Planning to live permanently in the United States is a dream. However, you need a number that would be your gateway to enter the country. This number is called the Alien Registration Number.
For starters, an Alien Registration Number is made up of seven to nine digits that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) gives to many immigrants who are applying for residency in America. This number is also known as A-Number, Alien Number, or USCIS Number.
Having this number makes tracing your immigration files in USCIS a breeze. Your alien registration number is included in most of the documents you send to immigration, such as the Immigrant Visa, Employment Authorization Document, and Permanent Resident Green Card. This number allows you to effectively use it when filing new forms and other immigration documents.
This article will teach you about:
Table of Contents
Every person who is applying for a green card, regardless of family ties, refugee or asylee status, and employment, gets an Alien Registration Number. It’s a special identifier for all immigrants, especially those wanting permanent resident status in the United States.
You don’t need this number if you’re only staying in the country temporarily. You’re only treated as a short-term visitor, so you don’t need to sweat much to get this number.
One particular exception is people who have F-1 visas. They can get an alien registration number and work permit even without a green card since they’re only in the country as a full-time student.
There’s no official application for the alien registration number. But here’s how you can get it:
Your A-number is useful in a handful of ways. Here’s how it serves its purpose:
Getting an A-number allows you to see the progress of your case status on the USCIS website. You’d know if your case was approved or denied and if you need to submit further documentation. Your A-number is your identifier to find your files easily.
The Form I-9, or the Employment Eligibility Verification, is a document that verifies your identity and authorization to work in the United States. You need your A-number to support your identity together with this document.
The A-number is extremely useful in the immigrant visa application process in the consular offices. It helps in checking your history and immigration status before you enter the country. The immigration officer would also be able to identify you and use your A-number as a reference.
It’s not that hard to find your alien registration number when you need it. These are the areas where you can see them:
When you get your physical green card, your A-number is printed on the front and back of the card. The number is listed under USCIS#. On your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), your A-number is listed under USCIS#, just like on the green card.
On your immigrant visa, the number is listed under Registration Number. In your Immigrant Data Summary, it goes first right after the letterhead. Lastly, you’ll find your A-number in the top right corner of the Immigrant Fee Handout.
You can look for the A-number in your online USCIS account. If you can’t find it, send an email to USCIS about your concern.
Including your A-number in your written inquiries with the USCIS and consulates would get you the right assistance you need. This unique combination of numbers is yours alone. They can find your documents easily. So make sure the A-numbers in your every application form are the same.
Sometimes, you might end up discovering that you got the wrong A-number. Other times, you need to update it as time goes by. Correcting it is another work on your part, but you have to do it to be easily identified. This is what you need to do:
Always keep yourself updated with the latest developments of your incorrect A-number case. Take any action required by the immigration that aligns with your concerns. If you’re updating your number, just head to the consular office and take the necessary steps.
Visa expirations and loss of immigration status are some of the common causes of losing your alien registration number. Oftentimes, unforeseen circumstances like fire and robbery, where your cards and documentation are severely affected, will make you lose your A-number.
Retrieving the lost A-number is a process of its own. If you lost yours, here’s what you need to do:
Reapply for visa extensions before the deadline to avoid losing your A-number. Should you decide to change your immigration status, inform the USCIS about it and complete the necessary paperwork. Lastly, write down your A-number on paper. Keep it in your wallet, cabinet, or any part of your house that you alone can access. Another person misusing your A-number is the last thing you want to happen.
Some people who are under circumstances vastly different from yours may or may not get an A-number when they plan to live in the U.S. Here are some of those people:
Refugees and those seeking asylum are people who have fled their countries due to several factors. A refugee is a person who is afraid of persecution because of their race, nationality, and political opinions. They leave their countries due to war and violence (racial, tribal, or ethnic).
On the other hand, asylum-seekers leave their countries because it’s too difficult to stay in them. This fleeing can be caused by war, extreme poverty, hunger, and violence based on religion and sexual orientation.
These kinds of people, along with those applying for citizenship, are granted an alien registration number when they reach the United States. That way, they can rebuild their lives from scratch and leave their painful past behind.
You’re considered a conditional resident when you live permanently in the U.S. as a spouse of an American citizen before your marriage hits the second anniversary. They can get an A-number since they’re considered an immigrant, and all immigrants are granted this number.
People who are staying in the U.S. for business and travel purposes don’t get an alien registration number. The A-number is only for those who want to reside in the country permanently. These people are staying for a shorter period of time than most of the population.
Ultimately, an alien registration number gives you three things: identification, easy tracing of documents, and a means of verifying your identity. Having this number with you makes it easier to go through the application processes of the immigration system. Just keep this number and your documentation safe in your hands all the time.
