USCIS or the National Visa Center provides immigrant visa numbers to green card candidates after the petitioner successfully presents Form I-130 or Form I-140 and whenever there is a visa obtainable. There are restrictions on the number of individuals who can obtain an immigrant visa annually. Therefore, even if you have satisfied all of the qualification provisions to get a permanent visa, become a legal PR, and obtain your green card, you may be required to wait some time before you receive your immigrant visa code and go ahead with the immigrant visa procedures to get your green card.
This article clarifies immigrant visa numbers and the ways they vary from the Alien Registration Number and your United States Citizenship and Immigration Service case number.
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Immigrant Visa Number
An immigrant visa number is an 8-digit identifier. NVC or USCIS will appoint this number to you when you apply for a permanent immigrant visa. To obtain an immigrant visa number, anybody must have successfully presented a plea on your behalf. This is going to be Form I-130 if a family member is pleading on your behalf or Form I-140 if an employer is petitioning for you. Again, there has to be an immigrant visa obtainable for the candidate.
Obtaining a visa number can take some time since the United States administration restricts the number of immigrant visas obtainable annually. The duration is also based on your visa choice classification, country, and any backlogs the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service is already undergoing.
Difference Between An Immigrant Visa Number, A-Number, Case Number, and Green Card Number
You will obtain so many numbers through the entire immigration process. Each number possesses its uses and importance. Understandably, it can be challenging to determine what each number implies and how it is used in various cases. To explain, we will distinguish between the immigrant visa number and three regular numbers you may experience during your immigration procedures. A-numbers, case numbers, and green card numbers.
A-Number
Described as Alien Registration Number. It is naturally a 9-digit number with gaps between every three numbers. Using an illustration: 222 222 222.
It is used to recognize and track your immigration files and to recognize you all over multiple systems. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services appoints A-Numbers to recognize every person who applies for or obtains immigrant status in the United States.
Suppose you pass the border into the United States without records, and an officer from the Department of Homeland Security or ICE picks you up. In that case, they will acquire your fingerprints and appoint you an A-Number. You will find your A-Number on all your immigration records; therefore, it is essential to identify that number. This can be found on a Notice to Appear, your Immigrant Visa, or a green card.
Case Number and Receipt Number
Your case number can also be described as your Receipt number, and it is a special 13-digit number, which often begins with three letters followed by ten numbers. Using an illustration: SRC 33 018 10000.
You will obtain a receipt number for all immigration requests that you present. You can review your case status online by logging in with your receipt number.
Form I-551 Receipt Number/Green Card Number
If you are making an application to become a green card holder, you will finally file a Form I-551. United States Citizenship and Immigration Service will forward you a 13-digit receipt number for Form I-551, described as a green card number. Your green card number can be discovered on the backside of your green card, also described as a permanent resident card, at the footing.
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Your Form I-551 receipt number is in the first line of 90 digits, made of letters, digits, and symbols. For instance, C1USA0000000392SRC0000000000, in which the bold letters and digits are the green card number.
Immigrant Visa Number
Contrary to the other numbers we have listed, the immigrant visa number (also described as the foil code) naturally possesses eight numbers. However, it will possess a capitalized letter in some situations, followed by seven digits. This code can be discovered on the footing of visa documents.
Many Visa Numbers are Obtainable Annually
As listed above, immigrant visa numbers are only appointed to candidates whenever the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service has acknowledged their application and an immigrant visa is obtainable for their visa classification and country. There are so many green card qualification classifications. These classifications have to do with, however, are not restricted to the following:
- employment-based green cards
- Family-based green cards
- Humanitarian green cards for asylum, refugee, or special immigration minors.
Your qualifications are connected to a preferred classification or how high up on the list you are obtaining a visa. Many of these classifications have yearly restrictions, implying that the number of green cards the United States administration can provide is restricted. One exemption is a close relative of United States citizens.
Close relatives of United States citizens do not have to wait to receive visa numbers; therefore, this is the quickest method to become a green card holder. Close relatives have to do with partners of United States citizens, unmarried children below the age of 21 of United States citizens, and parents of United States citizens who are 21 years old and above. Immigrants in several other classifications must wait for visa numbers to become obtainable.
How to Receive An Immigrant Visa Number
The first step to obtaining an immigrant visa number is applying for a green card. This procedure often starts with a family member or employer pleading on your behalf; however, some individuals are qualified to self-petition with Form I-360.
After USCIS obtains your plea and verifies it is complete, it will forward you or your petitioner a verification notice with a receipt or case number. This verification letter will provide a preferred date when the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service obtained your green card request. You can discover on your own on the Notice of Action, Form I-797, that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service forwarded you through mail or email after obtaining your request.
When the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service authorizes your petition, it will forward your application to the United States Department of State’s National Visa Center. The NVC will hold your plea until an immigrant visa number becomes obtainable. You can use your preferred date and classification to review the Visa Bulletin to check when a visa number is available. The bulletin is updated monthly.
You can present your green card request if your preferred date is before the one mentioned on the visa bulletin. You must wait to submit your green card request if your preferred date is after the cutoff date. Once your priority has come into action and an immigrant visa number is obtainable, you can proceed with the green card process.
