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H-1B first month in the US fill out I-9 when you start work then apply for a Social Security number

In your first month in the US on an H-1B or L-1, the order is: check your I-94 online after entry; bring your documents on your first day at work, and your employer completes Form I-9 within 3 business days; fill out the W-4 according to your tax status, with special rules for nonresidents; you are work-authorized, so you can apply for an SSN at SSA; file AR-11 within 10 days of moving into a longer-term home; for health insurance, ask HR about the enrollment deadline first, and moving from abroad also gives you a 60-day Special Enrollment Period. H-1B and L-1 workers themselves are nonimmigrants and do not register with Selective Service.

The rules for dependents differ: an H-4 spouse needs an EAD before working, and not every H-4 spouse can apply; an L-2 spouse is work-authorized by status.

Order of steps in the first month

WhenWhat to doOfficial source
After entryCheck the name, class and admit-until date on your I-94 onlineCBP
First day at workBring your I-9 documents; your employer completes I-9 Section 2 within 3 business daysUSCIS M-274
First day at workFill out the W-4; nonresidents follow the IRS special rulesIRS
First weekApply for an SSN at SSA; open a bank account and get a phone numberSSA POMS, FDIC
Within the enrollment windowEnroll in employer health insurance; moving from abroad usually gives you a Special Enrollment Period of 60 days before or afterHealthCare.gov
Within 10 days of every moveFile AR-11 with USCISUSCIS

After entry: check your I-94 first

How long you may stay in the US is the admit-until date on your I-94, not the date on your visa. Look it up on CBP’s i94.cbp.dhs.gov site and check your name, class (H-1B, or L-1A or L-1B) and dates. How to do it: How to look up your I-94. For extensions, changing employers and similar questions, see VISA.

First day at work: I-9 and W-4

I-9: within 3 business days

Your employer must complete Section 2 of Form I-9 within 3 business days after you start work and cannot tell you which document to present (USCIS M-274). H-1B and L-1 workers often use List A item 5: a foreign passport with an I-94 in the same name, where the I-94 shows nonimmigrant status for work with this employer and the authorized period has not ended (USCIS acceptable I-9 documents). The I-9 does not require an SSN card.

W-4: first work out whether you are a resident or nonresident

How you fill out the W-4 depends on your tax status, not your immigration status. Under the IRS substantial presence test, you are a tax resident if you were in the US at least 31 days this year and at least 183 days counting all days this year, 1/3 of the days last year and 1/6 of the days the year before (IRS substantial presence test). Days in F or J student status and certain other statuses are not counted; days in H-1B or L-1 status are.

Your first year in the US may be a dual-status year; for filing taxes see MONEY. For the W-4 fields, see The W-4 tax form.

SSN: apply once you have work authorization

H-1B and L-1 workers are work-authorized and can apply for an SSN at SSA. The State Department handout in SSA’s operations manual says that for applications made at an SSA office, the card arrives about 2 weeks after SSA has everything it needs, and longer if documents must be verified (POMS RM 10205.600). That handout is written for immigrant visa holders; POMS gives no separate time frame for H-1B or L-1. Ask HR how payroll handles the time before your SSN arrives. For whether to get the SSN or the bank account first, see SSN or bank account first.

Health insurance: ask HR first

The enrollment deadline for employer insurance follows your company’s plan, so ask HR in the first week. Separately, moving to the US from a foreign country usually gives you a Special Enrollment Period of 60 days before or after on HealthCare.gov (HealthCare.gov). From 2027-01-01, H-1B, L-1 and other nonimmigrants buying Marketplace coverage get no premium savings (HealthCare.gov). Details: Newcomer health insurance 60-day Special Enrollment Period.

Dependents: H-4 and L-2 are different

H-4 spouseL-2 spouse
Can they work?Only after receiving an EADL-2S status itself includes work authorization
Who can apply for an EADWhen the H-1B worker is the principal beneficiary of an approved I-140, or was granted an H-1B extension under AC21 sections 106(a) and (b)May apply, but it is not required in order to work
What to use for the I-9EAD (List A)An unexpired I-94 annotated L-2S, or an EAD
EAD renewalsApplications filed on or after 2025-10-30 are no longer automatically extendedSame (if an EAD was applied for)

Sources:USCIS H-4 EAD, USCIS L-1A, EAD final rule. Dependents without work authorization cannot get an SSN; if they need to file taxes, they use an ITIN (IRS). School enrollment for children is covered by EDU.

AR-11, driver license, Selective Service

Frequently asked questions

Do H-1B workers need to bring an SSN card on the first day?

No. For the I-9 you can use a foreign passport with an I-94 (List A), and your employer cannot tell you which document to present.

Is an H-1B worker a tax resident in the first year?

It depends on the days counted under the substantial presence test: at least 31 days this year and at least 183 weighted days over three years make you a resident; the arrival year may be dual-status.

Can an H-4 spouse start working right away?

No. You must be eligible, apply, and receive the EAD first.

Does an L-2 spouse have to wait for an EAD to work?

No. L-2S status itself includes work authorization, and an I-94 annotated L-2S can be used for the I-9.

Do H-1B workers register with Selective Service?

No. You only need to register if you get a green card before turning 26.

Check off each step in order: My USA Plan

The W-4, SSN, bank, phone and driver license steps in this article are all in the 30 free items of the My USA Plan checklist ; choose the working-professional status and the list is put in order. The full 91 items add taxes, the USCIS online account and status expiration reminders for US$9.90, a one-time purchase, not a subscription. For all deadlines, see The newcomer deadline table; for your first 30 days, see First 30 days in the US: what to do by status.

Sources and date checked

All checked on 2026-10-26. This article is not legal, immigration or tax advice.

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