What is a US Visa Number? Location, Purpose and How to Read It

Your visa number can be found in the lower right-hand corner of the visa foil or sticker attached to a passport page. In most cases, the number is the only set of characters printed in a characteristic shade of red on the visa, allowing them to be rapidly identified.

Next to the visa number, your birthdate will appear beneath your photo, along with the date the visa expires.

To find your unique visa number correctly:

1. Locate the page in your passport with the US visa sticker.
2. Examine the sticker’s lower right quadrant.
3. Determine which characters are printed in red ink.
4. Check that it adheres to the standard format, which consists of one letter and seven numerals.

It is important not to confuse the visa number with other key identifiers. Other numbers included on your visa will include:

• Passport number, located on the biographic data page of your passport, not on the visa foil
• Department of State Case ID, which is typically a black, numeric code found elsewhere on the visa
• Alien Registration Number (A-Number), which is generally not present on non-immigrant visas and is used for immigrant records

You should always double-check the number directly on the physical visa before giving the details to someone, such as immigration services or an employer.

If you are unclear what your immigration number is or if it has faded, then reach out to IAS US for more support.

Page Contents

• Location of the Visa Number on a US Visa
• Difference Between Alien Number and Visa Number
• Immigrant Visa Number Availability
• Obtaining a US Visa Number
• Tips for Finding Your A-Number and DOS Case ID for Immigrant Fee Payment
• Understanding the Purpose of the Visa Number
• Avoiding Scams Related to Visa Numbers
• Applying for a US Visa Number
• Importance of the Visa Number in Immigration Processes
• Ensuring Visa Number Accuracy for Immigration Purposes
• Exploring the Relationship Between Visa Numbers and Immigration Status
• How can IAS Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

The US Visa Number and the Alien Registration Number ( known as the A-Number) have different purposes.

The red, eight-digit number on the actual visa foil is the visa number, which is used to identify that particular travel document upon entry and in some applications.

In addition, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) assigns an individual a unique, lifetime identifier known as the Alien Number (formatted as A-123-456-789), usually at the start of the immigration process.

For issues related to the visa itself, such as records of border entry, you will need to provide your visa number.

All ongoing communications with USCIS after an immigrant visa is issued, such as applications for a Green Card, work authorization, or naturalization, require your Alien Number.

It is important to provide the correct number when requested; otherwise, it could delay processing key forms such as the I-485 or I-765.

The number of immigrant visas (Green Cards) that can be issued annually is limited by US law. You are added to a queue once your petition is approved, but you will have to apply for a visa slot for your particular category and country of birth to become available.

Backlogs are produced by this system, especially in high-demand family-sponsored and employment-based categories.

This procedure is governed by the monthly Visa Bulletin published by the Department of State. The deadlines listed in the Bulletin must be compared to your priority date, which is the date you filed your petition.

You are assigned a visa number when your priority date becomes current. You can check your status by consulting the most recent Visa Bulletin for your country and visa category.

The process of being assigned a visa number begins when you successfully file and obtain approval for the required underlying petition or application. For example, this could be an I-129 petition for a work visa or an I-130 petition for a family-based green card.

After a successful visa application, you will attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate, where a consular officer will assess your application. If the visa is approved, it is printed and placed in the applicant’s passport by the US Department of State as part of the standard visa issuance process. The visa number is generated at this stage and printed on the visa foil as the official identifier for that visa.

The visa process and when you will receive a visa number depend on many factors, such as the visa type, whether you are a new applicant, or the consulate’s processing times.

Nonimmigrant visa applicants usually get their physical passports with the visa inside shortly after their interview.

However, immigrant visa applicants can wait several years from the time their petitions are approved until they receive their visas due to annual quotas and long wait times (backlog) for prioritization, as announced in the Visa Bulletin.

You must make sure the visa number is valid by checking the visa for accuracy (spelling of name and all other biographical information) and by checking that the red printing on the visa (the number) corresponds to any other documentation given to you when you received the visa.

Before you can pay the mandatory USCIS Immigrant Fee to receive your physical Green Card, you must provide two pieces of information: your Alien Registration Number (A-Number) and your Department of State (DOS) Case ID.

Locating these identifiers is a crucial final step after immigrant visa approval.

Where to Locate Your A-Number and DOS Case ID

The National Visa Center (NVC) or US consulate has issued documentation showing your A-Number and DOS Case ID. You can find your identifiers on:

• Your immigrant visa – the A-Number is labelled with an “A” and enclosed in parentheses, generally found on the visa, and the DOS Case ID is nearby, as labelled “Case Number.”
• In the interview notification letter, the letter regarding your scheduled consular appointment will include both your identifiers
• On your USCIS immigrant fees handouts, the instruction sheet you received at your visa interview shows exactly where to find each of these numbers for fee payment

It is very important to use the appropriate identification numbers correctly when paying any fees. If you do not use the correct identification number, your payment will not be applied to your immigration record, and there will be many delays in making and sending your Permanent Resident Card, thereby not receiving evidence that you are a lawful resident, even after obtaining permission to enter the US.

The most common mistakes include mixing up numbers or letters that look alike (for example, using the number “0” instead of the uppercase “O”) or having incomplete paperwork due to your visa documentation being opened before you obtain these identification numbers.

If, after doing all of this, you cannot find the identification numbers, the National Visa Center can provide assistance in obtaining the identification numbers you need for the adjustment of status process following your entry into the United States.

The US Visa Number has two main purposes: it provides a permanent, unique reference code for a single visa issuance and serves as the connection between a physical document in an applicant’s passport and the digital file kept by the US government.

This visa number allows federal agencies, such as the Department of State (the agency issuing the visa) and the Customs and Border Protection Agency (the agency inspecting you at the point of entry) to quickly gain access to a complete record related to an applicant’s visa application, approval, and terms of admission.

Visa numbers are of great importance from a legal perspective, as they identify an individual’s immigration file. Many future administrative actions related to an individual’s entry into the US may reference the visa number as part of the applicant’s immigration record.

For instance, when checking an individual’s eligibility at a port of entry, producing the individual’s I-94 arrival/departure record, or verifying the individual’s legal status when wishing to extend his/her stay or change his/her visa classification within the US, the visa number will be referenced.

Your visa number must be provided in a few specific instances to verify your status. Those instances are completing an electronic I-94 form, applying for a visa renewal, submitting a change of status application to USCIS, or an employer using the E-Verify system to verify your work eligibility. In all of these cases, your visa number provides a way to verify each circumstance accurately and efficiently within the immigration system.

Knowing how your visa number will be used will help you protect it securely and know when to report it.

There are several common scams involving visa numbers and identifiers. Typical scams involve unauthorized communications that tell you your visa number is “invalid” or “under review,” threats to demand immediate payment or personal information in exchange for a certificate or license that will magically fix the problem.

Another common scam method is using fake websites, or services that promise to “verify,” “renew,” or “register” your visa number for a fee and look similar to legitimate government portals.

There are several red flags for these scams you should be aware of. Always be suspicious of any form of communication that causes immediate panic or urgency, requests payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, or asks you to send a visa, passport, or Social Security Number via email or phone. No legitimate government body will demand payment in gift cards.

If you are contacted by any suspicious service, you should cut off all communication immediately. Avoid clicking on hyperlinks or downloading files from strange e-mails that you receive. Document the information related to the interaction, including phone numbers and e-mail addresses, as well as URLs for any websites.

You should notify the appropriate authorities about the scam. Forward phishing e-mails to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via reportfraud.ftc.gov, and to the Department of Homeland Security via [email protected]. Also, file a report at your local Law Enforcement Agency and possibly report to the State Department’s Visa Fraud Prevention Program.

You should always seek out official government resources for legitimate concerns regarding your visa status, such as contacting an immigration professional for advice.

A US visa number cannot be requested or assigned independently. Instead, when a US visa application is approved, the visa number is generated and assigned to the applicant at the time of issuance.

The visa application process involves following the standard steps outlined in the specific visa classification. Therefore, the process begins with filing of either a petition (I-130, or I-140) or through direct submission of the online application (DS-160), and then processing begins once either of these applications is approved.

Eligibility for a visa number is determined by the approval of the underlying application and by all requirements that must be satisfied for each visa type.

An applicant must provide all documentation required for the visa classification being applied for; for example, to obtain a work visa, applicants must provide proof of qualifying criteria; to obtain a family-based visa, applicants must provide proof of a familial relationship.

Processing times vary significantly depending on the visa category, consular post workload, and whether you are subject to annual quotas. You can monitor general processing times on the Department of State and USCIS websites. For immigrant visas, your place in the queue is tracked by your priority date in the monthly Visa Bulletin.

The visa number will appear on the issued visa foil in your passport.

The visa number is an essential part of the immigration visa process. Its main function is to provide a mechanism for matching the files of all potential claimants, thereby enabling every US government department, among millions of files, to access the correct file.

With the visa number, all government departments involved in the issuance of a visa, entry into the United States with Customs and Border Protection, and maintaining a person’s status with USCIS have an indicator to follow and continuity across these agencies.

The Visa Number, as a legal identifier, also serves as the official record of your entry into the United States (immigration classification, expiration date, and the number of entries eligible).

And, because every application for changing status or extending your stay in the United States and requesting to renew a visa must use that visa number in order to gain access to (and verify) information about your immigration history, if the accuracy of the visa number causes any issues at all, ensued with respect to admissibility or compliance with the law.

When you apply for a new visa or application, the officer verifies this information to confirm your immigration history. Consistent adherence to past visa conditions can support new applications. However, any irregularities or violations associated with it may lead to rejection.

It is therefore important that each form include a visa number, which is another compliance task and not an administrative detail. Always verify the number on the actual physical visa foil before making any submission to avoid delays, requests for evidence, or issues with your record.

Your US visa number must be accurate; otherwise, it can lead to significant problems. It is the primary way to link you back to your immigration records. Examine the actual visa foil in your passport and compare it to the red number printed at the bottom right for exact letter-for-letter verification.

You should also examine any official documents issued by the consulate. If the number you provide is incorrect, the link between your immigration record and the document you supplied will be broken.

Any inability to confirm any prior history will result in processing delays, a request for more evidence, or denial of your application. In certain situations, the government may also have grounds to suspect that a false application has been filed.

There is no public database that verifies your visa number; it is best to carefully review the documents issued to you for verification purposes. Before your documents are sent to an immigration agency for approval, an experienced immigration attorney or representative can help ensure that everything is correctly completed and contains the correct information.

Taking this step is very important so that your immigration record remains accurate and you do not have problems later.

A US visa number pertains to a specific instance of status conferral, not to an individual’s overall immigration status. The vignette provides a key record of the visa issued and details the terms on which you were first allowed to seek entry.

However, your current lawful status in the United States is separate, as it is governed by the validity dates of your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record and any subsequent approvals.

When you change your immigration status, such as through an extension, a change of status, or an adjustment to permanent residence, no visa number is assigned to that action. The original visa number still remains on the earlier visa foil as a historical one. To obtain a new authorization under a different case number in government systems, the legal requirement is to properly file the relevant application.

For example, if a person enters the US on an F-1 Student visa and USCIS approves a petition changing the person’s status to H-1B, their lawful permission to remain is updated as of the approval, but the F-1 visa number printed on the expired visa foil remains the same.

A new H-1B visa number would only be issued if the person leaves the country, then applies for and receives a new H-1B visa stamp at a US consulate abroad.

After your status is adjusted to lawful permanent resident, the immigrant visa number or adjustment case file number assigned to you will serve as the primary identifier for future immigration filings, requests, and inquiries. Any prior non-immigrant visa numbers will remain in the file as part of the historical record and may be used for reference.

For advice on changing your immigration status, please contact IAS by phone at +1 844 312 4979.