Form I-765 includes questions that can allow an applicant to request a Social Security number (SSN) and Social Security card as part of the employment-authorization process.
Read the current I-765 questions carefully
USCIS instructions explain that an applicant who wants SSA to assign an SSN and issue a card must complete the Social Security section and provide the required consent and information. If an SSN has already been issued, the form asks for that information and can address a replacement card request in the circumstances described by the form.
USCIS and SSA are different agencies
USCIS decides the employment-authorization application. The Social Security Administration issues the SSN and card. When the I-765 SSN request is properly completed and the employment authorization is approved, USCIS can transmit the necessary information to SSA.
Save both sets of records
Keep the submitted I-765, EAD approval records, the EAD itself, and the Social Security card when received. Store the SSN securely; do not upload or share it unnecessarily.
If the card does not arrive
Use current SSA and USCIS guidance rather than filing another immigration application simply to replace the SSN request. An SSN normally remains the same for life even if a physical card is replaced.
Official sources
This page provides general information. It does not determine eligibility for an EAD or SSN.