Which one is the visa number?
Jun 15th 2008, 11:03 am
#1
Honorary Texan
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 58
Which one is the visa number?
Sorry to ask a retarded question, but was just wondering which number on my K1 is my nonimmigrant visa number? (Getting a head start on the i-485). Is it the 'control number' at the top-right or the number in red at the bottom-right? 
Jun 15th 2008, 11:55 am
#3
MODERATOR
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 58,687
Re: Which one is the visa number?
Either one will work just fine.
Rene
Rene
Jun 15th 2008, 12:01 pm
#4
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 16,266
Re: Which one is the visa number?
Not retarded at all -- this is actually an FAQ.
Tthe old "Bourroughs" visa stamps had a "visa no." at the top. When the old visa stamps were replaced by the MRV stickers, the actual "visa no." was eliminated. The actual sticker had a red number and the visa printed on the sticker had a "control number."
Although this change happened 13 years ago, INS and now CIS have never bothered to change the question.
So -- put either number or leave it blank. But do attach a copy of the actual visa as an exhibit.
Jun 16th 2008, 3:30 am
#5
Honorary Texan
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 58
Re: Which one is the visa number?
Ok, thanks guys! I was confused because it doesn't say 'visa number' anywhere on the sticker. I guess I'll use the red 8-digit number, because the control number has several zeros with lines through them in it.
Jun 16th 2008, 3:41 am
#6
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 16,266
Re: Which one is the visa number?
Personally, I think the "control number" is the equivalent. But the attorneys disagree on this -- and it really doesn't make a difference!
However, my reasoning is this -- back in the Burroughs visa days, many consulates would use numbered "counterfoils" which was a high security sticker which had its own number and would be affixed personally by a CONSULAR officer and not a local employee. The red number is the number of the sticker while the control number is the equivalent of the "visa number" printed on the sticker.
In "high fraud posts" the counterfoil would be put across the page divider to prevent razor blade jobs. [The visas now have the passport number which the older visas did not have]. At the high end of the fraud continuim [low-medium-high-Lagos], they not only used the counterfoil across the spine, a picture would be put on the back of the page with the visa and then an impression stamp would be used through both the visa and the picture.
Jun 16th 2008, 5:12 am
#7
Honorary Texan
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 58
Re: Which one is the visa number?
Hi:
Personally, I think the "control number" is the equivalent. But the attorneys disagree on this -- and it really doesn't make a difference!
However, my reasoning is this -- back in the Burroughs visa days, many consulates would use numbered "counterfoils" which was a high security sticker which had its own number and would be affixed personally by a CONSULAR officer and not a local employee. The red number is the number of the sticker while the control number is the equivalent of the "visa number" printed on the sticker.
In "high fraud posts" the counterfoil would be put across the page divider to prevent razor blade jobs. [The visas now have the passport number which the older visas did not have]. At the high end of the fraud continuim [low-medium-high-Lagos], they not only used the counterfoil across the spine, a picture would be put on the back of the page with the visa and then an impression stamp would be used through both the visa and the picture.
Personally, I think the "control number" is the equivalent. But the attorneys disagree on this -- and it really doesn't make a difference!
However, my reasoning is this -- back in the Burroughs visa days, many consulates would use numbered "counterfoils" which was a high security sticker which had its own number and would be affixed personally by a CONSULAR officer and not a local employee. The red number is the number of the sticker while the control number is the equivalent of the "visa number" printed on the sticker.
In "high fraud posts" the counterfoil would be put across the page divider to prevent razor blade jobs. [The visas now have the passport number which the older visas did not have]. At the high end of the fraud continuim [low-medium-high-Lagos], they not only used the counterfoil across the spine, a picture would be put on the back of the page with the visa and then an impression stamp would be used through both the visa and the picture.
Jun 16th 2008, 7:54 am
#8
MODERATOR
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 58,687
Re: Which one is the visa number?
Rene
