US Visa WatchWhere Is the Us Visa Number Located
Where the U.S. visa number is located
The U.S. visa number is printed on the visa foil, also called the visa stamp or visa sticker, inside your passport. Look toward the lower-right area of that page.
In most layouts, the number is:
- Printed in red
- Near the bottom or lower-right side of the visa
- An eight-digit number or an eight-character code
Start by finding the page with the U.S. visa itself. Then look past the main personal details and scan the lower-right portion of the foil. The red code in that area is usually the number a form means when it asks for your U.S. visa number.
The exact design can vary by visa type, issue date, and printing layout. Use the location and color as helpful clues, rather than assuming every visa page looks exactly the same.
How to recognize the visa number on the visa foil
A passport visa contains several numbers and lines. That is why people often pick the wrong one.
The easiest way to spot the visa number is to check these features together:
- Find the visa foil, not just the passport page number.
- Look near the lower-right corner of the foil.
- Find the number printed in red.
- Check whether it has about eight digits or characters.
For example, a U.S. visa number might look like an eight-character code such as `12345678`. This is only a visual example. Your actual number may use a different combination or layout.
The number is generally separate from the machine-readable line at the bottom. That line contains coded passport and visa information in rows of letters, numbers, and special symbols. If a form asks for the visa number, it usually does not mean that full coded line.
A quick visual check helps:
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Red number near the lower-right area | U.S. visa number |
| Number near other visa details | May be a control or case identifier |
| “Registration Number” | A-Number |
| Two coded lines at the bottom | Machine-readable line |
These labels can move around on different visa designs. The red lower-right number is the main place to start.
Telling the visa number apart from other identifiers
The U.S. visa page may show several identifiers that look similar. They are used for different purposes, so don't treat them as interchangeable.
U.S. visa number vs. control number
The visa number is usually the red number near the lower-right part of the visa foil.
The control number is a separate identifier used to help identify or process the visa record. It may appear elsewhere on the foil and can be close to other printed numbers. It is not automatically the number a form wants when it says “visa number.”
If you see two number groups near one another, check the color, position, and label. Don't choose the control number just because it is easy to spot.
U.S. visa number vs. case number
A case number is tied to the visa application or case record. It may appear on visa paperwork or on the visa page, depending on the document and layout.
It is different from the visa number. A form asking for the visa number normally wants the identifier printed as the visa number on the foil, not the application case reference.
The case number may also have letters, numbers, or a format that looks unlike the red code. If the form asks for the case number, enter that field instead.
U.S. visa number vs. A-Number
The A-Number is the applicant's registration number. On the visa stamp, it is identified by the label “Registration Number.”
That makes it easier to separate from the visa number:
- Visa number: usually the red code near the lower-right area
- A-Number: shown as the Registration Number
- Control number: a different processing or record identifier
- Case number: connected to the visa application or case
A form may ask for one of these specific numbers. Read the field name carefully before copying anything from the visa page.
Where to look if the visa is in an older passport
A passport renewal does not necessarily mean the visa page is in the newest passport. The visa may still be in the older passport, because that is the document that contains the page where the visa was issued.
If you have renewed your passport, check both documents:
- Open the older passport.
- Find the page with the U.S. visa foil.
- Look near its lower-right corner for the red visa number.
- Compare the number with the field requested by your form.
Don't search only through the new passport and assume the number is missing. The visa page may remain in the older document.
If an application asks for passport details as well as visa details, keep those fields separate. The passport number belongs to the passport document. The visa number belongs to the U.S. visa foil. Follow the instructions for the specific application if it asks how to report information from an older passport.
Finding the number on B1/B2 and other U.S. visa types
A B1/B2 visa is a U.S. visitor visa for business, tourism, or both. People often search for “where is the visa number on B1/B2 card,” but the number is generally found on the visa foil inside the passport, not on a separate card location described by the available visa layout information.
For a B1/B2 visa, use the same physical check:
- Find the U.S. visa page in the passport.
- Look near the lower-right section of the foil.
- Identify the number printed in red.
- Check that it is commonly around eight digits or characters.
The same approach can help with other U.S. visa categories. The exact placement and design may differ, so don't rely on a fixed row or identical font. Look for the red code in the lower-right area first, then confirm that it matches what the form calls for.
If someone asks for a “U.S. visa card number,” they may be using informal wording for the visa number. The available layout information points to the passport visa foil rather than a separate universal U.S. visa card number. Check the application's own instructions if it uses that wording.
What to do when a form asks for the U.S. visa number
When a form asks for your U.S. visa number, use this short process:
- Open the passport containing the visa. This may be an older passport.
- Find the visa foil or sticker.
- Look near the lower-right corner.
- Copy the red number carefully.
- Enter it exactly as the form requests.
Pay attention to whether the field asks for numbers only or allows letters too. The visa number is commonly described as an eight-digit number or an eight-character code, so the format can matter.
Before submitting, compare what you typed with the visa itself. A single mistake can change the identifier. If the form separately asks for a control number, case number, or Registration Number, don't use the red visa number for those fields unless the instructions specifically tell you to.
Common mistakes when reading the visa page
The most common problem is looking at the passport page as a whole instead of focusing on the visa foil. The passport page number, passport number, and visa identifiers are separate things.
Watch for these mistakes:
- Choosing the control number: It may be close to the visa number but is a different identifier.
- Using the case number: This refers to the application or case record.
- Using the A-Number: Look for “Registration Number” instead.
- Copying the machine-readable line: The coded lines at the bottom are not usually what a form means by visa number.
- Reading the wrong passport: An older passport may contain the visa page.
- Assuming every layout matches: Placement can vary, so use “usually” rather than expecting an identical design.
- Confusing a B1/B2 reference with a card number: Start with the visa foil inside the passport.
If you're still unsure, match the number to the exact field name and number format shown on the official form or application you're completing.