Read the DS-160’s separate fields carefully. A U.S. taxpayer identification number can include an ITIN, while a Social Security number has its own field. Do not enter a passport number, A-number, visa number, or foreign tax number merely to fill a U.S. identifier field. [1] [2]
Check whether you were assigned a number
An SSN is issued by Social Security; an ITIN is issued by the IRS for specified tax-administration purposes when an individual is not eligible for an SSN. An ITIN does not itself authorize employment or confer immigration status. Locate the actual agency record rather than reconstructing a number from memory. [2]
If you have no applicable identifier
Use the form’s applicable “Does Not Apply” option when accurate. Do not obtain an ITIN solely because you assume every visa applicant must have one; ITIN eligibility involves tax requirements. Answer according to the current form and instructions.
An expired ITIN raises a different question
Expiration for tax-processing purposes does not mean you should invent a replacement number. Check IRS renewal guidance and describe the assigned identifier accurately under the form’s instructions. [3]
For example, a first-time visitor who has never been assigned a U.S. tax number has a different answer from a former student with an IRS-issued ITIN.
Do not resolve uncertainty with a made-up number
If the record is unclear, check the Social Security or IRS notice and the current DS-160 help before submission. A number used on a tax return is not automatically a separate identifier assigned to every family member, and a spouse’s number should not be substituted for the applicant’s. An expired ITIN can raise a tax-renewal question without changing the fact that a particular number was assigned. [2] [3]
Keep the distinct fields distinct. Do not assume every field must contain the same value or that a U.S. taxpayer field asks for a foreign national tax identifier. If correcting a submitted application is necessary, follow the post’s actual instructions for a new or corrected DS-160 and confirmation page rather than inventing a general “edit after submission” option. The visa application should remain accurate even when the tax identifier has no effect on the underlying visa category. [1]
Review the application before submission and keep the confirmation. See immigration notice identifiers and A-numbers and U.S. citizenship to distinguish the different numbers appearing in immigration records.
Primary sources
- DS-160 Frequently Asked Questions
- Taxpayer Identification Numbers for Foreign Students and Scholars
- How to Renew an ITIN
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.