The “ICE number” for immigrants is almost always the Alien Registration Number, known as the A-Number: a unique seven-, eight-, or nine-digit identifier the Department of Homeland Security assigns to every noncitizen processed through the immigration system. It stays with you permanently and links your court records, detention history, work permits, and applications into one file. If you were instead looking for a phone number to reach ICE, the Detention Reporting and Information Line is 1-888-351-4024, and the immigration court’s automated case-status line is 1-800-898-7180.
What the A-Number Is
DHS assigns the A-Number the first time you’re formally encountered by immigration authorities. From that point on, every agency involved in your case uses it to pull up your record. It functions much like a Social Security number does for other purposes: one identifier, one file, followed across a lifetime of interactions.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Glossary
Older A-Numbers may have only seven or eight digits. When a system asks for nine, pad the front with zeros. A number written as 1234567 becomes 001234567.2U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Online Detainee Locator System
You may also come across a Fingerprint Identification Number, or FIN. That’s a separate identifier tied to your biometric data and used internally by DHS. It’s not something you provide yourself. For court hearings, applications, and check-ins, the A-Number is the number that matters.3Department of Homeland Security. Privacy Impact Assessment Update for the Enforcement Integrated Database
Where to Find Your A-Number
Your A-Number is printed on nearly every official immigration document you’ve received. The label and position change from document to document.
- Notice to Appear (Form I-862). This is the charging document that starts removal proceedings. The A-Number sits in the upper-right area, near your name and address.4Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Notice to Appear
- Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766). On the front of the card, the number is labeled “USCIS#.” Card layouts have changed over the years, but the number is always on the front.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. List A Documents That Establish Identity and Employment Authorization
- Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). On cards issued after May 10, 2010, the USCIS number on the front is your A-Number.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Number
- I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. The I-94 carries its own admission number, which is not the A-Number. If you already have an A-Number, you can use it to retrieve your I-94 record online through CBP.7U.S. Customs and Border Protection. I-94/I-95 Website
When you have more than one document, check the number matches across all of them. Typos happen, and catching a mismatch before you file is much easier than correcting one afterward.
How Your A-Number Is Used
Immigration Court Case Status
The Executive Office for Immigration Review runs an Automated Case Information System for hearing dates and basic case status. Reach it online or by calling 1-800-898-7180, and enter your A-Number to pull up your case. The system displays information for the most recent case associated with the number, though not every case or every detail is available.8Executive Office for Immigration Review. EOIR Case Information
ICE Check-Ins
If you’ve been released with reporting conditions, officers use your A-Number to pull your file at every check-in. Missing an appointment is one of the fastest ways to trigger a warrant or re-detention. Keep the number accessible and arrive on time.9U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Alternatives to Detention
Applications and Petitions
Every filing you submit to USCIS or the immigration court needs your A-Number so the new paperwork attaches to your existing record. Leaving it blank or entering it wrong can delay processing or create a duplicate file that splits your history across two records. If an attorney is filing on your behalf, confirm the number before anything goes in.
Using the A-Number to Locate Someone in Detention
If a family member or friend has been taken into ICE custody, the fastest tool is the Online Detainee Locator System at locator.ice.gov. You can search two ways:2U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Online Detainee Locator System
- By A-Number: enter the nine-digit number (padded with leading zeros if needed) and select the person’s country of birth.
- By name: enter first name, last name, and country of birth. Names must match exactly, including hyphens.
The locator covers people currently in ICE custody and those held by Customs and Border Protection for more than 48 hours. It does not show records for anyone under 18. If the online tool returns nothing, call the Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024.
Using the A-Number to Post a Bond
Once you know where someone is detained, you’ll need their A-Number to post bond. Immigration judges set bond at a minimum of $1,500, with no ceiling, and amounts well above the minimum are common.10U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. How to Get a Bond
Two types of immigration bonds exist. A delivery bond allows release while the case proceeds, on the condition the person appears at all future hearings. A voluntary departure bond applies when the person agrees to leave the country by a set date at their own expense; meeting the deadline gets the bond refunded.
ICE runs an electronic system called CeBONDS for cash bond payments by wire transfer or ACH. Paying cash directly through CeBONDS preserves the possibility of a full refund at the end of the case. Private bond agents typically charge a nonrefundable fee of 10 to 20 percent of the bond amount, which is gone regardless of how the case ends.11U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Post a Bond
How to Recover a Lost A-Number
Losing your documents doesn’t erase your A-Number. The government still has your file, and there are a few ways to get the number back.
File a FOIA Request Online
As of January 22, 2026, USCIS requires all Freedom of Information Act requests to be submitted online through first.uscis.gov. Create a USCIS account, then submit the request through the portal. You can ask for a copy of your complete immigration file (your A-File), which will show your A-Number on every page.12U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Request Records through the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act
Expect a wait. FOIA processing times vary widely, and DHS has acknowledged that staffing constraints are causing delays. If you need the number quickly, FOIA alone may not be fast enough.
Visit a Local ICE Field Office
Going in person with a valid photo ID is often faster. Officers can look up your record using your name, date of birth, and biometric data. Bring any immigration paperwork you still have, even expired documents, since they help staff locate the right file.
Call the EOIR Hotline
If you’ve had a case in immigration court, the EOIR automated line at 1-800-898-7180 may help confirm your A-Number when you can supply enough identifying information. An immigration attorney with access to court filing systems can sometimes retrieve it even faster.13U.S. Department of Justice. Immigration Court Information