Professional Development for Undocumented & Immigrant Students

Important Update: In April 2025, the CUNY Undocumented and Immigrant Program shared an important update about recommendations for individuals interested in getting an ITIN number. We recommend reviewing this material carefully along with the resources presented below.

General Information

While professional development and career growth may seem difficult for many undocumented individuals, there are working opportunities for the undocumented community that do not require a work authorization or social security number (SSN). Notably, undocumented individuals may receive an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which allows them to pursue independent contracting positions, freelance work, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Please read below for more information.

Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN)

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a form of tax identification issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Individuals are eligible to receive an ITIN, regardless of their immigration status. An ITIN allows people to work as independent contractors or freelancers. However, it is important to note that an ITIN DOES NOT authorize a person to work in the United States or provide eligibility for social security benefits. It also DOES NOT grant a person with lawful immigration status.

Some of the benefits of having an ITIN include being able to:

• Pursue independent contracting and freelance working opportunities,
• Start and operate a business,
• Participate in internship/fellowship programs open to ITIN holders,
• Open a bank account with some financial institutions,
• Obtain a home mortgage with some financial institutions, and
• Secure a driver’s license in some states.

Apply for an ITIN: 

• The Queens-based non-profit Urban Upbound provides year-round free tax preparation and assistance to low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and taxpayers with limited English proficiency. One of Urban Upbound’s available services includes ITIN applications, as they are an Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA). Notably, Certifying Acceptance Agents enable individuals to apply for ITIN without mailing their identification documents to the IRS. The services provided by Urban Upbound are free of cost for low-income individuals. If students are interested in applying for an ITIN with Urban Upbound, they can schedule an appointment by emailing them at vita@urbanupbound.org or calling 718-784-0877 (EXT. 9670 or 9668).
• You can get help applying for an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) with an IRS-approved acceptance agent in the U.S.  Review a list of Certified Acceptance Agents (CCA) here 

Independent Contracting & Freelancing

Undocumented students and individuals can pursue self-employment (independent contracting and freelancing) opportunities with an ITIN. With self-employment opportunities, an individual’s income typically varies, and access to benefits is limited. A way to distinguish between self-employment opportunities and regular employment is the required onboarding paperwork. For instance, a self-employed individual would typically fill out a W-9 Form. Meanwhile, a regular employee would likely fill out the I-9 or Employment Eligibility Verification Form. For more information on self-employment opportunities, please review the video below from the New York State Youth Leadership Council.

Entrepreneurship

In addition to working as independent contractors or freelancers, undocumented individuals may create a business, such as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) with an ITIN. Pursuing entrepreneurship may provide a more reliable working situation than self-employment. Forming a business structure or an LLC as an undocumented person may be challenging. Therefore, we recommend individuals review the resources below by clicking the buttons and watching the videos below and to the bottom right to learn more about entrepreneurship.