Also known as an A-Number, your Alien Registration Number is a seven- to nine-digit number that can be found on a variety of documents from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the former INS. USCIS uses the Alien Registration Number to track the immigration files for immigrants (and some nonimmigrants). It’s also a critical piece of information when preparing new USCIS forms to request immigration benefits. If your A-Number is fewer than nine digits, insert a zero after the “A” and before the first digit to create a nine-digit number. For example, “12345678” would become “A012345678.”
U.S.-born citizens and many nonimmigrant visitors do not have alien registration numbers.
The sample green card below was issued between 2004-2010. The A-Number is listed as “000-000-000” next to A#.
USCIS does not assign everyone an A-Number. USCIS creates an Alien Registration Number for every permanent resident. Generally, they do not assign the number to nonimmigrant visitors. Nonimmigrants include anyone that is in the United States on a temporary basis. B1/B2 visas are nonimmigrant visas for visitors. However, USCIS may assign the Alien Registration Number to certain classes of nonimmigrants that have been granted employment authorization or other benefits.
If you do not have a green card, you may be able to find your Alien Registration Number on other immigration documents such as an Employment Authorization Document (work permit). In the example below, the A-Number is listed as “000-000-811” underneath USCIS#.
If you are unable to locate your Alien Registration Number on one of the documents below, CitizenPath can help you request your A-Number through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request. We’ll help you prepare Form G-639, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request and provide instructions on how to file it with USCIS. Use Form G-639 to get a copy of your A-Number or even your entire immigration file. You should expect it to take at least 8 weeks before USCIS responds with the requested A-Number and much longer for complete immigration files. CitizenPath can help you prepare Form G-639, FOIA Request for a very low cost. Once prepared, it’s free to file. Try it before you buy it >>
You can also find an Alien Registration Number on an immigrant visa. Your immigrant visa, also called a visa stamp or visa foil, is found in your passport. Your A-Number is identified as the “Registration Number” in the top right portion of the visa stamp.
Note: The visa pictured above is an immigrant visa. It’s different than a nonimmigrant visa. A nonimmigrant visa does not contain an Alien Registration Number.
Some versions of the Notice of Action may contain the Alien Registration Number. In the I-797C (biometrics notice) below, the A-Number is located in the top/right of the document next to USCIS#.
If you applied for your green card through consular processing (applied for green card at a U.S. embassy or consulate), you probably had an Immigrant Data Summary stapled to the front of your immigrant visa package. You can find your A-Number at the top of the Immigrant Data Summary, as shown in the picture below.
Again, if you applied for your green card through consular processing, the immigration officer probably gave you a USCIS Immigrant Fee handout. This document provides instructions on how to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee and includes your A-Number in the top right corner, as shown below.
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