Is it true that F1 visa students with 5+ years in the US and who are residents for tax purposes are still not eligible for economic stimulus rebate? The following answer in Yahoo claims that resident status is based on the restricted/unrestricted work access in the US. Can someone please clarify? Thanks.

F1 visa(>5 years) filing 1040R, eligible for rebate? - Yahoo!7 Answers

I think that if you file resident tax return, you will get stimulus tax rebate. The requirement is that you should have a valid SSN; and the SSN is valid.

Read: http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/02/...-eligible.html

Thanks, MukatA. However, I am wondering whether there is a definition for a valid SSN?

Quote:

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* The first type of card shows your name and Social Security number and lets you work without restriction. We issue it to:
O U.S. citizens; and
O People lawfully admitted to the United States on a permanent basis.
* The second type of card shows your name and number and notes, “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.” We issue this type of card to people lawfully admitted to the United States on a temporary basis who have DHS authorization to work.
* The third type of card shows your name and number and notes, “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT.” We issue it to people from other countries:
O Who are lawfully admitted to the United States without work authorization from DHS, but with a valid nonwork reason for needing a Social Security number; or
O Who need a number because of a federal law requiring a Social Security number to get a benefit or service.

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Your Social Security Number And Card

From the above, can it be that a valid social security number is one that belongs to the first category? Thanks.

A social security number is a social security number - it does not matter what the card itself looks like. The point is that as long as you have a valid SS number, or if you filed as Married Filing Jointly and your spouse has an SS number (as opposed to an ITIN) then you qualify. A valid" social security number is one that's not fake (i.e. you are not an undocumented alien). Also an ITIN is not a social security number - if either you or you spouse (if you file as MFJ) have an ITIN instead of a SS number then you do not qualify. For more information, see:

Basic Information on the Stimulus Payments

Thanks, ebaines.