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SSN or bank account first the order of 5 tasks after arriving in the US

After arriving in the US, most people go in this order: phone number → bank account → proof of address → state driver license or state ID. The SSN runs in parallel and you do not always need it before opening an account: some banks accept a foreign passport, depending on each bank’s own rules. Proof of address usually means waiting for your first bank statement, a bill or a lease; a state driver license requires proof of address, and people who have or are eligible for an SSN must also provide it.

F-1 students cannot get an SSN until they have an on-campus job, CPT or OPT, and H-4 dependents cannot get one without an EAD; both can still get a phone and a bank account first.

Racco walking along stepping stones that hold, in order, a phone, a piggy bank, a card, an envelope for a new address and a toy car

What each of the five tasks needs first

TaskUsually needs firstIf you are stuckOfficial source
Phone numberDepends on the carrierAsk the carrier which plans you can get without an SSN—
Bank accountSSN or ITIN, plus a driver license, state ID or passport; noncitizens may be able to use a foreign passport, consular ID or ITINCall before you go and ask whether you can open an account without an SSNFDIC
SSNWork authorization: green card, H-1B, EAD; F-1 needs an on-campus job, CPT or OPTNot eligible for an SSN but need to file taxes: ITINSSA POMS, IRS
Proof of addressA statement or bill mailed to your new address, or a leaseOpen a bank account first and use the first statementEach agency sets its own list
State driver license or state IDProof of address; people who have or are eligible for an SSN must provide itVaries by state; see California and New York belowCA DMV, NY DMV

The phone row has no official source because opening a phone account is not a government rule and every carrier differs. Plan comparison: Mint Mobile; account opening steps: Opening a US bank account.

The loop people get stuck in most: address → bank → bill → DMV

Without a bill you cannot prove your address, and without proof of address some places will not open an account or issue an ID. There are two ways out of the loop:

  1. Open a bank that accepts your passport first: once a statement is mailed to your new address, it is proof of address. Whether a paper or online statement is accepted depends on the agency receiving it.
  2. Use a lease: if you signed a long-term lease, the lease itself is often accepted as proof of address.

Different agencies accept different documents. For public schools, the Departments of Justice and Education give phone bills, water bills, leases and affidavits as examples, and a district’s requirements must be the same for every child (DOJ/ED fact sheet). The California DMV requires 1 California residency document for a standard license and 2 for a REAL ID license (CA DMV FFDL 5). Check that agency’s document list before you go.

Starting point by status

Immigrant visa entrants (new green card)

If you requested an SSN on the DS-260, the card is mailed to the US address you gave; call SSA if it has not arrived 3 weeks after entry (POMS RM 10205.600). Get your phone and bank account while you wait. Full order: What to do within 90 days of arriving with a green card.

H-1B, L-1

You have work authorization and can apply for an SSN at SSA. Your employer must complete Form I-9 within 3 business days after you start work (USCIS M-274). You can do the SSN and the bank account in the same week.

F-1 students

F-1 status and an I-20 alone are not enough to apply for an SSN; SSA wants evidence of on-campus employment, such as a DSO letter plus a pay slip or employer letter (POMS RM 10211.245). If you have no job yet, do not go to SSA; get your phone and bank account as usual, and apply for the SSN once you have a job.

H-4 and other dependents without work authorization

Without an EAD you cannot get an SSN. SSA’s operations manual says a driver license is not a reason to assign an SSN; SSA will not issue a number for it and instead explains in writing on Form SSA-L676 why it cannot (POMS RM 10211.615). If you need to file taxes, use an ITIN. How to get a driver license depends on the state.

Can you get a driver license without an SSN? California and New York as examples

Rules in other states are covered by CAR. State license deadlines are in The newcomer deadline table; how to apply: Getting a US driver license and State ID.

Frequently asked questions

Should I get the SSN or the bank account first?

If you have work authorization, you can do both in the same week without waiting. If you do not have an SSN yet, ask the bank whether it accepts a foreign passport; FDIC says some banks do.

How do I prove my address without a bill?

Open a bank account and wait for the first statement mailed to your new address, or use a long-term lease. Agencies accept different documents, so check the list before you go.

Can an F-1 student get an SSN right after arrival?

No. You need an on-campus job first, or CPT or OPT.

Can I apply for an SSN just to get a driver license?

No. SSA does not assign an SSN for a driver license. New York lets people who have never had an SSN sign an affidavit for a standard license; other states set their own rules.

Is an SSN the same as work authorization?

No. Work authorization comes from your immigration documents, such as a green card or EAD.

All five tasks are on the free list

The phone, bank, SSN, proof of address and driver license tasks are all in the 30 free items of the My USA Plan checklist . Choose your status and the list is put in order; check off each item as you finish it. 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. In-depth bank comparisons are on MONEY, first credit cards on US credit card guide, and renting on RENT. For the full order of your first 30 days, see First 30 days in the US: what to do by status.

Sources and date checked

All checked on 2026-10-22. This article is not legal or immigration advice.

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