provides a “beginning to end” tax compliance solution. Once the university determines that you are a nonresident alien, you will receive an email to your osu.edu email address directing you to the Glacier website with a password for entry. After asking a few simple questions, the Glacier program will guide you through the tax filing process.

Glacier does the following:

  • Makes tax residency, withholding and income tax treaty determinations
  • Manages all paperwork
  • Maintains data
  • Provides you with next steps
  • Files appropriate reporting statements with the IRS

If you are a nonresident alien and have not received Glacier information, please contact the Tax Office at tax@osu.edu. Learn more about filing taxes.