I`m not sure where to look for this. We filed an AOS package in `03, then withdrew our I-485 the following Dec. In the mean time, my wife was denied IR for illegal presence and our waiver was recently approved, so we`re back to the paperwork again. When we applied for the waiver, we used her old A-number wherever it was asked for but now I`m thinking that she probably hasn`t really had an A-number since we withdrew the 485. I`m basing this on the fact that the first we saw of this number was on the NOA for her I-485. So is the 485 actually where the A-number comes from? If that`s the case, we ought to be marking N/A when it`s asked for, shouldn`t we? I don`t think it really matters much, but I would sure hate to run into problems for trying to "hide" the fact that she used to have one or for trying to "pretend" that she still does.

My understanding is that once a person is assigned an A number, it's their A number for life, like a SSN - but hopefully someone else can confirm this.

Thanks, Riblet. I guess I`ll call USCIS tomorrow and cross my fingers for a correct answer. Wow, it looks like you`ve had a busy January. Good luck with your 130- hope your CR comes through!

lol, I hadn't thought of it like that... but it was pretty busy Thanks for the good wishes, I hope yours goes quickly too!

I will.. I understand it the same way

Thank you. Just for your information, I called USCIS and the lady I talked to did some checking and came to the same conclusion as both of you did. I really prefer to see it written, but I`m fairly confident here since I`ve gotten the same info from the boards as I got grom the Magic 8-Ball line. Have a nice day!

HI,

Once you are assigned an A-number it is yours for life, you don't get a new one.

Jazzy

Well, here`s how it actually worked: I went abhead and used her old A-Number on the new DS-203 and it didn`t cause any problems but our GC arrived in the mail last week with a NEW number. I guess the old one was eaten by a washing machine somewhere.