You cannot find your Alien Registration Number online through any public search tool. USCIS does not offer a name-based lookup, and it won’t, because the A-Number is tied to your full immigration history, biometrics, and legal status. To recover it, check the physical immigration documents you already have, sign in to a USCIS online account if a case is already linked to it, or request your records from USCIS directly.
Check Your Documents First
Before doing anything else, look through the immigration paperwork you already have. The A-Number appears on more of it than most people expect. It’s the letter “A” followed by seven, eight, or nine digits, sometimes padded with a leading zero on newer cards.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. A-Number/Alien Registration Number/Alien Number On documents it’s often labeled “USCIS#” or “A#.”
- Green Card (Form I-551): on the front, under “USCIS#,” and encoded in the machine-readable text on the back.2Idaho Department of Labor. Finding Resident Card Numbers
- Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766): on the front of the card, under “USCIS#.”2Idaho Department of Labor. Finding Resident Card Numbers
- Immigrant visa stamp in your passport: upper right of the visa page, labeled “Registration Number.”
- USCIS Immigrant Fee handout from your consular interview: top right corner.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Immigrant Fee Payment – Tips on Finding Your A-Number and DOS Case ID
- Form I-797, Notice of Action: near the top of any receipt, approval, or other notice from USCIS.
- Notice to Appear (Form I-862), if you were ever placed in removal proceedings.4U.S. Customs and Border Protection. I-94/I-95 Frequently Asked Questions
Two documents that look like they should show your A-Number but don’t: the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record uses a separate admission number,5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record Information for Completing USCIS Forms and the 13-character case receipt number that starts with letters like EAC or IOE identifies an application, not you.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Checking Your Case Status Online
What a USCIS Online Account Can and Can’t Do
A my.uscis.gov account is not a lookup tool. You can link a pending or past case to your account using an A-Number or a receipt number, and once a case is linked, the A-Number may appear in the case details. That helps only if you already know the number, or if you have a receipt number to connect. There is no field where you type your name and date of birth and get an A-Number back.
The USCIS case status tool works the same way. It needs a 13-character receipt number to return anything, and it does not accept name or personal-information searches.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Checking Your Case Status Online
Request Your Records Through FOIA
When you don’t have the documents and can’t get the number from an existing case, a Freedom of Information Act request to USCIS is the most reliable route. Your immigration records, collectively called your A-File, are tied to the A-Number, and requesting them gets you both the number and copies of what’s in your file.
As of January 22, 2026, USCIS requires FOIA requests to be submitted online through the FIRST portal at first.uscis.gov. Online submission is the only standard method, and the old paper Form G-639 is no longer used.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Request Records Through the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act You’ll need a USCIS online account to file.
A few things to know before you submit:
- Narrow requests are faster. Asking for a specific document, like a green card approval, processes quicker than requesting the entire A-File.
- One person per request. Even for a spouse or family member, USCIS requires a separate submission for each individual.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Request Records Through the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act
- Delivery is digital. USCIS emails you when the request is ready, and you download the records from your online account.
The tradeoff is time. FOIA requests routinely take months, and full-file requests take longer than targeted ones. If you have a filing deadline coming up, FOIA alone probably won’t get you there.
Faster Options When You Can’t Wait
Call the USCIS Contact Center
The USCIS Contact Center is at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Contact Center The automated system will push you through self-service prompts before connecting a live agent. A representative may be able to help verify your A-Number if you can identify yourself with enough detail, so have your full name, date of birth, and any receipt numbers ready. It may take more than one call.
Ask for an In-Person Appointment
USCIS field offices offer appointments for certain services, including ADIT stamp requests. An ADIT stamp goes in your passport as temporary proof of your immigration status and includes your A-Number. You can request an appointment through your USCIS online account or by calling the Contact Center.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Contact Center This route is especially useful if you’ve lost your green card and need proof of status while a replacement is pending.
Contact a Prior Immigration Attorney
If an attorney handled any past immigration matter for you, your A-Number is almost certainly in their case file. A new attorney can also help you file a FOIA request or contact USCIS on your behalf. Consultation fees vary, and many immigration lawyers offer free or low-cost initial consultations.
Save the Number Before You Need It Again
Once you recover the A-Number, write it down and store it somewhere separate from your immigration documents. A photo or scan of your green card or EAD kept in a secure digital location works well. If a wallet is stolen or paperwork is lost in a fire or move, having the number recorded elsewhere spares you months of waiting on FOIA. Treat it the way you’d treat a Social Security Number: don’t share it casually, but make sure you can find it when it matters.