Social benefits + visa

[bhisearchit]

If I retire on a work visa such as H1B or L1, am I eligible to receive social security benefits?

[VincentL12345 · Accepted solution]

You don't have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for Social Security benefits. Your benefits will be based on how much you earned and whether you've paid into the system for enough years.

So H1B visa holders who have 40 plus credits will get SS benefits once they are eligible to receive (62 years) They will get the SS benefits even if they live outside of the US if their country of residence/citizenship is the approved list.

Most visa holders do not qualify since they do not work long enough to receive the credits.