To recover your green card number, first decide which number you need, then check copies of your card and the letters U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has sent you. Your USCIS number, also called your A-Number, appears on correspondence from USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The 13-character card number is printed on the back of the card, so a copy of the back is the most direct way to find it without the card.
Recovering a number does not replace a missing card. Federal law requires permanent residents, or green card holders, who are 18 and older to carry their card, so a lost card needs a Form I-90 replacement. Faragalla Law assists clients in that situation through its lost green card replacement services.
Which Green Card Number Do You Need to Recover?
People use the phrase “green card number” for two different numbers. The first is the USCIS number, a nine-digit number printed on the front of cards issued after May 10, 2010 beside the label USCIS#. USCIS treats it as your A-Number, the unique seven-, eight- or nine-digit number DHS assigned to you.
The second is the card number, a 13-character code of three letters and 10 numbers on the back of the card. Form I-9 shows the difference. It asks employees for the USCIS number and asks employers to record the number of the document itself. Before you start searching, check which one your form requests.
Say a permanent resident from El Salvador needs to complete new job paperwork after losing his wallet. His A-Number is on an old USCIS notice in his files, so that part is simple. The card number is harder, because it was printed on the missing card. For Form I-9, his employer ordinarily must accept a receipt for his replacement application, and he must show the new card within 90 days of hire.
Where Can You Recover Your Green Card Number Without the Card?
The right place to look depends on which number you need. Start with records you already have before you ask a government agency for copies.
Finding Your Alien Registration Number
USCIS says your A-Number begins with an A and appears on correspondence from DHS or USCIS. Check approval notices, receipt notices and appointment letters in your files. An old work permit, called an Employment Authorization Document, also carries a USCIS# field. Your USCIS online account number is a different number, and USCIS states that it is not the same as an A-Number.
Finding Your Card Number
Look for a photocopy, scan or phone photo of the back of your card. Copies you attached to earlier immigration filings may also show it. Once you find a copy, check the card number location for your card’s design, since the 2010 card prints it in two places.
If you showed the card for a job, ask your employer. Employers that use E-Verify must copy the front and back of a green card and keep the copy with Form I-9.
If none of that works, you can ask USCIS for your own records. USCIS accepts Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act requests for your own immigration file, and since January 22, 2026 it asks that these requests be submitted online. The agency also says it processes requests for specific documents faster than requests for an entire file.
Should You Replace Your Card if You Cannot Recover Your Green Card Number?
If the card itself is lost, stolen or destroyed, replacing it matters more than recovering the number. Form I-90 asks for your A-Number. For a lost card, the instructions ask for a copy of the card if you have one, or a government ID showing your name, date of birth, photo and signature.
While you wait for the new card, you still need proof of status. USCIS says that if you no longer have your card and need evidence of permanent residence, it may issue an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp after you file. USCIS may place that stamp in your passport or on a Form I-94 as temporary proof of permanent residence. The USCIS Contact Center handles requests for help getting one.
A permanent resident from Mexico who loses her card weeks before a family trip, for example, would ordinarily file Form I-90 first and then ask about an ADIT stamp. Processing speed differs from case to case, and USCIS may schedule a biometrics appointment for fingerprints and a photo. Current estimates appear on the USCIS Check Case Processing Times tool.
Official USCIS Sources for Recovering Green Card Numbers
The USCIS Instructions for Form I-90 explain where to find your A-Number and what to submit when a card is lost, stolen or destroyed. The Replace Your Green Card page explains when you must replace a card and when USCIS may issue an ADIT stamp.
To request copies of your own immigration records, use the USCIS page on requesting records through FOIA or the Privacy Act, which also describes the online filing requirement.
Get Help Replacing a Lost Green Card in Texas
When the card is gone and you cannot recover your green card number, Faragalla Law can help. The firm can prepare your replacement filing and help you arrange proof of status in the meantime.
Whether you live in Fort Worth, Plano or Arlington, you can meet with the firm without an office visit. A free consultation starts with a call to (800) 707-3038.
Or reach the firm online and list the papers you still have, such as old USCIS notices or photos of your card.