Social Security

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)

TN 29 (07-18)

RM 10211.530 List of Documents Establishing Lawful Alien Status for an SSN Card
The chart below lists the documents that establish lawful alien status for SSN applications. Use
with the more detailed information located elsewhere in this chapter. The chart shows the form
number and name, the class of admission for aliens admitted on a temporary basis (i.e., non-
immigrants), and the appropriate entries for the citizenship/alien status (item 3) and PRA block
on the SS-5.

IMMIGRATION CITIZENSHIP PRA

FORM DESCRIPTION FIELD CODE

AR-3 AR-3a Alien Registration Receipt Card Evidence Legal alien Y

of lawful admission for permanent residence allowed to
(See RM 10211.025) work

I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant See RM N

Student Status Evidence the alien is an F-1 10211.280 for
or M-1 foreign student. Must also show coding
evidence of nonimmigrant status per RM
10211.135 showing either F-1 or M-1 alien
classification. (See RM 10211.265 and RM
10211.270)

I-94 or I-94A Arrival/Departure Record Evidence the

alien is a non-immigrant. There are different
versions of the form. (See RM 10211.135)

Admission As of April 2013, evidence the alien is a

Stamp in nonimmigrant when applicant does not have
Unexpired an I-94 or I-94 printout. (See RM 10211.135)
Foreign
Passport
NOTE: When an alien listed below has an (*) next to the description, he/she may work only
when DHS grants employment authorization and issues an EAD. When the alien presents an
EAD, check the CITIZENSHIP FIELD “Legal alien allowed to work” and code the PRA with an N.
When an alien listed below has an (**) next to the description he/she may work only when
either DHS grants employment authorization and issues an EAD OR the person presents, in
addition to evidence of nonimmigrant status showing an E-1, E-2, or L-2 classification of
admission code, evidence he/she is the spouse of the principal E-1, E-2 or L-1 alien.

The evidence of marital relationship between the applicant and the principal E-1, E-2, or L-1
alien is a marriage document (issued prior to admission to the U.S. as an E-1, E-2, or L-2 non-
immigrant).

NOTE: Ask the alien whether he/she is the principal alien who is authorized to work or the
spouse, child or other dependent of the principal alien. See RM 10211.420 when the alien is the
spouse (other than an E-1, E-2 or L-2 spouse) or child.

CITIZENSHIP PRA
CLASS DESCRIPTION FIELD CODE

A-1 Ambassador, public minister, career Legal alien N

diplomat, or consular officer allowed to
work

Spouse or child of principal A-1 alien* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

A-2 Other foreign government official or Legal alien N

employee allowed to
work

Spouse or child of principal A-2 alien* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

A-3 Attendant, servant, or personal employee of Legal alien N

principal A-1 or A-2 alien allowed to
work

Spouse or child of principal A-3 alien Legal alien N

 not allowed
to work

B-1 Visitor for business See RM 10211.420 for Legal alien N

certain exceptions. not allowed
to work

B-2 Visitor for pleasure Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

BE Bering Strait Agreement visa-free visitor for Legal alien N

pleasure to certain designated areas of not allowed
Alaska to work

C-1 Alien in transit through the U.S. Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

C-2 Alien in transit to UN Headquarters Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

C-3 Foreign government official in transit Legal alien N

through the U.S. allowed to
work

Attendant, servant, personal employee, Legal alien N

spouse or child of principal C-3 alien not allowed
to work

D-1,D-2 Crew Member Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

E-1 Treaty trader Legal alien N

allowed to
work

Spouse of principal E-1 alien** Legal alien N

 not allowed
to work

Child of principal E-1 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

E-2 Treaty investor Legal alien N

allowed to
work

Spouse of principal E-2 alien** Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

Child of principal E-2 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

E-3 Treaty investor in specialty occupation Legal alien N

allowed to
work

Spouse of principal E-3 alien* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

Child of principal E-3 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

F-1 Academic student (See RM 10211.290) See RM N

10211.300 for
coding

F-2 Spouse or child of F-1 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

G-1 Resident representative of a recognized Legal alien N

 foreign government member to an allowed to
international organization work

Spouse or child of principal G-1 alien* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

G-2 Other temporary representative of a Legal alien N

recognized foreign government member to allowed to
an international organization work

Spouse or child of principal G-2 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

G-3 Representative of unrecognized or Legal alien N

nonmember foreign government to an allowed to
international organization work

Spouse or child of principal G-3 alien* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

G-4 Representative of an international Legal alien N

organization (officer or employee) allowed to
work

Spouse or child of principal G-4 alien* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

G-5 Attendant, servant or personal employee of Legal alien N

principal G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 alien allowed to
work

Spouse or child of principal G-5 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

H-1B Worker in a specialty occupation Legal alien N

 allowed to
work

H-1B1 Temporary worker in a specialty occupation Legal alien N

allowed to
work

H-2A Agricultural worker Legal alien N

allowed to
work

H-2B Non-agrarian seasonal worker Legal alien N

allowed to
work

H-3 Trainee Legal alien N

allowed to
work

H-4 Spouse or child of H-1A, H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, Legal alien N

or H-3 alien not allowed
to work

Spouse H.1B* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

I Foreign information media representative Legal alien N

allowed to
work

Spouse or child of principal I alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

J-1 Exchange visitor (RM 10211.345) See RM N

10211.345 for
coding

J-2 Spouse or child of J-1 alien* Legal alien N

 not allowed
to work

K-1 Fiancé or fiancé of a U.S. citizen Legal alien N

allowed to
work

K-2 Minor child of K-1 alien* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

K-3 Spouse of US Citizen* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

K-4 Child of K3* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

L-1 Intra-company transferee Legal alien N

allowed to
work

L-2 Spouse of intercompany transferee** Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

Minor child of L-1 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

M-1 Nonacademic student* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

M-2 Spouse or child of M-1 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

NATO-1 NATO officer, representative, or personnel Legal alien N

NATO-2 Spouse or child of principal NATO-1, NATO- allowed to
NATO-3 2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6 work
NATO-4 alien* Legal alien N
NATO-5 not allowed
NATO-6 to work

NATO-7 Attendant, servant, or personal employee of Legal alien N

principal NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO- allowed to
4, NATO-5, or NATO-6 alien work

Spouse or child of NATO-7 alien* Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

N-8 Parent of an alien granted permanent Legal alien N

residence* not allowed
to work

N-9 Child of an alien granted permanent Legal alien N

residence* not allowed
to work

O-1 Alien with extraordinary ability in sciences, Legal alien N

arts, education, business, or athletics allowed to
work

O-2 Alien accompanying O-1 alien Legal alien N

allowed to
work

O-3 Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

P-1 Internationally recognized athlete or Legal alien N

entertainer in an internationally recognized allowed to
group work

P-2 Artist or entertainer in an exchange program Legal alien N

allowed to
 work

P-3 Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique Legal alien N

program allowed to
work

P-4 Spouse or child of P-1, P-2, or P-3 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

Q-1 Cultural exchange visitor Legal alien N

allowed to
work

Q-2 Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Legal alien N

Program Visitor allowed to
work

Q-3 Spouse or child of Q-2 Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

R-1 Religious worker with a nonprofit religious Legal alien N

organization allowed to
work

R-2 Spouse or child of R-1 alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

S-5 Alien supplying critical information relating to Legal alien N

a criminal organization or enterprise* not allowed
to work

S-6 Alien supplying critical information relating to Legal alien N

counterterrorism* not allowed
to work

S-7 Spouse or child of S-5 or S-6 alien* Legal alien N

not allowed
 to work

T-1 Victim of a severe form of trafficking in Legal alien N

person not allowed
to work

T-2 Spouse of a victim of a severe form of Legal alien N

trafficking in persons not allowed
to work

T-3 Child of victim of a severe form of trafficking Legal alien N

in persons not allowed
to work

T-4 Parent of victim of a severe form of Legal alien N

trafficking in person (if T-1 victim is under 21 not allowed
years of age) to work

T-5 Sibling of victim of a severe form of Legal alien N

trafficking in persons not allowed
to work

U-1 Victim of Certain Criminal Activity Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

U-2 Spouse of U-1 Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

U-3 Child of U-1 Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

U-4 Parent of U-1, if U-1 is under 21 years of age Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

U-5 Sibling of U-1 Legal alien N

not allowed
 to work

V-1 Spouse of a permanent resident Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

V-2 Child of a permanent resident Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

V-3 Parent of a permanent resident Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

TC Professional business person from Canada Legal alien N

(United States-Canada Free Trade Act allowed to
work

TD Spouse or child of TN alien Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

TN Professional business person from Canada Legal alien N

or Mexico (North American Free Trade allowed to
Agreement) work

Asylee Alien granted asylum under section 208 of Legal alien Y

the INA allowed to
work

CFA/FSM Alien is a citizen of the Federated States of Legal alien Y

Micronesia allowed to
work

CFA/MIS Alien is a citizen of the Republic of Marshall Legal alien Y

Islands allowed to
work

CFA/PAL Alien is a citizen of the Republic of Palau Legal alien Y

allowed to
 work

Cuban/Haitian Alien who entered as a refugee/conditional Legal alien N

Entrant entrant before April 1, 1980 allowed to
work

Parolee Alien paroled into the U.S. temporarily * Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

Refugee Alien admitted pursuant to section 207 of Legal alien Y

the INA allowed to
work

TPS Alien granted temporary protected status * Legal alien N

not allowed
to work

DHS CITIZENSHIP PRA

FORM DESCRIPTION FIELD CODE

I- Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure Record Evidence the

94W alien is a visitor from a visa waiver country. (See RM
10211.135)

PRA
CLASS DESCRIPTION CITIZENSHIP FIELD CODE

WB Visitor for business from a visa waiver Legal alien not allowed to N
country work

WT Tourist from a visa waiver country Legal alien not allowed to N

work

DHS CITIZENSHIP PRA

FORM DESCRIPTION FIELD CODE

I-95A Crewman's Landing Permit Legal alien N

Issued to foreign crewmen. (See RM 10211.135) not allowed
 to work

I-551 Alien Registration Receipt Card Legal alien Y

Evidence of lawful admission for permanent allowed to
residence. (See RM 10211.025) work

I-551 Temporary I-551 Legal alien Y

stamp Evidence of lawful admission for permanent allowed to
residence until the I-551 card is received. (See RM work
10211.025)

I-766 Employment authorization Document Legal alien N

Evidence of work authorization (See RM 10211.420) allowed to
work

I-797 Notice of Action Legal alien N

Accept only for Family Unity program aliens. (See RS not allowed
00204.025) to work

DS- Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) See RM N

2019 Status 10211.345 for
Evidence the alien is an exchange visitor. Must also coding
show evidence of nonimmigrant status per RM
10211.135 with J-1 or J-2 classification. (See RM
10211.345)

To Link to this section - Use this URL: RM 10211.530 - List of Documents Establishing Lawful Alien Status for an SSN Card
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 - 05/22/2015
Batch run: 07/13/2018
Rev:05/22/2015