TN 28 (10-17)

Citations:

20 CFR 422.103

A. Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE)

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assist SSA in enumerating certain applicants who:

• live in the United States,

• apply for work authorization, and

• need to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN).

If an applicant wishes to apply for an original or a replacement SSN card through EBE, DHS collects enumeration data during the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) application process, Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and electronically transmits the data to SSA so that an SSN can be assigned or a replacement card issued.

Effective October 2, 2017, EBE is available to the individuals who apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) on the USCIS Form I-765 and will eliminate the need for non-immigrants to file an SS-5 (Application for Social Security Card) application at an SSA field office.

B. How EBE applicants apply for and receive an SSN card via EBE

EBE applicants receive an SSN card through the following general process:

1. The applicant applies for an EAD on the USCIS Form I-765. On that same form, the applicant may also complete the appropriate SSA-specific questions or fields to apply for an SSN card.

2. If USCIS approves the application for an EAD and the applicant completed the SSA-specific questions or fields on the Form I-765 requesting an SSN card, then USCIS electronically sends the enumeration data to SSA via the EBE interface.

3. After SSA receives the enumeration data via the EBE interface, SSA assigns original SSNs to applicants or issues SSN replacement cards, as appropriate. The SSN card should have the legend, “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.”

4. SSA mails the card to the mailing address received from the enumeration data via the EBE interface.

C. EBE applicant contacts SSA because applicant did not receive SSN card

If an applicant contacts SSA and states that he or she requested an original or replacement SSN card when applying for the EAD, but has not received it, take the following actions:

1. Establish the applicant’s identity (For information on establishing identity see RM 10210.405). Primary evidence of identity for an applicant who requests an SSN as part of the EBE process is the Form I-766 (EAD card).

2. Use the Alpha-Index Query to determine if we previously assigned an SSN to the applicant. (see the alpha-index query input instructions in MS Queries 003.003)

   NOTE: There is an exception when the enumeration system cannot process an EBE record (example, the sex code is not F or M or there are multiple spaces in the parent’s name). The record is placed on the enumeration-pending file with the application status of “NOT COMPLETED.” The unprocessed EBE record stays on the pending file for up to 365 days and, if the discrepancy is not resolved, the record is dropped (see RM 10270.010 A.1).

3. If the Alpha-Index Query response found a name with an SSN, follow RM 10205.700E.3 in this section.

D. EBE applicant requested a replacement card and provides previously assigned SSN

If an applicant can provide the previously assigned SSN, take the following actions:

1. Establish the applicant’s identity and access the Numident query.

2. If the cycle date (CYD) on the Numident query shows the application was processed less than 7 business days from the current date, inform the applicant that he or she should receive the card in the mail shortly.

3. If the CYD on the Numident query shows the application was processed more than 7 business days prior to the current date, take a new application and have applicant submit all necessary evidence.

   NOTE: The SSNAP Special FO Processing "non-receipt" option is not available for SSN cards issued as a result of an application submitted through EBE (see RM 10215.040B).

4. If the Numident query shows that no EBE application was processed, take the following actions to locate a pending record in SSNAP:

   • Attempt to retrieve the pending EBE application in SSNAP using the SSN. If you do not find a record, search using the name and date of birth (DOB) shown on the immigration document.

   • If you do not find a pending record, and the EAD shows different names, search SSNAP for pending records using those names.

   • If you find a pending record, compare the applicant's name, DOB, gender, alien registration number (ARN), place of birth and parent's names to corresponding information on the pending SSNAP record to determine if the SSNAP record belongs to the applicant.

5. If you determine that the pending record belongs to the applicant, take action to complete the record (e.g. resolve any exceptions, such as Enumeration Feedback Messages (EMs)). If either the immigration documents, birth certificate or passport documents show different names for the applicant, these can be shown in the "name used at birth if different" and "other names used" fields on the NH Additional Information screen in SSNAP as appropriate.

6. If you do not find a pending record that belongs to the applicant, start a new application in SSNAP and have the non-immigrant submit all necessary evidence.

E. EBE applicant does not know if an SSN was previously assigned or does not know the previously assigned SSN

If an applicant contacts SSA and states that the applicant requested an SSN card when applying for an EAD, has not received it, and the applicant does not know if an SSN was previously assigned, or knows that an SSN was assigned but does not know the SSN, take the following action to locate the previous SSN:

1. Request an Alpha-Index query using the name shown on the USCIS documents. If a different name is shown on the EAD or passport, request Alpha-Index queries using those names.

2. If you locate possible SSNs for the applicant, obtain Numident records for each SSN and compare the applicant's name, date of birth, gender, alien registration number (ARN), place of birth and parent's names to corresponding information on the Numident record(s) to determine if the SSN(s) belongs to the applicant.

3. If you determine that an SSN belongs to the applicant, follow the instructions in section RM 10205.700D. If you locate more than one SSN that belongs to the applicant, and the SSNs are not listed as multiple SSNs on the Numidents involved, see RM 10220.400.

4. If you do not locate an SSN that belongs to the applicant, follow the instructions in section RM 10205.700F in this section.

F. EBE applicant applied for an original SSN, or a previously assigned SSN cannot be located

If you do not find an SSN for the applicant and the applicant filed for an original SSN as part of EBE, take the following action:

1. Go to SSNAP and select Retrieve Application. Search for a pending application using the name and date of birth on the EAD. If you do not find a pending application using the name shown on the EAD, and a different name is shown on the EAD or passport, search for records using these names. If a record is found, compare the applicant’s ARN to the ARN shown on the SSNAP record to determine if the application belongs to the applicant.

2. If you find a match, take action to resolve any exception conditions or resolve the EMs.

3. If you do not find a pending record in SSNAP, start a new application and have the applicant submit all necessary evidence.

G. EBE applicant completes an SSN application and previously applied for an SSN through EBE

In some cases, an applicant may complete an SSN application and does not mention that the applicant also applied for an SSN on the EAD application. If you start to enter a new application, SSNAP may identify one or more pending applications based on the automatic SSN or name and date of birth search. If there is a pending record for the individual in SSNAP:

1. SSNAP will provide a list of pending applications. Select the appropriate pending application.

   1. Compare the information on the pending record, (i.e., the name, DOB, ARN, place of birth, parents' names, and gender) with the documents submitted by the applicant.

   2. If you determine that the pending record belongs to the applicant, continue to process the pending application instead of the new application.

2. Immigration status must be verified through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement (SAVE) program. If SAVE does not verify the immigration status, follow regular procedures for verifying the applicant's immigration status (see RM 10214.000).

H. Management Information

Management information (MI) reports for cases processed via EBE are located in Social Security Unified Measurement Systems (SUMS).

I. Exhibit — SSN handout available to Non-Immigrants completing the EAD application

This is an exhibit of the SSA handout available to applicants by USCIS and others.

 View PDF Version

J. References

• RM 10210.405 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card

• RM 10214.000 SAVE Program

• RM 10215.040 Exclusions to Using the “Special FO Processing” Option in SSNAP

• RM 10220.400 Discovery and Processing of Multiple Social Security Number Cases

• RM 10270.010 General Processing Information for Enumeration Feedback Messages Received for SSN Applications