What Is A Social Security Number, And How Can I Obtain One?

Social Security Numbers are used to report wages to the U.S. government for income tax purposes. This means, if you are not employed during your time in the U.S., you do not need to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN). All J-1 Scholars are allowed to obtain a number, but unless the scholar is employed, the SSN is rarely required or even helpful. Please review this information provided by the Social Security Administration. It will be helpful in determining if obtaining an SSN would benefit you. You cannot apply for an SSN prior to checking in with ISSO. If you are interested in applying, we will give you further information regarding the process during check-in.

How Do I Get A Driver’s License Or Iowa Identification Card?

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) issues driver licenses and Iowa identification cards to qualified individuals. The documents that you will need to obtain a license or ID will vary. The Iowa DOT website provides information to assist in determining what you should bring with you in order to apply for identification. A step-by-step guide can also be found at their website.

Can I Work While I Am A J-1 Exchange Visitor?

You may be employed at Iowa State University only if your DS-2019 lists “Current Program Sponsor” funds from Iowa State University in Block 5 of your DS- 2019. All J-1 scholar employment in the United States must be directly related to and part of your J program activity. Any changes in employment, or addition of employment, require advance approval by the International Students and Scholars Office to verify consistency with J-1 regulations. If you will be on payroll as an ISU employee, you must complete an I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification Form) in ISSO on or before your first day of work. We will assist with the I-9 form as part of your scholar check-in process.

If you are employed by the university, your wages are subject to U.S. taxation, including state income tax and federal income tax. You may also be subject to FICA (Social Security and Medicare) tax for all or part of your visit. The amount that is paid in taxes varies with your income, but is typically 20% or more of your salary. A tax treaty between the United States and your country of residence may reduce or eliminate State and Federal income taxes for all or part of your J-1 visit to the United States.

In the United States, employers are required to deduct taxes from their employees’ wages and remit those taxes to the U.S. government. At the end of each calendar year, employees must complete a form called a tax return to determine whether sufficient taxes were withheld by their employer during the year. If the withholding was insufficient, additional tax must be paid by April 15th of the following year. All amounts shown in Block 5 on the DS-2019 are pre-tax. Note that those in J-1 status are exempt from FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) during their first two years in the U.S. Partial years count as full years for this purpose so that if you arrive in December of a given year, that year counts as one of the two years for FICA exemption purposes. FICA tax totals 7.65% of gross income.

What Tax Requirements Do I Need To Know About And Pay Attention To?

All J-1s and J-2s present in the United States at any time during the calendar year must file a tax report with the U.S. government whether or not they were employed in the United States during that year. Individuals who were employed must file a form called a tax return with the U.S. government between January and mid-February of the year following the year in which they worked in the United States whether or not their income was covered by a tax treaty.

J’s who were not employed must file Form 8843 with the U.S. tax authorities to report their physical presence in the U.S. Tax rules in the United States are many and complicated. You may wish to consult U.S. Internal Revenue Service Publication 519 for additional background information. The ISSO scholar unit staff will be glad to help you find answers to tax questions. Please direct your questions to issotax@iastate.edu.

How Can I Set Up A Bank Account?

Bring to the bank:

  • Your passport or U.S. issued driver’s license
  • Your SSN or ITIN if you have one (it is not required)
  • Your ISU ID number