The Permanent Resident Card number most people are looking for is the nine-digit Alien Registration Number, or A-Number, printed on the front of every U.S. Green Card. On cards issued after May 2010 it appears under the label “USCIS#”; on older cards it’s labeled “A#” or “Alien Registration Number.” It’s assigned by the Department of Homeland Security, it stays with you for life, and it’s the number nearly every immigration form, employer, and bank means when they ask for your “green card number.”1USCIS. USCIS Number
What the A-Number Is
The A-Number is your personal identifier inside the U.S. immigration system. DHS assigns it when your case is first created, and it follows you through every later stage, up to and including naturalization.1USCIS. USCIS Number
You’ll see it called by a few different names. “A-Number,” “A#,” “Alien Registration Number,” and “USCIS#” all point to the same digits. The USCIS Number is simply the A-Number with the “A” prefix dropped.2USCIS. Completing Section 1: Employee Information and Attestation
Current A-Numbers are nine digits. Older ones may be only seven or eight. If yours is short, modern forms sometimes want it padded with a leading zero so it fills all nine slots. A12345678 becomes A012345678.3USCIS. Immigrant Fee Payment: Tips on Finding Your A-Number and DOS Case ID
Where to Find Your A-Number
Start with the card itself. The A-Number is printed on the front, near the top. Post-May 2010 cards label the field “USCIS#.” Older cards label it “A#” or “Alien Number.” Either way, it’s on the front.1USCIS. USCIS Number
If you don’t have the card in hand, the same number appears in several other places:
- The immigrant visa stamp in your passport, listed as the “Registration Number.”3USCIS. Immigrant Fee Payment: Tips on Finding Your A-Number and DOS Case ID
- USCIS approval notices and any other correspondence from your case.
- Your USCIS online account, if you’ve set one up.
The Other Number on Your Card
Your Green Card carries two separate numbers, which is where most confusion starts. The A-Number on the front identifies you. A second 13-character code on the back identifies the physical card.
That 13-character code is three letters followed by ten digits. The letters show which USCIS service center processed the case; the digits encode the fiscal year, processing day, and a case identifier.4USCIS. Receipt Number
The difference matters in practice. Your A-Number never changes, even if you replace the card several times over the years. The 13-character card number changes with every new physical card. When a form asks for your “Permanent Resident Card Number” or “A-Number,” it wants the nine digits from the front. When it asks for a “card number” or “receipt number,” it wants the code from the back. If a form or employer just says “green card number” without specifying, they almost always mean the A-Number.
What You Use the A-Number For
Immigration Forms
Every USCIS form asks for it. Form N-400 for naturalization and Form I-90 to replace or renew your card are the two most common. USCIS uses the number to pull up your full immigration history, so a transposed digit can push your case back by months.
Employment Verification
New employers must complete Form I-9 to confirm you’re authorized to work. If you check the lawful permanent resident box in Section 1, the form requires your A-Number or USCIS Number.2USCIS. Completing Section 1: Employee Information and Attestation If the employer uses E-Verify, that number is checked electronically against DHS records, sometimes with a photo-matching step against the image on file.5E-Verify. E-Verify User Manual
Banks and Social Security
Under federal anti-money-laundering rules, banks must verify customer identity before opening accounts. For non-citizens, an alien identification card number is one of the acceptable identifiers, along with a taxpayer ID or passport number.6FDIC. Customer Identification Program – FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual Most banks will ask to see your card and record the A-Number.
If you’re applying for a Social Security number after arrival, the Social Security Administration will verify your status with USCIS using the information on your card, including the A-Number. Verification delays can add up to two weeks to when you receive the Social Security card.7Social Security Administration. Apply For Your Social Security Card While Applying For Your Work Permit and/or Lawful Permanent Residency
Protecting the Number
Your A-Number is tied to your entire immigration record, and it deserves the same care as a Social Security number. Don’t send it by email or text unless you’re sure of the recipient. Legitimate requests come from government agencies, employers completing an I-9, and financial institutions verifying identity. Immigration scams frequently collect A-Numbers to file fraudulent applications in someone else’s name.
If your card is lost or stolen, file Form I-90 promptly. Filing does more than get you a new card; it creates a record of the loss that can help if someone tries to misuse your information. The replacement fee is $465 on paper or $415 online, and you can file through your USCIS online account.8USCIS. G-1055 Fee Schedule The new card will show the same A-Number you’ve always had. Only the 13-character card number on the back will change.