My current apartment lease ends on August 8, and I’m concerned that my EAD card may be approved and mailed around the same time I’m moving.
Has anyone successfully used a USPS PO Box as their USCIS mailing address for receiving a STEM OPT EAD card? Were there any issues with delivery?
My plan is to update only my mailing address to a USPS PO Box temporarily and then update it again once I move into a permanent residence.
I’d appreciate hearing about anyone’s experience with receiving an EAD card at a PO Box or whether using a trusted friend’s address worked better.
You do not need a permanent physical home address to receive your Social Security card. You can use an alternative mailing address, such as the address of a trusted friend, an attorney, a community organization, or a sponsoring agency.
“Do I need a physical US address to receive my SSN card?”
Summary
You can cross this worry off your list. The agency allows you to use a safe alternative address so they can mail your card to you securely.
Read the full explanationHide the full explanation
The automatic process is suspended
In the past, you could get a Social Security number automatically when you applied for a work permit or green card through USCIS. As of March 2025, this automatic process is suspended.
You must now apply for your number in person at a local office, even if you already checked the request box on your immigration forms.
Next steps
Here is exactly how to set up your mailing address and apply for your card in person.
Set up an alternative mailing address
Choose a safe place to receive your mail. This can be a commercial address, or the address of a friend, attorney, or community-based organization. If you are a refugee and do not have a personal mailing address, you can use the address of your sponsoring agency.
Fill out your application
Complete the Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5). Put your chosen alternative address in the mailing address section. If you are having the card sent to someone else, include an "In Care Of" name so the mail carrier knows to deliver it there.
Find an office and make an appointment
Use the Field Office Locator on the agency website to find the nearest office or Card Center. You can schedule an appointment before you visit to save time.
Go to your in-person appointment
Bring your completed application and your original documents to the office. You must show original, unexpired documents that prove your age, your identity, and your lawful work-authorized immigration status.
Others who faced this
You are not the first to go through this. Here is how it went for others who asked the same thing.
Delivering EAD card to university mailing address
u/GoldenOrion99r/f1visaJun 1, 2026
Hi, I’m an international student graduating this summer and I have a job starting in the fall.
I have began processing my post-completion OPT and I’m looking for advice/prior experience from international students that have put down the university mailing address as the delivery address for your EAD card in the i765 form. Was delivery okay? Or did you run into any issues? If you didn’t put down the university mailing address what did you do instead?
I’m trying to forecast any issues I could run into, especially since I had trouble with getting my SSN card when I did my first coop since USPS
USCIS OPT application. How do I enter a USPS Street Addressing PO Box if the form doesn’t allow “#”?
u/noclip17r/USCISJun 26, 2026
I’m applying for post-completion OPT.
I have a USPS PO Box with the Street Addressing Service, which gives me a street address followed by **# + my PO box number**
The USCIS online form doesn’t seem to allow the “#” character in Address.
Would it be okay to enter it like this instead?
**Address Line 1:** Street address only
**Address Line 2:** PO Box \*\*\*\*\*
Has anyone successfully received their EAD card using this format? Or is there a better way to enter a USPS Street Addressing address when the form doesn’t accept the “#” symbol?
Thanks!
Legal sources
Here are the official rules and documents that support this information.
USCIS Form I-485 Instructions
You can use an alternative address like a friend, attorney, or organization, and include an "In Care Of" name if someone else is receiving it.
USCIS Form I-485 Instructions
If your mail is sent to someone other than yourself, please include an “In Care Of Name” as part of your mailing address. ... The safe or alternate address may be a P.O. Box or the address of a friend, your attorney or accredited representative, a community-based organization that is helping you, or any other address where you can safely and timely receive mail.
Field Office Locator
You can find a local office and make an appointment before you visit.
Field Office Locator
Skip the line—make an appointment before visiting an office.
Application for Social Security Card (Form SS-5)
You must bring original documents proving your age, identity, and work-authorized immigration status.
Application for Social Security Card (Form SS-5)
To apply for an original card, you must provide at least two documents to prove age, identity, and U.S. citizenship or current lawful, work-authorized immigration status. ... We can only accept original documents or documents certified by the custodian of the original record.
SettleKit is not a law firm and this is general information. Confirm with a licensed immigration attorney.
SettleKit is not a law firm and this is general information. Confirm with a licensed immigration attorney.
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