Can an international screening package be ordered for a US based candidate without a Social Security Number? 

Question

Can an international screening package be ordered for a US based candidate without a Social Security Number? 

Answer

Some US-based workers may be waiting to receive Social Security Numbers (SSN) from the Social Security Administration; for example, legal permanent residents who are waiting to receive their SSN.  

For candidates performing work in the US who do not yet have an SSN, customers will sometimes hire the candidate on condition of a background check upon receipt of the SSN, and initiate a domestic background check with an out-of-country history upgrade at that time.   Keep in mind that international screenings are intended for candidates with work locations (i.e. the place where the candidate performs his or her work) outside of the United States. Ordering an international package for a candidate with a U.S.-based work location, even if that candidate lacks an SSN and has out-of-country address history, will result in an error message.  We recommend you speak with your legal counsel to decide what works best for you.

Disclaimer: This does not constitute and is not intended to be construed as legal advice. Please consult your legal counsel regarding your compliance obligations and best practices.