I’m filling out the DS-160 form for a tourist visa and don’t know what to do with the field about SSN. I don’t remember my number by heart — should I put “doesn’t apply” or is it better to find it first? I don’t want to make mistakes when filling out the DS-160 because I’m not sure if they can be corrected after submission. Who’s gone through this — what did you put in that field?
In the DS-160, if you were ever issued an SSN (Social Security Number) you need to enter it — “doesn’t apply” is only for when you never had a number. Basically, an incorrect or missing number will come up during checks later and could become a question at the interview. It’s better to find it via old W-2s or by requesting it from the SSA (Social Security Administration) than to guess.
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From my experience — if an SSN was ever issued, it’s easier to recover it through your Social Security online account or request a replacement card. Putting “doesn’t apply” when the number actually existed is technically misrepresentation, and it’ll come up later with future visas or an adjustment of status. A wrongly guessed number is even worse; better to spend a couple of days and find the exact one.
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At the interview, if the number doesn’t match the database, the officer sees a mismatch and that already raises suspicion of misrepresentation. A colleague had that — they were issued a 221(g) and asked to provide a document from the SSA with the correct number. The process dragged on for about a month and a half, although restoring the correct number would have taken a couple of days.
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Yeah, it’s better to spend a couple of days tracking down the exact number than to have to explain it at the interview later. When I filled it out myself, I was nervous about every field too, but the main thing turned out to be: don’t guess and don’t lie. You can recover it really quickly through your SSA online account. Hang in there)
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You also need to understand — an incorrect SSN (Social Security number) isn’t just a typo; it falls under misrepresentation under 212(a)(6)(C). Basically, if it later comes to light, it’s already a ground for inadmissibility, and getting that removed is much harder than spending a couple of days with the SSA (Social Security Administration). It can be restored really quickly through the online account — just don’t try to guess it.
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If the SSA online account isn’t accessible for some reason, there’s the SS-5 form for a replacement card — it’s filed at an SSA office or by mail. Also, the number usually remains on old W-2s and on tax returns; you can request a transcript from the IRS for past years — the SSN is listed there. That’s more reliable than guessing or putting “doesn’t apply,” because a potentially wrong number may later surface and you’ll have to explain.
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HR at the former employer can also pull the number from the payroll archive.
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