Does an H-4 Visa Holder Have an Alien Registration Number?

An H-4 visa holder has an Alien Registration Number only if they have already filed for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or for adjustment of status. Entering the United States on an H-4 visa by itself does not trigger one. If you do have an A-Number, the easiest place to find it is on the front of your EAD, printed as a nine-digit figure labeled “USCIS#.”¹

Where to Look If You Already Have One

The A-Number is the letter “A” followed by eight or nine digits, for example A012345678.² Once the Department of Homeland Security assigns it, the number stays with you permanently and follows every future immigration filing.³

Depending on what you have been issued, check the following:

Your EAD. The nine-digit number labeled “USCIS#” on the front of the card is your A-Number, and it also appears on the back.¹
An immigrant visa foil in your passport, where the A-Number appears as the “Registration Number.” If the number has fewer than nine digits, add a zero between the “A” and the first digit to make it nine.²
Form I-797, Notice of Action. When USCIS accepts a filing like Form I-485 or Form I-765, the receipt notice often carries your A-Number. If you filed at a USCIS lockbox facility, the A-Number may not appear on the first I-797; USCIS sends it in a separate notice a few days later.⁴
Your CBP I-94 record. Once you have an A-Number, you can enter it as the “Document Number” on the I-94 website to pull up your arrival and departure record.⁵

If you have a USCIS online account tied to a pending or approved case, the A-Number usually shows in the case details there too. That is often the quickest way to retrieve it without digging through paper.

When You Won’t Have One at All

Plenty of H-4 holders have no A-Number, and nothing is wrong with that. DHS assigns the number only when you go through a specific immigration process. For H-4 dependents, the two events that generally result in an A-Number being assigned are:

Filing Form I-765 for an EAD. When you apply for work authorization, USCIS assigns an A-Number to track your application.⁴
Filing Form I-485 to adjust status. Applying for a green card also results in an A-Number assignment.

If you haven’t done either, your working identifiers are your passport number and the I-94 admission number you received at entry. You do not request an A-Number on its own; it comes as part of filing for a benefit that requires one.

What to Enter on Forms When You Don’t Have One

This is where H-4 holders most often get stuck. A USCIS form asks for an “Alien Registration Number (A-Number),” and you have never been assigned one. Write “N/A” in the field. The Form I-485 instructions specifically direct applicants to type or print “N/A” when a question does not apply, and the same convention applies across other USCIS forms.⁶ Do not invent a number, leave the field blank without explanation, or fill it with zeros.

Once USCIS does assign you an A-Number, use that same number on every filing afterward. USCIS uses the A-Number to tie your records together, so a mismatch across forms can take months to sort out.

A-Number, USCIS Number, and Social Security Number

The “USCIS Number” printed on modern Permanent Resident Cards and on EADs issued after May 2010 is a nine-digit identifier assigned by DHS.⁷ USCIS treats it as a cross-reference to the A-Number in its glossary, and on your card the two are functionally the same nine digits.³ If you see “USCIS#” on the front of your EAD, that is your A-Number.

Your Social Security Number is a separate system. The SSN handles employment, taxes, and financial accounts; the A-Number handles immigration tracking. One does not substitute for the other on USCIS paperwork, and having one does not give you the other.

Fixing an Error on Your EAD

If you find that the A-Number or other information on your EAD is wrong, how you fix it depends on who caused the mistake.

When USCIS caused the error, the correction is free. You do not file a new Form I-765 or pay a fee. Submit a service request through the USCIS website, select the “EAD Replacement due to USCIS Error” option, and return the incorrect card by U.S. mail to the USCIS Lee’s Summit Production Facility.¹

When the error came from information you provided, you have to file a new Form I-765 with the applicable filing fee, the incorrect card, and any supporting documents. A fee waiver is available if you cannot afford the fee.¹ USCIS also publishes a general guide covering how to correct, update, or replace immigration documents.⁸

Keeping the Number Safe

Your A-Number is tied to your entire immigration history, so someone using it fraudulently can damage your record. Treat it the way you treat your SSN. Don’t send it over unsecured email or messaging, don’t post images of documents that show it, and store paper copies somewhere secure. If you think your A-Number has been misused, you can report it to Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.⁹

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Employment Authorization Document
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Tips on Finding Your A-Number and DOS Case ID
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. A-Number/Alien Registration Number/Alien Number (A-Number or A#)
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
5
Homeland Security. I-94/I-95 Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-485, Instructions for Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Number
8
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Immigration Documents and How to Correct, Update, or Replace Them
9
ICE. Identity and Benefit Fraud