The U.S. immigration system assigns lawful American permanent residents and certain types of visa holders a unique identifier called an alien registration number, or A-number. An alien registration number helps you and the U.S. government track and manage your immigration status.
If you’re a lawful permanent resident or noncitizen visa holder with the intent to remain in the U.S., you can find your alien number on your green card or the visa issued to you before you entered the U.S. You may also be able to locate your alien registration number on certain approval documents and on correspondence with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Use this guide to understand more about alien registration numbers.
What is an alien number?
Your A-number is an identification number—usually a letter followed by nine digits—assigned to certain noncitizens residing in the United States. You can usually find your alien registration number on your green card or other immigration materials. This number is a critical tool for various U.S. government agencies—including DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State—to maintain accurate and up-to-date immigration records.
An A-number can also help you identify yourself when communicating with these agencies, as it may allow them to locate your file more quickly. An alien number fulfills a similar function to how American citizens can identify themselves using their Social Security number to allow an agency to quickly locate a government record.
Why is it called an alien number?
While the term “alien” sounds like it refers to a visitor from outer space, the word is an old-fashioned way to refer to a foreign national living in the U.S. Some federal legislation has recently been proposed to change the terminology to “noncitizen” in U.S. immigration laws, but as of now, the term “alien” still applies.
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Get startedPurpose of an alien registration number
The primary purpose of the A-number is to facilitate efficient and accurate record-keeping of noncitizens in the U.S. immigration system. By assigning a unique identifier to each individual, immigration authorities can access their immigration history, visa applications and any relevant documentation quickly and easily. This ensures that noncitizens are identified correctly and their immigration records are updated accurately throughout their stay in the United States.
Identification numbers are an important part of correctly processing immigration cases. If the government used names and birthdates instead of unique numbers, there would be a risk of privacy violations. There would also be a small but real risk of two individuals having the same name and birth date but different immigration statuses.
Who receives an A-number
The following individuals typically receive alien registration numbers:
- Permanent residents: Lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders, are assigned an A-number when they apply for a green card. If you have a green card, your unique A-number remains the same throughout your residency in the United States.
- Nonimmigrant visa holders: People with work visas, student visas and some other nonimmigrant visas may be assigned an A-number during the visa application process.
- Asylees and refugees: Individuals granted asylum or refugee status in the United States are given an A-number as part of their application documentation.
- Individuals in immigration removal proceedings: Noncitizens involved in deportation or removal proceedings may be assigned an A-number.
What does an alien registration number look like
The format of an alien registration number may vary depending on the time and method of issuance. However, a typical A-number consists of nine digits, usually in the following format: “A000-000-000.”
The “A” signifies that the number pertains to an alien (or foreign national) and not a U.S. citizen. The digits following the “A” form a unique numerical sequence assigned only to you.
Over the years, the format of the A-number evolved to accommodate changes in immigration policies and systems. In the past, the A-number might have been represented with different prefixes, such as “B” for border crossing cards or “C” for crewmen. However, these variations have been largely phased out, and the “A” prefix is now the standard for most noncitizens.
If, for some reason, your alien registration number begins with a letter other than A, you should still refer to the number as an A-number. This is because your number serves the purpose of being your alien registration number regardless of the letter prefix.
If you have difficulty finding your A-number or believe that you’ve received the wrong designation or number when filing your visa application, you may contact USCIS or DHS. An experienced immigration attorney may also be able to help you with basic questions about your alien registration number.
Where is an alien number located?
The alien number can be found in different places on different types of documentation.
Locating your A-number on your green card
If you’re wondering where to find your alien number on your green card, it’s prominently displayed on the front. It’s usually located at the top of your permanent resident card (also called a green card) and may be easily identified by the “A” followed by a series of nine numbers. On some more modern green cards, the A-number is a nine-digit number under the label “USCIS #” printed under your given name on your card.
Locating your A-number on a U.S. visa
The location of the A-number on a visa depends upon when your visa was issued and what the purpose of your visa is.
On some nonimmigrant visas, the A-number is stamped in red numbers on the bottom right corner of their visa. This is also called a “visa foil” in some documents.
On newer visas and F-1 work permits, your A-number may be called a “registration number” and be located above or below that line, depending on when the visa was issued. You may also be able to locate it in the center of your visa under or above the line “USCIS #”. (The registration number, USCIS number and A-number are different names for the same number.)
If the A-number on your visa contains fewer than nine digits after the letter “A”, add the number “0” after the letter “A” to create a nine-digit number on any official correspondence. For instance, if you were issued a work visa and your official A-number was A123456, you would identify yourself as A000-123-456 in correspondence with the U.S. government.
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Get startedLocating your A-number on approval notices and immigration documents
Individuals who’ve applied for immigration benefits and received approval notices or other immigration documents may find their A-number in the provided documentation. Your A-number might be on the top of the document or identified within the text of the notice itself. Read the correspondence from DHS and USCIS completely to ensure you find your A-number if you haven’t received it separately on your visa.
Locating your alien registration number in your online USCIS account
If you created an online USCIS account, your alien registration number may be found in the profile section of your personal page. If you have trouble finding or accessing this page, USCIS customer service may be able to help you find your A-number and profile information.
The importance of safeguarding your alien registration number
Given the significance of your alien registration number in managing your immigration status, try to protect this information. The following tips can help:
- Don’t share your A-number with anyone other than an authorized government representative or an attorney assisting you with your immigration case. Revealing the number to anyone else may pose a risk of identity theft or provide unauthorized access to sensitive immigration records.
- Verify the identity of any individual requesting your A-number and claiming to be a government agent.
- Store your immigration documents securely to help prevent identity theft.
How an attorney may help
While your A-number’s format and placement on official immigration documents generally make it easy to locate and reference throughout your stay in the country, if you have any issues finding it, USCIS may be able to help.
Once you know your A-number, an immigration attorney can use it to help you track important information about your immigration status. They may also be able to help shepherd your case through the U.S. immigration system.
Sofie is a writer. She lives in Brooklyn.
