SOCIAL SECURITY CARD

As soon as you arrive to USA, one of the first and important things you do is applying for Social Security Card. Every student who come to USA on a J-1 status is required to have the SSN. Without it, paychecks won’t be issued; also it is equally important to file for tax returns at the end of the year.

There are numerous locations to apply for it, depending which location you are located.

As for those students, who come to Ocean City, MD there is few ways to apply for it. First, at City Hall located at 3rd street and Philadelphia Ave.  And second, to apply at Salisbury, MD Social Security Administration. Since City Hall is open limited time only, it is very inconvenient for most students to apply there. Therefore, Salisbury is the best option.

One of the services E-Point offers is assistance registering and applying for SSN. We have low fare ($10 roundtrip) shuttles departing from our center every morning throughout May-June, located at 15th street in Ocean City. Usually it takes 2 or 3 hours to complete the entire process including commuting times.

As for those students who are heading to Delaware shores, E-Point offers the same assistance from our Rehoboth Beach location. Delaware students apply at Georgetown location. Shuttles from Rehoboth center are running everyday during the weeks of May-June.

It takes about 2 - 4 weeks for your card and number to arrive. When you apply for a card, you will be given a receipt to show your employer saying you are allowed to work until your Social Security card arrives. Be aware that some employers will not give you your paycheck until you get your Social Security number. If you are staying in Ocean City, Maryland, all social security applications will take place in Salisbury, MD this year. Students will need transportation to Salisbury and they should check with the Students Centers who will offer transport to the Social Security Offices. Distribution of the Social Security Cards will occur on Fridays 8:30am-12 pm at Ocean City Maryland Town hall located on 3rd Street & Baltimore Avenue.

These are few documents you will need to present to apply for your Social Security card:

· Unexpired passport
· Form I-94 - Arrival/Departure Record, issued to you when you arrived in the United States
· Form DS-2019 - Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status
· Job Sponsor’s letter describing that you participate in the Exchange Visitor Program
· Completed application (www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf)

All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency.
Do not fill in mailing address in the application form to have your Social Security card delivered to Ocean City Town hall.
Once you start working and present your Social Security card, you will get your paychecks weekly or every other week depending on the employer. You are required to have Federal Income Tax and Maryland (State) Tax withheld from your pay. The taxes you should not pay are as follows:

· Social Security
· Medicare
· Medicaid

Provide your employer with this information to ensure proper taxes are withheld. Maryland State tax is withheld from your pay unless you fill a Form 507. Ask your employer for more information. You will usually be able to apply for a refund of your taxes withheld after the year you visit and work in the USA.

SEVIS

FOLLOWING ADMISSION INTO THE UNITED STATES

Free Sevis registration is one of the services E-Point offers, so feel free to ask related questions, we will be happy to assist every Work &Travel participant to make sure you will not get in to trouble. We are offering our computer terminals to check in Sevis database and register for free.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), administered by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is an Internet-based system that maintains data on foreign students and exchange visitors before and during their stay in the United States.

Failure to have participation validated will result in an automatic invalidated SEVIS record.

IMPORTANT !!! After your arrival you are obligated to validate your Sevis status. Please check with your sponsor requirement regarding the timeframes. Validating Sevis is extremely important in order to avoid program cancellation and revocation, which can ultimately result in your deportation, or inability to register for work and travel program the following year. So, if you are unaware of rules and regulation or have questions and difficulties registering at Sevis please call us or stop in at our location so we can give you proper guidance on registration process.