How do I change my citizenship status on Social Security’s records?
To change your citizenship status shown in Social Security records, you must complete an application for a Social Security card (Form SS-5), which you can find online at www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html. You must also provide documents proving your:
New or revised citizenship status (We can only accept certain documents as proof of citizenship. These include your U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a Certificate of Citizenship. If you are not a U.S. citizen, Social Security will ask to see your current immigration documents), age and identity.
Next, take (or mail) your completed application and documents to your local Social Security office. All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.
Valerie Fisher is district manager of the Social Security office at 3310 Route 66, Neptune, NJ 07753. Call 800-772-1213 for information.
Your FAFSA information may indicate that the Social Security Administration did not confirm the U.S. citizenship status you reported. Though this issue will not affect the initial calculation of your financial aid eligibility, it could delay the disbursement of your aid should you be admitted to USC. Your financial aid cannot be disbursed until your citizenship status is confirmed.
If you are not a U.S. citizen please correct your FAFSA at fafsa.gov.
If you are a U.S. citizen you must update your citizenship status. Your financial aid will not be disbursed until your citizenship status has been confirmed on your FAFSA. Please do the following:
- Contact your local Social Security office to have your citizenship status updated. Take your U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship to your local Social Security
Administration to have your citizenship status updated. Please visit www.ssa.gov for the address of your local office and other instructions.
- Allow one to two weeks for the Social Security Administration to update your status. Only after you have confirmed with the Social Security Administration that your status has been updated, complete and sign the attached form and submit to the Financial Aid Office.
Please upload your certification statement on the Document Library section of FAST as an Unknown or Unlisted type of Financial Aid Document.
- The Financial Aid Office will submit your FAFSA for reprocessing approximately six weeks prior to the start of classes for your term. This request for action will be removed after the Financial Aid Office receives an updated FAFSA from the processor confirming your U.S. citizenship status.
If you choose not to update your
status at the Social Security Administration, you may bring your original U.S. citizenship document to the Financial Aid Office no earlier than one week prior to the start of your classes to verify your citizenship status in person. Please also bring another form of federal or state-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license. Appointments are not required.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some Social Security Administration offices may be closed. If that is the case, please complete the Signed Statement for US Citizenship Documents and upload it to FAST as an Unknown or Unlisted type of Financial Aid Document. You will be asked to include your government issued photo ID and any of the following:
- U.S. birth certificate
- U.S. passport
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
What Documents Do You Need to Submit?
According to the SSA, if you want to change any information in your record, you need to produce documents that will:
- prove your identity
- support the requested change
- establish the reason for the change
The SSA only accepts certain documents as proof of identity. This includes:
- U.S. driver’s license
- State-issued non-driver’s identification card
- U.S. passport
- Employee ID card
- School ID card
- Health insurance card
- Adoption decree
- Life insurance policy
Submit any one of the above together with your Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship and the completed Form SS-5.
All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies are not acceptable. Any documents you sent by mail will be returned to you along with a receipt.
Why Do You Need to Update Your Social Security Record?
There are a lot of advantages to having an updated social security record. For one, it will make it easier to collect social security benefits in the future.
Outdated social security records may also affect your employment opportunities. When you are hired, your employer will enter your SSN in the E-Verify, a web-based system by the US Department of Homeland Security. This helps them verify your eligibility to work in the US. If your records are not updated, they may think that you are working illegally.
Some disability benefits are also available only to citizens. So updating your citizenship records will ease the process once you apply for such.
When Should You Report Your Change in Citizenship?
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services advises waiting at least 10 days after your oath-taking ceremony before updating your records. But don’t wait too long or it might slip your mind.
There are no penalties if you forget to report your change in citizenship. But remember that it’s for your own benefit. So make sure that you find time to do it at some point.