Social Security Number for Foreign-born Adopted Child (never had a number) 

Regardless of age, anyone physically and mentally capable may sign an Application For A Social Security Card. To apply for a Social Security number for your child:

• Complete an Application For A Social Security Card (Form SS-5); and
• Show us documents proving your child’s:
  • U.S. citizenship;
  • Age; and
  • Identity.
• Show us proof of your identity.
• Take your completed application and original documents to your local Social Security office.

Anyone age 12 or older requesting an original Social Security number card must appear for an interview at a Social Security office.

Adoption: We can assign your adopted child a number before the adoption is complete, but you may want to wait. Then, you can apply for the number using your child’s new name. If you want to claim your child for tax purposes while the adoption is still pending, contact the Internal Revenue Service for Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions. For more information, see Social Security Numbers For Children (Publication No. 05-10023).

Citizenship

We can accept only certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. consular report of birth, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship.

Foreign-born adopted children residing permanently in the United States automatically acquire U.S. citizenship when they meet certain requirements. However, documentation of the child’s citizenship is not automatic; parents still must apply with the DHS (for a Certificate of Citizenship) or the Department of State (for a U.S. passport) for proof of the child’s citizenship.

If you do not yet have proof of your child's citizenship, we still can assign a number based on the documentation issued to your child by DHS (I-94, Arrival/Departure Record) upon arrival in the U.S. When you receive documentation of your child's citizenship, please bring it to us and we will update your child's record. Your child will not be disadvantaged in any way because the Social Security number will not change.

Identity

Your child: We can accept only certain documents as proof of your child’s identity. An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your child’s name, identifying information and preferably a recent photograph. We generally can accept a non-photo identity document if it has enough information to identify the child (such as the child’s name and age, date of birth or parents’ names). We prefer to see the child’s U.S. passport. If that document is not available, we may accept the child’s:

• Adoption decree;
• Doctor, clinic or hospital record;
• Religious record (e.g., baptismal record);
• Daycare center or school record; or
• School identification card.

You: We also must see proof of your identity. An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph. For example, as proof of identity Social Security must see your:

• U. S. driver’s license;
• State-issued nondriver identification card; or
• U.S. passport.

If you do not have one of these specific documents or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within 10 days, we will ask to see other documents, including:

• Employee ID card;
• School ID card;
• Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); or
• U.S. military ID card.

We may use one document for two purposes. For example, we may use your U.S. passport as proof of both citizenship and identity. However,you must provide at least two separate documents.

All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.

We will mail your child’s card as soon as we have all of your child’s information and have verified your child's documents.

Keep your child's Social Security card in a safe place. It is an important document. Do not carry it with you.