The most recent version of the Form I-765 application for work authorization issued in July 2017 allows foreign nationals to simultaneously apply for the employment authorization document (EAD) and a social security number. This is based on a new information-sharing partnership between US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).
To work lawfully in the US, foreign workers in most categories need both the EAD from USCIS and a Social Security Number (SSN). Before the concurrent application for both, foreign nationals needed to apply for an SSN at a local Social Security office after obtaining an EAD. EADs are the primary evidence for many foreign nationals to evidence their employment authorization in the US. SSNs are used to report their wages to the US government and determine the worker’s eligibility for government benefits.