What is an A-Number?

An Alien Registration Number (A-Number) is a unique 7-9 digit number assigned by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to non-citizens. This number stays with you for life and is used to manage and track your immigration records and status. It appears on all your immigration forms and petitions, linking all your documents together.

Your Attractive Heading

If your A-Number has less than nine digits, add zeros after the “A” and before the first digit. For example, “12345678” becomes “A012345678.”

Who gets an A-Number?

  • Green Card Applicants: Anyone applying for a green card for any reason (family, employment, etc.).
  • Asylum Seekers and Refugees: Those seeking asylum or admitted as refugees.
  • Individuals in Removal Proceedings: Those placed in removal proceedings.
  • Others: When applying for some immigration benefits, USCIS will assign an A Number. This includes the following:
    • Applicant for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
    • Applicant for VAWA: Violence Against Women’s Act (I-360)
  • Applicant for U Visa: Victims of Crime (I-918)

Note: Nonimmigrant Visitors: U.S.-born citizens and many nonimmigrant visitors (B1/B2 visa holders) do not get A-Numbers. They are considered short-term visitors, not permanent immigrants.

When do I get an A-Number?

Green Card Applicants in the U.S.

If you’re filing a green card from within the U.S., your A-Number will be on the receipt notice from USCIS after you file your green card application (Form I-485).

  • Spouses of U.S. Citizens: Receive an A-Number about 30 days after starting the process.
  • Spouses of Green Card Holders: Receive an A-Number after the I-130 petition approval and when an immigrant visa is available, roughly a year into the process.

Green Card Applicants Outside the U.S.

Receive an A-Number during your consular interview. It will be on your immigrant visa stamp and immigrant data summary.

When Placed in Removal Proceedings An A-Number is assigned by USCIS, ICE, or CBP if one wasn’t already provided.

The post Alien Registration Number Explained appeared first on Herman Legal Group.