Federal benefits

If you are presently receiving monthly benefits from a federal agency (e.g., Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Personnel Management or Railroad Retirement Board),  you should contact the consular section to advise us of your residence in Tunisia. At that time you should inquire about the procedures for having your payments sent to you in Tunisia.

Please Note: Department of Defense retirees must deal directly with their Defense Finance and Accounting Service Center office in the United States.

Social Security Numbers

Social Security numbers are issued only to United States citizens and legal permanent residents (green card holders). Typical processing time for applications filed in the United States is approximately 5-10 days.

To secure a Social Security number, an application Form SS-5 must be completed. A passport or green card and a certified copy of a birth record established before age 5 must be presented. Cards should be received from the Social Security Administration in Baltimore within three months of completing the application process. For first time applicants age 12 or over who were born in the United States, the Social Security Administration is required to verify the birth certificate presented in evidence with the Registrar of the State of birth. This delays issuance of cards for six months or more.

U.S. CITIZENS REGISTERING A CHILD as a citizen through the Consular Report of Birth Abroad may also file for a Social Security number for that child at the same time. Parents are required to provide their own Social Security numbers if they have one and identification such as their passport or green card. If a Social Security card is not received within four months, contact the Federal Benefits Unit.

NON-RESIDENT ALIENS requiring a number for purposes of filing a U.S. tax return must file a Form W-7 Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) with the Internal Revenue Service.

Individual States may require a Social Security number for record keeping purposes. Aliens may not have a Social Security number issued for these purposes unless required by State or local law which conforms with Federal law.

Aliens not otherwise entitled to a number and planning on attending school in the United States may be asked for a Social Security number by the school. This is for record keeping purposes and is not authorized by Federal law. The school should be asked to assign its own internal number.

If a Social Security number is required to conduct business with a U.S. bank or financial institution and Federal law does not otherwise allow the issuance of a number, ask the Internal Revenue Service for a Form W-8, Certificate of Foreign Status.