Related Links
Links to U.S. government agencies that provide regulatory oversight and services for foreign nationals:
Foreign Consular Offices in the United States
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Embassies & Consulates Worldwide
U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada
U.S. State Department Visa Services
Canadian Consulate, New York City
Other useful links:
Social Security Number - Social Security Information Handout
The only way to obtain a Social Security Number is to first find a part-time on-campus job. The Student Employment website features a listing of all jobs available on campus. More information can be found at the Social Security Administration website.
Once you have found a job, you should obtain a Social Security Supervisor Letter from the department who wishes to hire you. Bring that letter to CISS and complete a letter request form. A CISS staff member will complete a the letter for you within a day or two.
You must take both the original supervisor CISS letters to a Social Security office (local office in Waltham at 50 Prospect St.), together with a completed Application for a Social Security Number (available in the CISS office and online at www.ssa.gov) and all immigration documents (passport, I-94 card, and your Form I-20).
Massachusetts Driver's License
Information and forms for obtaining a Massachusetts Driver's License can be found in the CISS office or online at www.mass.gov/rmv/.
International F-1 and J-1 students who do not have a social security number must obtain a SSN rejection notice from the Social Security Administration and submit that notice with their application to the RMV within 10 days from the notice date. You should complete an application for SSN and submit it in person at any social security office. See www.ssa.gov for office locations.
You must provide evidence of your birth date, signature and U.S. address with your RMV application. Approved documents are your passport and I-94 card (one document), Form I-20, and a utility bill printed with your current address. If you do not have a utility bill, the CISS office can prepare an address confirmation letter. You will need to complete a letter request form and send it to us by email (GA_ciss@bentley.edu) or drop it off at our office (STU350).
**Please allow at least one to two business days for us to prepare the letter.
Employment Information
To learn more about your employment options, please visit our Current Students F-1 Student Employment page. Please note that you will also require a social security number to begin Optional Practical Training (OPT) and any paid internship through Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
For information about conducting an off-campus job search, please visit the Career Services web site.
