On Oct. 2, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the release of an updated Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization which allows an applicant to apply for their social security number without going to a Social Security Administration (SSA) office.  Previously a foreign national would first have to apply for their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) via Form I-765 with USCIS, and once approved make a separate application with the SSA for their social security number. The new form, possible due to a new information-sharing partnership between USCIS and the SSA, will request additional information on form I-765 which will automatically be transmitted to the SSA for processing. Authorities indicate social security numbers should be mailed out to applicants approximately two weeks after approval of an EAD.