Dear Human Resource Services Hiring Partners and Area Finance Officers,
The WSU Office of International Programs, Human Resource Services, Payroll and the Graduate School are writing to provide you with an update regarding hiring international students and scholars for the fall 2025 term.
You should already be aware of a change in business process with I-9s (as communicated by Modernization). This year, we expect significant delays from the Social Security Administration in scheduling and issuing Social Security numbers for incoming students, which may delay or otherwise interrupt the hiring process. Students are experiencing up to 5 hour holds on the phone just to schedule a meeting with Social Security, and the meetings are being scheduled 4 or more weeks out. The meeting at Social Security is part of the application process. A Temporary Payroll Processing Number (TPPN), which is necessary to complete the hiring and payroll processes, can only be issued upon application for a social security number. Unfortunately, Social Security is unable to come to campus and is unable to give WSU or other schools a specific window to bring students to the Lewiston office or any other office this year.
The above-mentioned group has been working through this challenge and expects to have an update soon about the nature of delays and how we will support the hiring process for international graduate assistants and other hires this fall. We appreciate your patience as we navigate challenges with Social Security and will provide an update before the start of the fall term. Meanwhile, we recommend you plan for delays, as the process will remain dependent on Social Security’s timing.
Office of International Programs
Human Resource Services
Payroll
Graduate School