Foreign Nurse Question about SSN

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I've looked everywhere and cant find a clear answer, I apologize if this is the wrong forum so please move this to the right thread if wrong

My question is, I understand in order to get a Florida Nursing License under Exam, you can take your NCLEX but they wont issue you your Florida Nursing License unless you have a SSN. So I am wondering is this a valid reason for the SSN office to give a foreign a SSN in order to obtain the license?

I sent an email to SSN but I was a bit confused by response or if it applied to this case. I got this in the email for anyone else who can interpret it better then me. Once again, I appreciate your help and time.

"We can assign a Social Security number (SSN) to a non-citizen when he or she: (1) is admitted to the United States for permanent residence; (2) is admitted temporarily with permission to work; or (3) changes his or her legal work status

We do not assign an SSN when your only reason for needing an SSN is to comply with a state statute requiring an SSN for the issuance of a driver's license.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will assign an SSN to a non-citizen who is not otherwise eligible for one, who is lawfully admitted to the United States but is not authorized to work by the DHS, if one of the following non-work purposes applies:

A federal statute or regulation requires the non-citizen to provide his or her SSN to get a particular benefit or service, or

-- A state or local law requires the non-citizen to provide his or her SSN to get general assistance benefits to which entitlement has been established.

For such purposes, we assign a number and issue a card with the legend Not Valid for Employment.” We advise the applicants that the numbers they are assigned are not for employment purposes and that we will notify the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services if we receive wage reports under the number."

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

There are three ways to obtain a SSN:

1. Born in the U.S./become a U.S. Citizen

2. Become a legal permanent resident of the US (green card holder)

3. Obtain a valid work visa

You can apply to the FL BoN for a license but one will not be issued until you have the legal right to work in the U.S. There is no real reason to have a FL nursing license unless you can legally work in FL.

The not for work SSN would be issued to say someone pregnant, physically on US soil, and entitled to welfare benefits. Or a student on a visa that needed it for a valid reason, again physically present in the U.S.

The will not issue a SSN for work or identification under any circumstance to a foreign citizen residing outside the US.

No wanting a U.S. nursing license is NOT a valid reason for the SSA to issue you a SSN.

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Okay appreciate it! Thank you for clarifying that up for me so quickly and nicely.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Nurse Registration forum

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Hi. I am a nurse graduate in the philippines and i applied for NCLEX Guam. I started out my CGFNS and still waiting for my credentials to be evaluated. I found out that Guam requires SSN. What should I do? I really want to work at Guam. Is there a way that they can waive my SSN or application on BON so that I can take my NCLEX? Please answer me. :cry:

Thank you! :D

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Hi. I am a nurse graduate in the philippines and i applied for NCLEX Guam. I started out my CGFNS and still waiting for my credentials to be evaluated. I found out that Guam requires SSN. What should I do? I really want to work at Guam. Is there a way that they can waive my SSN or application on BON so that I can take my NCLEX? Please answer me. :cry:

Thank you! :D

You need to ask the board of nursing. Without citizenship, permanent residency or a valid work visa you are not entitled to a SSN. Very few states that require SSN will waiver as part of the application for a nursing license by examination (NCLEX is but one step in the process) and those that do either will not issue a license until you provide a valid SSN or won't renew without a SSN.

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Hi. I am a nurse graduate in the philippines and i applied for NCLEX Guam. I started out my CGFNS and still waiting for my credentials to be evaluated. I found out that Guam requires SSN. What should I do? I really want to work at Guam. Is there a way that they can waive my SSN or application on BON so that I can take my NCLEX? Please answer me. :cry:

Thank you! :D

Ask them if they take ITIN number instead of SSN, Places like California allow this

You could always claim "Religious Freedom" for not wanting to disclose a SSN, that might be an option also......

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You need to ask the board of nursing. Without citizenship, permanent residency or a valid work visa you are not entitled to a SSN. Very few states that require SSN will waiver as part of the application for a nursing license by examination (NCLEX is but one step in the process) and those that do either will not issue a license until you provide a valid SSN or won't renew without a SSN.

So I should go first to Guam to get a working visa or live there first and get an SSN before I proceed to the Guam BON Application? I already have an employer and she asked me to take the NCLEX first. Thank you so much for your answer. :)

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Hi, thank you. :D

i dont think they accept ITIN but I will try to ask. Or should i go first to guam and obtain SSN before I proceed with my application?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Hi, thank you. :D

i dont think they accept ITIN but I will try to ask. Or should i go first to guam and obtain SSN before I proceed with my application?

How are you getting to Guam? You can't get a SSN without a valid work visa, US citizenship or permanent residency

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
So I should go first to Guam to get a working visa or live there first and get an SSN before I proceed to the Guam BON Application? I already have an employer and she asked me to take the NCLEX first. Thank you so much for your answer. :)

If your employer is asking for pass in NCLEX then you have had to have applied to a state and met state requirements before permission to sit NCLEX is given. What sort of employment visa are you going to get?

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Are there options that I can choose? Im really desperate. :sorry: Thankyouuu

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