California Letter (PTAL) and the Social Security Number

A Social Security number (commonly known by its acronym - SSN ), in the United States, is a very important number that serves as a tax identification number, is your national identification and later serves to give out various economic benefits (called social security) to you when you reach retirement age.

Since the later part of 2006, the California Letter now needs the IMG applicant to have a Social Security Number at the time of the application. This is what the Application Form says about Social Security:

"If you fail to disclose your social security number your application for initial licensure will not be processed AND you will be reported to the Franchise Tax Board, which may assess a $100.00 penalty against you."


Of course the penalty would apply for those people who do not list the number despite having the SSN - for the others without the number, the California Letter application will simply not be processed, until the number is obtained and submitted to the Medical Board of California.

An IMG friend called the PTAL folks and they told him that he could submit the PTAL application without the SSN, but it will only stay on file without being processed - it will be processed ONLY after he obtains a Social Security Number. Hmmmm !

Q. What visa types are eligible for Social Security Numbers ?

A. As I said before, the SSN serves as a tax-payor ID and is thus tied to employment. For non-US citizens on visas, a Social Security Number is granted only for those visa types which have a US work authorization, which makes sense - "why have a tax ID if you are not authorized to work in the first place" ! So for IMGs on J1, H1b, F1 visas, etc., getting a social security number is easy ( psst ! the fact that F1 students get social security numbers once they get some on-campus employment is an additional advantage of the GRE Route to Residency).
But for visas such as B1-B2, H4, etc. lack of work authorization in the USA makes them ineligible to apply for Social Security Numbers.

Click here to see the Social security website section that explains social security number eligibility for non US-citizens.


Q. How can ineligible visa types like B1 B2 H4 visas obtain / apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) ?

A. Here is a US goverment Social Security website that explains how non-citizens without work permits could get a social security number.




Also Read:

- Basics: What is the California Letter / Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL) ?
- Download the PTAL - California Letter application form [PDF] for IMGs
- Visa Basics for IMGs / FMGs planning USMLE - Residency





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