Disclaimer: We are not attorneys. This article is our interpretation of Uber’s policies and immigration law. You should speak to an attorney if you’re a non-US citizen looking to drive for Uber or any other gig economy app.
Are you eligible to become an Uber driver if you’re not a citizen of the US? We’ve seen this question from international students looking to make extra money and visa workers who want a second job.
Do you have to have a green card (permanent residency status), or can you work for Uber while you hold other types of visas?
And as a noncitizen, you might not want to risk your residency status by applying for a job that could cause issues with immigration officials.
To get to the bottom of this, here is the latest information from Uber and general US employment law.
Here’s what Uber support says about the SSN requirement: “The background check requires a Social Security number, and all drivers must undergo background screening. If the potential partner has a Social Security number, then that would work.”
Uber reps would not explain further about the rules surrounding visa workers and other nonresidents.
All you need to drive for Uber is a Social Security number (along with all the other Uber driver requirements). The SSN is used for the background check and tax reporting.
But is it a good idea for noncitizens to drive for Uber? Can driving for Uber affect your working visa status or residency status?
Uber doesn’t acknowledge that there are special circumstances that allow a person to have a Social Security number without having legal permission to work for Uber.
Uber says you can drive, but the US government might not agree.
All of the above SSN holders could theoretically qualify for Uber, but the terms of residency for many visas would prohibit working with Uber.
An SSN is not always a work authorization!
If you have an SSN and there are no restrictions on your ability to work in the US, you can drive for Uber.
Nonresidents that typically don’t have work restrictions include:
You can’t drive for Uber if your immigration status or visa prohibits you from working outside of a specific field, you can’t drive for Uber.
If your visa prohibits you from working outside a specified field, you can’t drive for Uber. Don’t risk your residency status by working for Uber.
An SSN is not always a work authorization
No. You must have a US driver’s license for at least one year. Uber does not consider international driving experience.
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a number issued to some noncitizens for tax processing purposes.
You can’t drive for Uber with only an ITIN. You won’t be able to complete the background check with only an ITIN, and it would be against the law to work as a nonresident without permission to work in the US.
Most likely not. AB-60 licenses are for undocumented immigrants who do not have a social security number.
You need a social security number to drive for Uber, and if you have a social security number, you can get a regular CA license.
I asked Uber if drivers with an AB-60 are qualified to drive, but they never gave me a direct answer. From our research, I’ve found that the AB-60 license won’t qualify you for Uber.
You may be able to get a Social Security number as a non-US citizen and begin driving for Uber, but you may be violating the terms of your visa or residency by doing work outside the scope of your visa.
If you have an F1, H1B, or H2B visa, driving for Uber most likely violates the terms of your visa.
Don’t depend on Uber to figure out your unique immigration status or protect you from immigration problems! Ultimately, it’s your responsibility to figure out whether or not you can drive for Uber.
All the gig apps have similar requirements: You must have an SSN to apply and pass the background screening.
If you’re on a work visa and you have an SSN, you may be able to apply for gig apps like Lyft, DoorDash, and Instacart, but working for those apps may violate the terms of your visa.
Immigration law is complicated. Mistakes can have an irreversible effect on your residency status and your visa, so you should consult with an immigration attorney before you apply to drive for Uber.
More about Uber driver requirements
Originally Published December 30, 2018 Filed Under: Uber
Gig economy driver, writer, and expert since 2013. I created Ridesharing Driver to help drivers navigate all of the challenges we face in the on-demand world! Read more about my story!
You need an SSN to pass the background screening. After you get accepted you can use the EIN as your tax ID