The numbers on your immigration documents
A green card, a USCIS notice and a visa each carry several numbers, and a form usually wants exactly one of them. Here is what each number identifies, what it looks like, and where it is printed, from USCIS, CBP and State Department sources.
Checked against USCIS, CBP and State Department guidance on October 9, 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this page.
Which number is which
| Number | What it identifies | What it looks like | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipt number | One application or petition | 13 characters: 3 letters, then 10 numbers | Your USCIS notices (Form I-797) |
| A-number / USCIS number | You, across every filing | "A" + up to 9 digits; the USCIS number is the same digits without the "A" | Front of green cards issued after May 10, 2010; USCIS notices |
| Green card number | That physical card | 13 characters, per USCIS’s SAVE guide | Back of the green card |
| Visa number | That visa in your passport | The red number, 8 characters (earlier USCIS editions: 7 or 8) | Bottom right of the U.S. visa |
| DOS Case ID | Your consular case at the State Department | 3 letters then 9 or 10 numbers (Diversity Visa: a different pattern) | Labelled "IV Case Number" on an immigrant visa |
| USCIS Online Account Number | Your USCIS online account | Only if you filed a form with an IOE receipt number | Account profile, or the Account Access Notice |
The guides
- USCIS receipt number: what the 13 characters mean, where to find it, and what to do if you lost it.
- Form I-797 notices: the seven types, and why a receipt notice is not an approval.
- Green card number: the card number vs. the USCIS number on the same card.
- U.S. visa number: the red number, and the other numbers printed on a visa.
- A-number: what it is, where to find it, and what to do if you do not have one.
- I-94 number: the admission record number from CBP.
The one rule that prevents most mix-ups
A number that starts with three letters and has 13 characters is a receipt number or a card number. It identifies a filing or a card, never you. If a form asks for your A-number or USCIS number, it wants the number that identifies you, which stays the same across every application.
Frequently asked questions
Is my receipt number the same as my A-number?
No. A receipt number identifies one application or petition and starts with three letters. Your A-number identifies you and stays the same across filings.
Is the USCIS number the same as the A-number?
Yes. USCIS’s SAVE guide says the USCIS Number is the same as the A-Number without the "A" prefix. It is printed on the front of green cards issued after May 10, 2010.
Which number do I use to check my case status?
Your receipt number: the 13-character number on your USCIS notices, three letters followed by 10 numbers.
Read more
Sources
- USCIS — Checking Your Case Status Online
- USCIS — Glossary: Receipt Number
- USCIS Office of Legislative Affairs — Congressional Inquiries Refresher (April 2021)
- USCIS — Contact Us
- USCIS — How to Track Delivery of Your Notice or Secure Identity Document
- USCIS — Tips for Filing Forms Online
- USCIS — Form I-797: Types and Functions
- USCIS — Changes to the look and feel of Form I-797C (2012, archived)
- USCIS — SAVE Tutorial (July 17, 2025)
- USCIS — SAVE Tutorial, April 2025 updates
- USCIS — Handbook for Employers (M-274), List A documents
- USCIS — Glossary: USCIS Number
- CBP — I-94 website help
- USCIS — Form I-485
- USCIS — Form I-485 instructions (USCIS Online Account Number)
- Department of State — 9 FAM 403.9 (visa issuance)
- USCIS — Tips on Finding Your A-Number and DOS Case ID
MyCheck is not affiliated with USCIS, CBP or the Department of State. Every rule on this page is linked to its official source; check the source for your own situation. This page is general information, not legal advice.
