Immig. Visa # Vs Alien #

[MD_Rockville]

Yes, you are confused.

What people refer to visa number (in case of immigrant petition) is actually visa quota. Visa Number or Quota is the total permissible immigrants allowed by congress in different visa categories.

USCIS will never assign any visa number to your case. They are only taking one (or more visa number) out of total quota once they approve your permanent residency. Alien # is all you see after/before approval.

This makes more sense. However it is not clear than they take visa # just before approval or just after approval.

 

[usnycus]

They have to take before approval otherwise "visa-number availability before approval" is not going to make any sense.

Once petition is approved, information is send back to DOS so that DOS can track.

This makes more sense. However it is not clear than they take visa # just before approval or just after approval.