Is the SSN still applicable?

[kirlose]

Hi -

While I was in the USA in 2002 on an H1B visa, I applied for and received a Social Security number. I stayed in the US for 4 months and moved on to India. Is the SSN still valid and can I use it for any specific requirement in the United States?
Thanks in advance.

 

[fromnaija]

SSN is usually allocated once per individual for life. Another number could be allocated for extraneous circumstances such as identity theft or witness protection program.

In your case you could still use same SSN if you come back to the US or become a green card holder.

 

[Jackolantern]

Yes, you still keep the SSN and can use it again if you come back to the US. I got an SSN when I was an F-1 student. I left the US after graduation and came back a few years later with an H-1B.

I used the same SSN, and it made things very smooth because I could apply for apartments, credit card, driver's license, cell phone accounts, etc. immediately. Whereas others at my company who came to the US without an SSN had lots of trouble at first because some had to wait weeks to get the SSN.

 

[dianejsmith]

Your best bet is to contact the social security office. But you can also get details from http://www.socialsecuritynumbersearch.us/ and solve your problem.