The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has quietly suspended automatic Social Security Number (SSN) issuance for immigrant visa and citizenship applicantsโwithout public noticeโcausing confusion, payroll disruptions, and even blocked access to bank and loan services.
According to the SSA, the suspension affects the Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) program, which automatically mailed SSN cards to applicants after their immigration documents were approved. Since March, applicants must now visit SSA offices in person to apply.
The program, launched in 2017, streamlined SSN issuance for those applying with Form I-765 (Employment Authorization), Form N-400 (Naturalization), and Form I-485 (Green Card Application). Under the old system, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) transmitted approval data directly to the SSA, which then issued and mailed SSN cards automatically. That process has now been completely halted, with no official explanation or reinstatement date.
Neither USCIS nor SSA publicly announced the suspension, leaving applicantsโincluding international students and new hiresโwaiting for months without SSNs. The Guardian, citing internal SSA documents, reported that the halt was initially labeled as a 90-day temporary suspension, yet no follow-up action or communication has occurred.
The confusion has caused tangible financial strain. Seoyun Park, a 23-year-old University of Utah graduate, said, โI didnโt receive any notice from my school, USCIS, or SSA. I only learned about the change after visiting the SSA office myself.โ
Similarly, Junpyo Byun, a 27-year-old UC Berkeley graduate employed in Koreatown, LA, said he went two months without pay because his company couldnโt process payroll without an SSN. โI had to take time off work to schedule and complete the application in person,โ he added.
Applicants also report being misled by outdated immigration forms. Despite the EBE suspension, current USCIS forms still include a question asking whether applicants wish to apply for an SSN simultaneouslyโprompting many to wait fruitlessly for cards that will never arrive.
The suspension originated during the Trump administration, which had initially expanded automation for immigrant benefit systems. Yet neither agency has explained why the program was halted or when it will resume. Members of the House Government Reform Committeeย have since demanded that the SSA reverse the decision and restore automatic SSN processing.
Immigration attorney Jonathan Park emphasized that delays in SSN issuance do not affect oneโs legal status but can have severe practical consequences. โEven if your USCIS documents are approved, without an SSN your employer may not be able to pay you or file taxes properly,โ he said. โApplicants should visit a local SSA office as soon as possible.โ
For those still waiting, the SSA advises making an appointment by calling 800-772-1213 and bringing key documents: a passport, Employment Authorization (EAD) card, I-94 entry record, I-20 copy, and an original family registry certificate.
BY YOONSEO SONG [song.yoonseo@koreadaily.com]
