August 4, 2025
As of March 19, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has quietly paused a key program that made it easier for many immigrants and nonimmigrants to get Social Security numbers (SSNs). The Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) program is on hold for 90 days while SSA reviews its policies. There’s no guarantee it will return after the review.
The EBE program, started in 2017 under the Trump administration, was a partnership between SSA and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It allowed certain immigrants to automatically apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) or a replacement card when submitting immigration forms.
Who’s Affected?
If you’re applying for a Social Security number through these immigration processes, the pause may impact you:
- F-1 students on OPT
- H-4 and J-2 spouses with new work permits
- TPS and asylum applicants
- Newly naturalized U.S. citizens
- Anyone who previously relied on automatic SSN issuance through EBE
Before the pause, applicants could check a box on forms like the I-765 (work permit) or N-400 (naturalization) and receive their SSN card by mail—no trip to the SSA office needed. Now, these individuals must apply in person at an SSA office. No automatic mailing of SSN cards will happen during the pause.
Who’s Not Affected?
SSA will still process SSN cards automatically for people approved for permanent residency through Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) and for SSN requests submitted before March 18, 2025. So if you’re adjusting status inside the U.S., your SSN should still arrive by mail as expected.
What to Expect
- Delays: With the program paused, more people will need to visit SSA offices in person—this may cause longer wait times and slower processing, especially since SSA is dealing with staff cuts and office closures.
- Confusion: Many applicants may still check the SSN request box on USCIS forms without realizing that the automatic SSN option is no longer working. They may not find out until their card doesn’t arrive.
Follow Bailey Immigration for more information on Immigration updates and changes. Call our office for free consultation at (503) 224-0950.
