U.S. visa number
Your visa number is printed in red on the bottom right of the U.S. visa in your passport. USCIS calls it the visa foil number. It identifies that visa, and forms such as Form I-485 ask for it.
Checked against USCIS, CBP and State Department guidance on October 9, 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this page.
Where the visa number is
USCIS’s SAVE guide (July 2025): “Also known as the visa foil number, the eight character visa number is the red number printed on the bottom right of a visa issued by the U.S. Department of State.”
Earlier editions of the same guide (2024 and April 2025) said the number “may contain seven or eight alpha-numeric characters”, so some visas carry a 7-character number.
CBP’s I-94 website points to the same number. When it asks for a “U.S. Visa Number”, it says to enter “the red number” as shown on its sample visa.
Where you are asked for it
- Form I-485 (green card application) asks for the “Nonimmigrant Visa Number Used During Most Recent Arrival (if any)” and the date that visa was issued.
- CBP’s provisional I-94 application asks for the U.S. visa number and its date of issuance.
To look up your own I-94 record, CBP asks for your passport number, not your visa number.
Other numbers on a visa
- Control number. The State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual says the issuing post and the control number are printed automatically on the visa. It is a different number from the red visa number. We have not found an official description of its format, so do not use it where a form asks for the visa number.
- On an immigrant visa: Registration Number. USCIS says your A-number is identified as the Registration Number on your visa stamp. See A-number.
- On an immigrant visa: IV Case Number. USCIS says your DOS Case ID is identified as the IV Case Number on your visa stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the visa number on a U.S. visa?
It is the red number printed on the bottom right of the visa, also called the visa foil number.
How many characters is a U.S. visa number?
USCIS’s SAVE guide (July 2025) describes an eight-character number. Earlier editions said seven or eight alphanumeric characters.
Is the visa number the same as the control number?
No. The control number is a separate number the State Department prints on the visa. Where a form asks for the visa number, use the red number.
Is my visa number my A-number?
No. On an immigrant visa, USCIS says your A-number appears as the Registration Number, a different field from the red visa number.
More Immigration numbers guides
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.
