A green card shows more than one number. The card number, also printed as the document number, is 13 characters: three letters followed by 10 digits. It identifies the physical card. The A-number, printed as USCIS# on current cards, is nine digits and identifies you permanently across every immigration record.
Key Takeaways
- The green card number is a 13-character number made up of three letters followed by 10 digits. It identifies the physical Permanent Resident Card, not the person.
- The card number and document number are two names for the same number.
- If you need the card number for Form I-9, travel paperwork, or another form, use the number printed on the card rather than your A-number or USCIS online account number.
What is the green card number?
The green card number is the unique number assigned to your physical Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card or Form I-551. The format is 3 letters followed by 10 digits, like ABC1234567890.
USCIS issues the card after it approves your case, whether you went through adjustment of status inside the United States or consular processing abroad. The card itself is your evidence of lawful permanent resident status.
Where is the green card number on your card?
For current Permanent Resident Cards, the green card number is on the back of the card.
The front also carries a category code that shows how you qualified, such as IR1 for the spouse of a U.S. citizen or EB2 for an employment-based case built on the PERM process.
A conditional green card uses the same format, and the number changes when USCIS approves Form I-751 and issues a new card.
Is the document number the same as the card number?
Yes. USCIS materials call this identifier the card number in some places and the document number in others, so when a form asks for the document number of your green card, it wants the 13-character number on the card.
How is the green card number different from your A-number?
Your green card number identifies the physical card. Your A-number identifies you and your immigration records.
The A-number is also called the Alien Registration Number or USCIS number. It is nine digits, and current green cards display it as USCIS#.
Number | What it identifies | Format | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|---|
Green card number / document number | The physical card | 3 letters + 10 digits | Back of the card |
A-number / USCIS# | You, across every immigration record | 9 digits | Front of the card |
Receipt number | One USCIS application or petition | 3 letters + 10 digits | Form I-797 notice |
USCIS online account number | Your USCIS online account | 12 digits | Your online account |
Your card number changes every time USCIS issues a new card. Your A-number never does, which is why it follows you onto the I-130 petition a relative filed for you, your work permit, your biometrics appointment notice, and later Form N-400 when you apply for citizenship.
For a deeper explanation, see our guide to the Alien Registration Number (A-number).
What do the three letters at the start mean?
The three letters are a USCIS service center code. Codes such as EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, MSC, and IOE appear in receipt numbers as well, which is why a green card number and a receipt number look so much alike.
They do different jobs. A receipt number identifies one application or petition and is what you use to track that case. USCIS prints it on Form I-797, or sends it by email or text first if you filed Form G-1145.
Can you look up your green card number online?
No. There is no public USCIS lookup tool for a green card number, and Case Status Online will not find it, because that tool takes a receipt number.
If you no longer have the card, check whether you kept a copy or another record that shows the number. If you cannot recover it, you may need to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.
Which number does Form I-9 ask for?
A Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) is a List A document for Form I-9, which means it establishes both identity and employment authorization.
When a lawful permanent resident presents one for employment eligibility verification, the card number goes in the document fields in Section 2. The USCIS handbook for employers explains how employers record it.
Section 1 is where the employee gives an Alien Registration Number/USCIS Number, when applicable. So an employer or I-9 system asking for the document number wants the card number, not your A-number, and the card's expiration date is a third, separate field.
Which number do airlines and travel forms ask for?
If a form asks for your green card number, card number, or document number, give the 13-character number on your Permanent Resident Card. If it asks for your A-number, Alien Registration Number, or USCIS number, give the nine-digit number instead.
If it asks for your passport number, use your passport. A Social Security number is a separate identifier and never substitutes for any of these.
If it asks for your visa number, that is printed on the visa foil in your passport, not on your green card. If it asks for your most recent entry record, that comes from your I-94 record. If your case is still pending and you are traveling on advance parole, you have no card number yet at all.
When a form is unclear, check its instructions rather than assuming every 13-character number is interchangeable.
What do you do if your card is lost and you need the number?
If your Permanent Resident Card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you generally need to apply for a replacement card using Form I-90. USCIS lists all three among the reasons for filing.
A copy of the old card helps, because it carries the number you are trying to recover and the details you will need when preparing your replacement application. If anything is missing, USCIS may send a request for evidence before it decides.
How Ellis can help
Your A-number, your receipt numbers, and your card details turn up across years of filings, and they rarely stay together. Ellis combines immigration attorney services with a streamlined platformed, so your documents and the numbers on them are there when a form asks for them.