What is a permanent resident card number?
Each immigrant who is getting a permanent resident Green Card will be assigned a unique permanent resident card number prior to getting their physical card. The permanent resident card number may also be referred to as a Green Card number, Case number, and receipt number.
What is a green card for permanent resident?
Green Card. Having a Green Card (officially known as a Permanent Resident Card (PDF, 6.77 MB) allows you to live and work permanently in the United States.
What is the legal status of a permanent resident?
Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) Lawful permanent residents (LPRs), also known as “green card” holders, are non-citizens who are lawfully authorized to live permanently within the United States.
How to get an immigrant visa number to become a permanent resident?
How to Get an Immigrant Visa Number to Become a Permanent Resident 1 The Process of Getting Your Visa Number. In most cases, your employer or relative (known as the petitioner) must submit an immigration petition to USCIS. 2 Eligibility. Immigrant visa numbers are assigned based on a preference system. ... 3 Tips. ... 4 Source
What is permanent resident visa type?
Green cards are technically a type of visa that allows for permanent residence. Green cards are issued after arrival in the United States. To qualify for a green card, the applicant must have an immigrant visa already, and applications are made to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
What is a-number permanent resident?
July 25, 2021. Your permanent resident card number, also known as the receipt number, is a 13-digit number that is printed on a permanent resident card. It's also called a case number because it refers to your specific immigration case.
Do permanent residents have a-number?
A permanent resident card number is a 13 digit number that is listed on every Green Card. This number is often made up of 3 letters followed by 10 numbers. Throughout the process of getting a Green Card, the U.S. Citizenship and Imigration Services (USCIS) tracks your case with this number to identify you.
Is permanent resident card number same as a-number?
The green card number is sometimes called a “case number,” “permanent resident card number,” or an “I-551 receipt number.” Form I-551 is the form number for a green card. Your green card number is not the same thing as your alien registration number (A-number), which is also printed on your green card.
What is your A-number b2 visa?
You can find your A-Number and Department of State (DOS) Case ID on your immigrant data summary, USCIS Immigrant Fee handout, or immigrant visa stamp. Your A-Number is the letter “A” followed by 8 or 9 numbers (such as A012345678). Your DOS Case ID is 3 letters followed by 9 or 10 numbers (for example, XYZ0123456789).
Where is the alien number on a permanent resident card?
If searching for your permanent resident card alien number on your green card, your A-Number will be located on the front side and backside of the card. It may seem confusing, but your alien registration number on your green card is actually named under USCIS# on the physical card itself.
How do you read a permanent resident card?
Reading a Permanent Resident CardFirst line: Spaces 1–2 shows C1 or C2. ... Second line: Spaces 1-6 show the cardholder's birth date formatted as YY/MM/DD. ... The third line lists the cardholder's last name, first name, middle name, first initial of the father, first initial of the mother.
What number is 551?
Your green card number, also known as the receipt number, is a 13-digit number that is printed on a permanent resident card. It's also called a case number because it refers to your specific immigration case. In some situations, people may even call it a I-551 receipt number.
What is the alien number on a visa?
An Alien Registration Number ("A-Number", "Alien Number" or "USCIS Number") is a seven-to-nine-digit number that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services gives to most immigrants who apply to live in the United States. USCIS is a division of the department of homeland security.
Is alien number same as USCIS number?
“A” number is short for Alien Registration Number. It is a unique seven-, eight-, or nine-digit number assigned to a noncitizen. The nine-digit USCIS number listed on permanent resident green cards issued after May 10, 2010, is the same as the A-number.
How do you read a permanent resident card?
Reading a Permanent Resident CardFirst line: Spaces 1–2 shows C1 or C2. ... Second line: Spaces 1-6 show the cardholder's birth date formatted as YY/MM/DD. ... The third line lists the cardholder's last name, first name, middle name, first initial of the father, first initial of the mother.
Where is the I 551 number located?
Current Form I-551, front and back Currently, the USCIS Number is also the cardholder's alien registration number (A-Number). This number is also located on the back of the card. These cards may or may not contain a signature.
How Do I Find My Alien Number on My Green Card?
Permanent Resident Cards issued after May 2010 will list the alien card number as the USCIS# on the front of the card. It can be seven, eight or ni...
What Does The Alien Number Look like?
An Alien Registration Number begins with a capital A. However, on a Permanent Resident Card, or Green Card, the A-Number will be listed as a USCIS#...
Where Else Can I Find My Alien number?
USCIS usually includes applicant A-Numbers on all correspondence associated with approval of your status as a permanent resident. This includes Not...
Can My Alien Number Be Different on Different Documents?
A person’s A-Number does not change. Alien registration numbers are unique and are assigned permanently to one applicant. What may appear to change...
Where to find the Permanent Resident Card number?
On the back of every Green Card, there is a long string of numbers at the bottom. The permanent resident card number can be found at the end of the first line. It starts with 3 letters and is followed by “<<” at the end, which simply indicates a space holder.
How many digits are in a permanent resident card?
A permanent resident card number is a 13 digit number that is listed on every Green Card. This number is often made up of 3 letters followed by 10 numbers.
What does the 2 digits on a permanent residence card number mean?
The following 2 digits represent the year that the case was received. Government agencies use a fiscal year that goes from October 1st to September 30th. This means that cases that are received between the months of October and December will not state the actual calendar year the case was received. For example, in the permanent residence card number example bolded above, this case was filed between October 2016 and September 2017.
What does the next 3 numbers represent?
The next 3 numbers represent the work day that the case was opened. For example, in the permanent residence card number example bolded above, this case was opened on the 12th work day of the 2017 fiscal year.
What is the priority date for a visa?
Researching Wait Times: Approved visa petitions are placed in chronological order according to the date each visa petition was filed. The date the visa petition was filed is known as your priority date. The State Department publishes a bulletin that shows the month and year of the visa petitions they are working on, by country and preference category. If you compare your priority date with the date listed in the bulletin, you will have an idea of how long it will take to get an immigrant visa number.
How many notices does a beneficiary receive from the National Visa Center?
The beneficiary (the person seeking the immigration visa) will receive two notices from the National Visa Center: one when the visa petition is received, and again when an immigrant visa number is available.
What is a permanent resident?
A permanent resident or " green card holder" is an immigrant who has been granted the privilege of living and working permanently in the United States. In order to become a permanent resident, you must first obtain an immigration visa number. U.S. law limits the number of immigrant visas available each year.
Where does USCIS send visa approval notices?
USCIS will send a notice to the petitioner if the visa petition is approved. USCIS sends the approved petition to the Department of State's National Visa Center where it will remain until an immigrant visa number becomes available. The beneficiary (the person seeking the immigration visa) will receive two notices from the National Visa Center: one ...
What is the 4th preference?
Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens, their spouses, and their minor children. If your immigration is based on employment, you must wait for an immigrant visa number to become available according to the following preferences:
What is the first preference for a spouse?
First Preference: Unmarried, adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. Adult means 21 years of age or older. Second Preference: Spouses of lawful permanent residents, and the unmarried sons and daughters (regardless of age) of lawful permanent residents and their children.
How do I become an immigrant?
You must go through a multi-step process to become an immigrant: In most cases, your employer or relative (known as the petitioner) must submit an immigration petition to USCIS.
What is a permanent resident visa?
The permanent resident visa is granted by the US State Department and is stamped inside of the passport of a new Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States to authorize initial entry into the country during the limited period of time that is specified in this US immigration visa. (For people approved for immigration to the United States through the DV-Lottery Program, this permanent resident visa is known as a Diversity Visa.) A US Permanent Resident Card (known as a Green Card) is granted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency and is carried by the LPR long-term as an official form of identification and proof of permanent resident status.
What is a legal permanent resident?
A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States (also referred to as a Green Card holder ) has many rights and responsibilities. The benefits of US permanent residency include: the right to live in the USA for an unlimited length of time; legal authorization to work in the United States; access to educational programs; the option to start a business; the option to buy/own a home or other property in the USA; being able to sponsor an eligible family member for a US visa; and the opportunity to apply for American citizenship after they live in the USA five years and meet other criteria. Green Card holders also have certain responsibilities, such as paying taxes and obeying federal, state and local laws.
How many green cards are issued annually?
Overall, about one-million Green Cards are granted annually to new permanent residents of the United States. Around 500,000 of these Green Cards are issued to people who are outside of the United States (many of whom will also need a US immigration visa stamped in their passports to enter the country), and approximately 500,000 ...
What is a green card?
A US Permanent Resident Card (known as a Green Card) is granted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency and is carried by the LPR long-term as an official form of identification and proof of permanent resident status.
What is a permanent resident card?
Permanent Resident Cards are also known as Form I-551s or Green Cards. Each Green Card that USCIS issues to a permanent resident now has an Alien Registration Number on both the front and back.
What is the A number on a USCIS card?
USCIS usually includes applicant A-Numbers on all correspondence associated with approval of your status as a permanent resident. This includes Notices of Action, Form I-797s, and Employment Authorization Document Cards (EADs) as well as Permanent Resident Cards, Form I-551s.
How many digits are on a USCIS card?
Permanent Resident Cards issued after May 2010 will list the alien card number as the USCIS# on the front of the card. It can be seven, eight or nine digit s long. The numbers will be separated into sets of two or three digits by dashes or spaces.
What is an alien registration number?
It will not have an A. Instead, it will have seven, eight or nine digits. A typical number would appear as 000-000-000 or 012-345-678.
Where is the alien number on a green card?
Green cards also list the alien number on the back of the card, but it is more difficult to find. It should appear on the lower half of the card, in a block of letters and numbers that appear to be a code. The first line will begin with C1 or C2. Then, it will state the issuing country for the green card. The next eight or nine numbers and letters ...
Does an alien's A number change?
A person’s A-Number does not change. Alien registration numbers are unique and are assigned permanently to one applicant. What may appear to change is the format. A-Numbers may appear on various documents
How to get permanent resident status?
There are two main ways to achieve permanent resident status through the INA. Adjustment of Status is the process used to gain permanent resident status (green card) by an eligible person who already lives in the United States without the need to return to their country of origin to complete visa processing.
What is a nonimmigrant visa?
A nonimmigrant visa is issued by overseas U.S. Embassies and Consulates to applicants wishing to travel to the United States on a temporary basis. Examples of nonimmigrant visas include tourist visas, transit visas, business visas, and student visas. While valid, one of these nonimmigrant visas will entitle an individual to request admission to the U.S. at an approved port of entry. At the port of entry, the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will determine which individuals are permitted to enter and for how long they may stay.#N#Among this type of visa are the L-1 Intracompany Transfer, F-1 and M-1 Student Visas, P-1 Athletes and Entertainers, and the J-1 Exchange Visa. These visas are granted to certain nonimmigrants seeking temporary residence in the United States while they carry out their approved task for the duration of their visa.
What is a Visa?
In the narrowest sense of the term, a visa gives you permission to seek entry to the United States by presenting yourself at the border or a port of entry. Although, it is important to note that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer on duty at the border or airport will ultimately decide whether you are allowed to enter or not. However, if you have the visa, it is typically a good indicator that you will be allowed to enter the country. Physically, a visa will typically appear as a stamp on your passport. So, when you are instructed to appear at the U.S. consulate to get your visa, you should expect to receive a stamp or similar document that gives you permission to enter the United States.
How Do I Change My Immigration Status?
If a person was inspected and allowed into the United States and can meet all the necessary conditions for a green card (permanent residence) in any category, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows that person to change his or her immigration status while he or she is in the U.S. from that of nonimmigrant or parolee (temporary) to immigrant (permanent). The procedure for this change to permanent status is commonly referred to as “adjustment of status”.
What is the difference between a nonimmigrant visa and an immigrant visa?
Nonimmigrant visas give aliens permission to temporarily stay in the United States for a definite period of time and for a specific purpose (i.e. working or studying), whereas immigrant visas are given to aliens in search of permanent residence in the United States.
What is the process of getting a visa overseas?
The alternate procedure is called consular processing. This process is for use by people outside the U.S., or by people who are in the U.S. but are otherwise not eligible to adjust status. Through consular processing, they can acquire a visa overseas and enter the U.S. as a permanent resident.
Can a nonimmigrant visa be used at a port of entry?
While valid, one of these nonimmigrant visas will entitle an individual to request admission to the U.S. at an approved port of entry. At the port of entry, the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will determine which individuals are permitted to enter and for how long they may stay.
Green Card Eligibility Categories
Find the eligibility category that fits your immigration situation, research how to apply, and learn whether your family members can also apply with you.
How to Apply for a Green Card
Thinking about applying for a Green Card? Find out if you’re eligible, and get more information about living and working in the U.S. permanently.
While Your Green Card Application is Pending with USCIS
We have some helpful information about updating your address, case processing times, case status updates, and travel.
Adjustment of Status Guidance
For policy guidance on adjustment of status, see Volume 7: Adjustment of Status of the USCIS Policy Manual.
When is a visa available?
A visa is available to you when your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date shown for your preference category and country of chargeability in the applicable chart in the Visa Bulletin, as described above in the Acceptance of Adjustment of Status Applications section.
What does U visa mean?
If the Visa Bulletin shows “U” in a category, this means that immigrant visas are temporarily unavailable to all applicants in that particular preference category and/or country of chargeability.
What is the form I-485?
We will accept Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, from family-sponsored and employment-based adjustment of status preference applicants according to the monthly Visa Bulletin that DOS publishes as a guide for issuing visas at U.S. Consulates and Embassies.
What is the DOS visa bulletin?
DOS, working with the Department of Homeland Security, revises the Visa Bulletin each month to estimate immigrant visa availability for prospective adjustment of status applicants. If DOS makes any changes to either chart in the Visa Bulletin after publishing it, we will review those changes and determine if any further action is necessary. Check the latest dates for filing adjustment of status applications .
What is the Immigration and Nationality Act?
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets the number of immigrant visas the U.S. Department of State (DOS) can issue to aliens seeking to become lawful permanent residents (get a Green Card) each year. Immigrant visas for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are unlimited, so they are always available.
What is visa retrogression?
Sometimes, a priority date that is current one month will not be current the next month, or the cut-off date will move backward to an earlier date. This is called visa retrogression, which occurs when more people apply for a visa in a particular category than there are visas available for that month. Visa retrogression generally occurs when the annual limit for a category or country has been exhausted or is expected to run out soon. When the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, a new supply of visa numbers becomes available. Usually, but not always, the new supply returns the cut-off dates to where they were before retrogression.
Can I file an I-485 with an I-130?
In certain instances, you can file your Form I-485 together, or “concurrently,” with the underlying Form I-130 or Form I-140 immigrant petition. You may concurrently file your Form I-485 only when approval of the underlying immigrant petition would make a visa immediately available to you. If you are an immediate relative, you can always concurrently file your Form I-485 application with the underlying Form I-130.
Where is the Green Card Number?
The green card number — also known as the receipt number or the permanent resident number — is located on the bottom of the back of the card, in the first line of a long string of 90 characters. The less than symbols are there simply as space holders.
What is the last 5 of your immigrant case number?
The last 5 is your unique immigrant case number — the number of the approved case that resulted in a green card being granted to you.
What is the green card number for test V?
Looking at the sample card in the image, for the woman named Test V. Specimen, her green card number reads: SRC0000000001.
How many letters are on a green card?
A green card seems pretty straightforward when you first look at it. That is, until you flip the card over and see 3 lines of 90 letters, numbers, and a whole slew of “less than” symbols on the back.
What is the first line of a green card?
The first line of the 90 character string on the back of a green card starts with C1 or C2, which indicates whether the green card holder is a long-term permanent resident within the US (C1), or a permanent resident commuter, from Canada or Mexico (C2). Following are letters indicating the country of residence, USA, digits 3-5. The next ten digits (6-15) are called the alien number.
