What is the purpose of Form SS-8?
Answer: The purpose of the Form SS-8 is to obtain a permanent resident status for the applicant. Form SS-8 must accompany the application, accompanied by a supporting document(s). This form must be completed on behalf of the applicant by the sponsoring individual, a spouse, or a relative. If more than one person wishes to apply on behalf of an individual, they must complete and attach a combined form. This form is called a “form of support”.
Who may complete Form SS-8?
Answer: Only the sponsoring individual, a spouse, or a relative may submit Form SS-8. Any person may complete Form SS-8.
Do I need any supporting documents?
Answer: There are no special documents required with this form, other than a valid passport. Other than the original certificate of naturalization or the original certificate of registration, you do not need to provide documents. For additional details, read the instructions included with the form.
What are the steps involved in completing a Form SS-8?
Answer: To ensure correct filing by the applicant, the filing must be made in the order it appears on the form. The application is completed in the order from which the completed form is submitted. Each step should be completed in the order in which it appears on the form.
1. Complete Form SS-8 by the applicant and any spouse, as directed on the form. If a spouse and dependent child not accompanying the applicant are applying, only the applicant and spouse should complete Form SS-8.
2. Fill out the Questionnaire form. Be sure to check all items of information that apply to you.
3. Give the completed form to the official who completed the initial application. This official is designated on Form SS-8. An official will sign the form, and then fill in the information box.
(Information about this form is available here.)
4. Wait one calendar year. The applicant must be on a permanent resident status by this time.
Why must it be one calendar year?
Answer: The Form SS-8 must be properly filed or the filing will be invalid. Filing a Form SS-8 in error is a serious crime.
If an applicant is not filing correctly, will it harm my application?
Answer: Yes. The filing of Form SS-8 will affect the eligibility for all forms of government-assisted benefits.
Who should complete Form SS-8?
Form SS-8 is only valid if you meet both of the following requirements:
You are at least 40 years old;
You have a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities due to a physical or mental condition (or the effects of a medical condition described in Form SS-8); and
You meet all the following requirements.
If you meet all the eligibility requirements, then you should complete Form SS-8 online.
How to Use the Online Form SS-8
Complete the online application and then submit it to the Social Security Administration (SSA). You might need to complete this online form more than once if you have multiple Social Security numbers.
How long will it take to complete Form SS-8?
It will take about 45 minutes to complete the Social Security number application.
When will I receive a notification regarding my submitted application?
When your form is submitted, you will receive a notification including a confirmation number. It can take up to two weeks to receive a response.
When can I expect to receive a response to my application?
The earliest your application will be processed is when your confirmation number is received by SSA.
When do I need to complete Form SS-8?
You must complete this form if you change your marital or relationship status from married to single for the taxable year, you file a joint return, and you or anyone in your household has one or more qualifying children. You also must complete this form if you change your status from single to married or any other marital status, and if any of the following apply:
One or more qualifying children become unmarried.
Your net income from all sources for the year was more than 2,500 but less than or equal to 9,450.
You file Form SS-8 with your return.
You receive a Form W-2.
Furthermore, you make an election to be treated as a resident alien for the taxable year even if you don't qualify as a resident alien in the year.
Furthermore, you don't file Form SS-8.
What information do I have to include in Form SS-8?
Your name, your marital or relationship status (married, single, divorced, separated, or divorced and then remarried), your filing status (single, married filing separately, married and single), your gross income (except income you excluded from your gross income under section 6166), your filing status(s) with respect to your spouse, your spouse's name, and your dependents are required, if different from yours, on page 3 of Form SS-8. If you don't know your marital or relationship status (single, married filing separately, married or single), you can figure it on the Worksheet (Filling Out Schedule A (Form 1040 or 1040NR)) provided with your original return.
How is Form SS-8 used?
Form SS-8 is used for reporting changes in marital status, and changes in the filing status of a married or filing separately taxpayer, if any of the following apply.
Marriage has been recognized in another state or the District of Columbia.
Your marital or relationship status (married filing separately, married, single, divorced, separated, or divorced and then remarried) has been changed under state law.
You file a joint return with your spouse for the taxable year, or with one or more other nonresident aliens for any taxable year, and you do not deduct state tax on the joint return or your spouse's income.
If Form SS-8 is used, there are several questions on Line 9B.
Line 9B.
Can I create my own Form SS-8?
Yes. All you need to do is provide us with a short video or a PDF of the form you wish to submit. You will also need the following materials:
A copy of your current driver's license.
A copy of the insurance identification card.
A certified copy of the most recent vehicle inspection document (in the event of a non-inspection).
A copy of the most recent registration/title (in the event of a non-inspection).
An approved driver and insurance identification card with valid insurance on it.
If you are renewing your driver's license (DS-11 or DS-10), you also must supply proof of current insurance.
Once all of this is complete, the DMV will create your SS-8 and mail it to you to attach to your application. The SS-8 will be reviewed online and, if approved, will be electronically recorded as your SF-1 on your application. For a complete explanation of how this process works, please review the SS-8 form. We highly suggest reviewing this form prior to submitting your application.
What other documentation do I need to submit?
Please include the following when you submit your SS-8 form or when you will be submitting your application:
Proof of:
Current driver's license.
Original vehicle inspection or registration documentation.
Proof of personal income. Most applicants qualify for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To receive the form, go to and click on the “View Information or Application” button for the SS-8 form. To submit your application, click “Check” next to “Application” and then choose “Apply Through a Network.” If you do not have access to the internet, please write an email to and send us the address for the SS-8 form that you completed.
Proof of:
Current property tax (if you purchased the property before 2012). If you purchased before 2012, you must provide proof of a current property tax assessment. If your prior owner was a California State Parks Commission employee, you will also need to provide the following:
The previous owner signed a power of attorney agreement.
The previously issued parking passes.
Your original DMV registration.
The date of the issuance of the current registration.
What should I do with Form SS-8 when it’s complete?
If the SS-8 is complete, call us at or fill out a contact form. We'll let you know how to send in a replacement Form SS-8 or apply for an immigration benefit.
How do I apply for an immigration benefit?
You must submit a Form I-751, Petition to Remove a National of the United States. This form is available online. You can also find it, along with more information, on our online form section or by calling our office. We will need all the following from you: Your Social Security number (the same number that is on your Form SS-8) A photocopy of the original SS-8 or a copy of it with your photo attached If you don't have a valid driver's license, passport or U.S. military identification card, you do not need this document. A photocopy of your passport or U.S. military identification card.
The required fee for the filing of a Form I-751 is 10. For the payment of filing fees you must include the money from the SS-8 fee into a credit or debit card that you will use to pay for the filing of the form.
Why can you only approve one Form SS-8 request per year?
All of our Immigration Benefits are processed on a one-year, renewable calendar, which means you can only have one request filed. The process may take up to 20 days to be completed.
Do the immigration benefits expire?
No. Once you receive an immigration benefit, your eligibility for other benefits, such as a work permit or the right to apply for permanent residence, starts immediately. Some exceptions include the: Student Visa.
Work Authorization
Temporary Protected Status
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) (for certain aliens)
Green Card
Fingerprint-based Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESA)
Family sponsorship
What is a “temporary protected status”?
You may be temporarily protected from deportation or removal based on your race, religion, nationality, previous presence in the United States, as well as other factors. For instance, this could happen if you're a victim of persecution or human trafficking. If you're currently in the United States, or have been recently when you entered the country, you are in the temporary protected status (TPS).
How do I get my Form SS-8?
A. You may submit a Form SS-8 via email to the address below. Each Form SS-8 requires a separate email address when you submit it.
Form SS-3 (For Employment-Based IRAs or Roth IRA Distributions) Form SS-8 (For Other IRAs)
Note: If your tax information changes, or you cannot access your online data, or you do not wish to view or print this form, visit IRS.gov/FormsPersons, find your tax information, and review your options for an alternative if you do not want to submit the data.
What documents do I need to attach to my Form SS-8?
The documents you need to attach to your Form SR-2, in addition to any other documents submitted with your Form SS-8, are listed below. To ensure that your Social Security application will be processed by the IRS as promptly as possible, all documents must be received by the IRS by the stated filing deadline.
Please send all copies of these documents to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn.: Social Security Administration, P.O. Box 2000, Indianapolis, IN 46204. You can also send the completed application form and the required documentation to any IRS-designated Post Office Box to which you will drop off your application for Social Security benefits.
For example, if you are filing on behalf of two people, send two copies to your Post Office Box and one copy to the IRS.
If you have questions, please ask the person applying for the SSI/SSA to help you.
What are the different types of Form SS-8?
There are three different types of Form SS-8:
Include SS-8 if it is not already listed on your other employment documents
Include the SS-8 if: you have been employed for at least 6 months in the United States;
your employer or the employer you are applying for jobs with are willing to submit Form SS-8 if you don't already have it. This generally means your employer or the employer you are applying for jobs with have approved your Form SS-8.
You have been employed for at least 90 days in the United States; and you have paid into a Social Security program.
Include the SS-8 if you have been an authorized beneficiary of an SS-8-protected employer-sponsored retirement plan. For more info, see: Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans.
Include the SS-8 if: you are a legal immigrant (not a lawful permanent resident) and you were authorized to work in the United States by Form I-9; you have no Social Security number, and you weren't born in or at the location of a United States military installation or U.S. naval station. Read all Form I-9 instructions for citizenship status.
When does the SS-8 have to be “received”?
For this guidance, the employer will need to be on file for at least 90 days. This is a hard requirement that has to be met. The SS-8 will have to be sent to your employer, not your employer who was filing your I-9.
If the employer fails to send you the SS-8 within 90 days, the Social Security Administration will file a claim for the missing form. Your employer will receive this claim as a Form SS-8C-3 if it's your employer or if it is your employer's equivalent (e.g. if it's a similar program, the company would get a Form SS-8B-2 instead of the Form SS-8C-3). If you're not sure if your employer has been on file, call the number on the back of your Form SS-8 (i.e.
How many people fill out Form SS-8 each year?
How many people fill out Form SS-8 each year?: The government does not track the frequency of such filings. In 2012, about 14 million individuals received a SS-8 certificate, with an estimated total of around 3.2 million SS-8s issued, according to the Treasury and Medicare Security Board data.
Who gets a SS-8 Certificate? How old do they need to be to qualify: Individuals are not required to be 17 years old or older. SS-8s are issued to citizens, resident aliens, lawful permanent residents and students. The age requirement varies across different categories of immigrants. If a child's visa expires, that child may be eligible to receive an SS-8. Once an individual receives an SS-8, he or she is no longer responsible for payment of Social Security taxes.
What is the income limit for an SS-8? Who can receive the tax relief?: An SS-8 certificate may be obtained for individuals below certain income limits. In 2012, the maximum income limit was 48,800, and the standard benefit is 14.60 per month.
To see a list of current eligibility requirements, search SS-8 applications on SDI.gov.
Does being a student provide an advantage in getting an SS-8? No. Once an individual becomes a legal resident of the U.S., he or she is no longer responsible for paying Social Security taxes. However, the U.S. government cannot legally collect money from this individual until he or she reaches age 70, and once this occurs, the individual is required to file a TIN number and pay Social Security taxes. Furthermore, if the individual was born and lived his or her entire life in the U.S., he or she never has any legal responsibility for Social Security taxes.
I have been studying abroad for a college class. Can I still receive an SS-8? No. However, if the person is also applying for citizenship, he or she may qualify for an SS-8.
Who does not need to file an SS-8? Some following groups of individuals are not legally required to file an SS-8: Individuals receiving the U.S.
Is there a due date for Form SS-8?
As with Forms W-2 and W-3, there is no due date for Form SS-8. However, if the employee was paid for service performed after February 26, 2017--you must file the employer's return for the tax year for which the payments were received by April 17, 2018, if this is more than 45 days before the due date of the return. For more information, see Publication 17, Employer's Tax Guide. Note: For purposes of determining the due date of Form SS-8, the date the payments were actually received is the date the employee's wages are reported (i.e., the amount paid) by the employer (the W-2 for the pay period). For additional information, see Notice 2013-45, 2013-28 I.R.B. 953. The due date for Form SS-8 is the day the employee files his or her 2017 tax return for the tax year for which the payments were received. For additional information, see Question 16, What is the due date for Form SS-8?
I'm an ALE Member--do I have to pay EI premiums for my employees?
To determine whether your ALE Member is required to pay EI premiums, consult Publication 587.
What is my obligation to the Ontario Pension Plan (APP)?
Before you are required to pay EI premiums, you are required to pay the Ontario Pension Plan (APP) premiums.
I'm a member of an Indian Health Service (IHS) unit. Do I have to withhold and remit EI premiums for my employees?
Your employees are employed by an IHS unit. If you are an employee of the IHS unit, and you pay EI premiums for your employees, you are responsible for deducting and remitting those premiums to the Treasury Board. These payments are non-taxable income and your employees will not receive an IHS pension at the end of the tax year. For more information and how to claim the IHS benefits for your employees, see the Canada Service Benefits Guide.
To check for a current statement, go to the IHS website at or call.