Your F1 visa number is the red number printed near the bottom right corner of the visa foil (the large sticker placed in your passport by the U.S. embassy or consulate). It is usually eight digits long, and on older visas it may be preceded by a single letter.
Where to Look on the Visa Foil
Open your passport to the page with the colorful visa sticker. The number you want is printed in red ink, which sets it apart from the black text everywhere else on the foil. On visas issued in recent years the placement near the lower right corner is consistent. Stamps issued years ago occasionally put the number elsewhere on the foil, but the red ink still gives it away.
Numbers That Are Not Your Visa Number
Your visa stamp, passport, and school paperwork each carry their own identifying numbers, and mixing them up causes errors on forms.
- Passport number. Printed on your passport’s biographical page. It identifies the booklet, not your visa.
- Control number. Also printed on the visa foil, but in black text. It’s an internal production code and trips people up constantly. Not your visa number.
- SEVIS ID. An alphanumeric code starting with “N” (for example, N0012345678) found in the upper left corner of your Form I-20. Your visa foil may include your SEVIS ID in the annotation section, but the I-20 itself does not display the visa number.1Study in the States. SEVP Form Series: Understanding the Form I-20
- DS-160 confirmation number. The code (usually starting with “AA”) you received after submitting your online visa application. It tracks the application, not the visa.2U.S. Department of State. DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions
- I-94 number. Your arrival/departure record number, assigned by Customs and Border Protection when you enter the United States. Separate from every number on the visa stamp.
When You’ll Actually Need It
Most daily tasks during your studies don’t call for the visa foil number, so students sometimes go months without thinking about it. You may be asked for it when filling out certain USCIS benefit applications, re-entering the country after travel, or completing check-in at your school’s international student office. Some offices request a scan of the visa page so they can verify the number alongside your SEVIS ID.
The number also shows up on background check paperwork and some employment-related forms. If you apply for Optional Practical Training or Curricular Practical Training, having it on hand avoids delays. Keep a clear photo or photocopy of the visa stamp stored somewhere secure so you can reference it when your passport isn’t in front of you.
If You Can’t Find or Read the Number
If the red number is smudged, faded, or you simply can’t locate it, start with your school’s Designated School Official. Every school certified to enroll international students is required to have DSOs on staff, and helping students work through paperwork questions like this is part of the role.3Study in the States. Students: What Is a DSO? Your DSO can review your documents and often has a copy of your visa stamp from your initial check-in on file.
If your DSO can’t help, contact the U.S. embassy or consulate that issued the visa. They keep records of every visa they produce and can verify the number. Beyond that, the U.S. Department of State accepts Freedom of Information Act requests for personal visa records. Processing takes time, so treat this as a last resort.
If the Printed Number Is Wrong
Misprints happen. A wrong birth date, a misspelled name, or an incorrect visa number on your stamp can create serious problems at the border or on later applications. For nonimmigrant visas like the F1, corrections are only available for visas issued within the past year, so act quickly. Contact the embassy or consulate that issued the visa; they’ll review the request and give instructions, which usually involve sending in your passport so the foil can be reprinted.
Check every detail on the stamp right after your visa interview, while you’re still in the country where it was issued. Catching a typo before you fly is far simpler than sorting it out from the United States with the issuing consulate an ocean away.