USCIS assigns an A-Number to all immigrants who apply to live in the United States permanently. If you apply for a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) or another type of Immigrant Visa, you will receive an Alien Number (A-Number). If you are a noncitizen on a tourist or business visa, you will not receive an A-Number. This is because USCIS does not give A-Numbers to most immigrants who will only be in the U.S. temporarily (called "nonimmigrants"). The one exception is for immigrants who enter the U.S. on an F-1 student visa with employment authorization. These temporary immigrants will receive an A-Number. Here’s a great article where you can read more about an A# (click here).
What is an A-number?
