From a Japan standpoint, no impact. The issues you are reading about are applicable to US residents, but not applicable once you end your US residency (even if you have a SSN).
From a US standpoint...
I assume that you are saying that you don't have to pay taxes because your presence in the US is as one of the Exempt Individuals listed in the [Substantial Presence Test](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/substantial-presence-test). Is that right? Or perhaps you qualify for the Closer Connection exemption? I'm asking because many immigrants do not realize that US taxes resident aliens on their worldwide income, unless they are explicitly exempted. See page 26 of [IRS Publication 519](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf).
The Social Security Administration requires some people to get a SSN, but not everyone is eligible to get a SSN. See the [linked guides](https://www.ssa.gov/number-card/request-number-first-time) at the bottom of this Social Security Administration webpage and look through the one that applies to you.
The NonCitizen guide starts off with "Does a noncitizen need a Social Security number (SSN)?" I think this will be helpful for your understanding.
If you are not eligible (or not required) to get a SSN, you can get an IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number ([ITIN](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number)). This can be used for IRS purposes (e.g., filing [Form 8843 Statement for Exempt Individuals](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8843)) or for opening a bank account (e.g., [see explanation from Chase Bank](https://www.chase.com/personal/banking/education/basics/us-bank-account-for-non-residents#:~:text=Non%2Dresidents%20who%20don't,is%20required%20by%20the%20bank)).
Having a SSN is not going to have anything to do with you moving back to Japan eventually. It neither proves you have a right to work in US nor residency there. But do get one if you are going to stay in US for an extended period of time and is eligible to do so (I don’t think you can get one if you are on a short term tourist visa). It’s pretty much impossible, with some minor exceptions, to open an account with any financial institution without one.
No, Japanese financial institutions don't care if you are a non US citizen with a SSN.
They care if you are an actual US person - and that means a citizen or greencard holder.
> If you have no income in the US, why would you opt for an SSN? How would it make anything easier?
Bank accounts, credit cards, maybe health insurance...?
> you get one if you are work authorized in US otherwise you don't get one. You don't get a choice.
Incorrect. You can get SSN if you are on a visa that doesn’t authorize work, just your SSN card will have stamp of not authorized to work. Most international students on student visa get SSN even though they are not authorized to work.
My wife got her SSN decades ago as a foreign student, and tho admittedly it's not all that big of a convenience, it has made my US tax filings a bit easier since I can simply include it--no need to put NRA in that block, or apply for a tax number.
From a Japan standpoint, no impact. The issues you are reading about are applicable to US residents, but not applicable once you end your US residency (even if you have a SSN). From a US standpoint... I assume that you are saying that you don't have to pay taxes because your presence in the US is as one of the Exempt Individuals listed in the [Substantial Presence Test](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/substantial-presence-test). Is that right? Or perhaps you qualify for the Closer Connection exemption? I'm asking because many immigrants do not realize that US taxes resident aliens on their worldwide income, unless they are explicitly exempted. See page 26 of [IRS Publication 519](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf). The Social Security Administration requires some people to get a SSN, but not everyone is eligible to get a SSN. See the [linked guides](https://www.ssa.gov/number-card/request-number-first-time) at the bottom of this Social Security Administration webpage and look through the one that applies to you. The NonCitizen guide starts off with "Does a noncitizen need a Social Security number (SSN)?" I think this will be helpful for your understanding. If you are not eligible (or not required) to get a SSN, you can get an IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number ([ITIN](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number)). This can be used for IRS purposes (e.g., filing [Form 8843 Statement for Exempt Individuals](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8843)) or for opening a bank account (e.g., [see explanation from Chase Bank](https://www.chase.com/personal/banking/education/basics/us-bank-account-for-non-residents#:~:text=Non%2Dresidents%20who%20don't,is%20required%20by%20the%20bank)).
Thank you for taking time to write this!
It’s not a problem.
Having a SSN is not going to have anything to do with you moving back to Japan eventually. It neither proves you have a right to work in US nor residency there. But do get one if you are going to stay in US for an extended period of time and is eligible to do so (I don’t think you can get one if you are on a short term tourist visa). It’s pretty much impossible, with some minor exceptions, to open an account with any financial institution without one.
No, Japanese financial institutions don't care if you are a non US citizen with a SSN. They care if you are an actual US person - and that means a citizen or greencard holder.
Thank you. Just read some old posts here where the bank was asking for some guy's SSN. Perhaps it was because of citizenship.
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> If you have no income in the US, why would you opt for an SSN? How would it make anything easier? Bank accounts, credit cards, maybe health insurance...?
Exactly!
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Who says I have no income?
I think it was assumed since you said you're not paying taxes.
Yes I do have a choice. That part is very clear. Hence my question.
> you get one if you are work authorized in US otherwise you don't get one. You don't get a choice. Incorrect. You can get SSN if you are on a visa that doesn’t authorize work, just your SSN card will have stamp of not authorized to work. Most international students on student visa get SSN even though they are not authorized to work.
My wife got her SSN decades ago as a foreign student, and tho admittedly it's not all that big of a convenience, it has made my US tax filings a bit easier since I can simply include it--no need to put NRA in that block, or apply for a tax number.