Before you start

A valid visa or other admission category
An electronic I-94 record from the CBP website
Work authorisation from DHS for a Social Security number
Documented lawful presence for a Pennsylvania licence or ID

Step-by-step

1
Download your I-94 in the first few days
It records your admission class and 'admit until' date, and it is what employers, PennDOT and SSA will ask for. Retrieved electronically from the CBP website.
OnlineWho: YouWeek 1
2
Wait about ten days, then apply for a Social Security number
SSA verifies your status against DHS systems that lag entry by one to two weeks. File Form SS-5 in person with your passport, visa and I-94. There is no fee.
In personWho: YouFrom ~day 10Free
3
If you cannot get an SSN, file for an ITIN
IRS Form W-7 produces an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for tax filing, accepted by many banks. It grants no right to work.
OnlineWho: You
4
Register with the City of Philadelphia for the Wage Tax
If your employer is outside Philadelphia but you live in the city, they may not withhold the Wage Tax for you — in which case you must register and pay the Earnings Tax yourself, quarterly. This catches remote workers and commuters constantly.
OnlineWho: YouFirst month of employment
5
Get a Pennsylvania licence or ID within 60 days
PennDOT requires lawful presence documentation. Ask for a REAL ID; since 7 May 2025 a standard licence cannot board a domestic flight, and Pennsylvania's REAL ID is optional rather than the default.
In personWho: You
6
Track your status expiry yourself
Nobody will remind you. USCIS extensions take months, so start well before the I-94 date.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport with valid visa
I-94 admission record from the CBP website
Form SS-5 for a Social Security number, or IRS Form W-7 for an ITIN
Employment authorisation document or approval notice, where applicable
Two proofs of Pennsylvania residency

Things most newcomers don’t know

If your employer is outside the city, the Wage Tax becomes your problem to pay.

Philadelphia residents owe the Wage Tax on all earned income wherever the employer sits, but employers outside the city are not required to withhold it. In that case you must register with the city and pay the Earnings Tax yourself, quarterly. Remote workers and people commuting to New Jersey or the suburbs discover this at year end with a large bill and penalties.

Source: City of Philadelphia — Earnings Tax

Pennsylvania's REAL ID is optional and costs extra.

Unlike states where the compliant licence is the default, Pennsylvania issues standard licences by default and REAL ID only on request with additional documents and an extra fee. Newcomers accept the standard card, then find at the airport that it does not work.

Source: PennDOT — REAL ID

The visa sticker's expiry is not your permission to stay.

A visa authorises travel to a port of entry; the officer there decides how long you may remain and records it on the I-94.

Source: US Customs and Border Protection — I-94 record

Applying for an SSN too early is the standard wasted trip.

SSA checks your status against DHS records that take one to two weeks to sync after entry. Waiting about ten days turns two visits into one.

Source: Social Security Administration — noncitizens and Social Security numbers

Common mistakes to avoid

Living in Philadelphia with a suburban or out-of-state employer and never registering to pay the Wage Tax yourself.
Accepting a standard Pennsylvania licence rather than requesting REAL ID.
Treating the visa expiry as your permitted stay rather than the I-94 'admit until' date.
Visiting a Social Security office before DHS records have synced.
Paying anyone a fee for a Social Security card — it is free.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

Make it your personal checklist

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