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El sistema de inmigración de los Estados Unidos puede ser una sopa de letras de abreviaturas y agencias. Los siguientes conceptos son comúnmente vistos por quienes navegan por el sistema de inmigración de los EE. UU.
This article explains some '''basic immigration concepts'''—terms, numbers, documents, and federal agencies that you will hear about in the U.S. immigration system. Understanding these terms can make it easier to read immigration documents and understand the immigration process.


== ¿Qué son los números de extranjero (números A)? ==
== '''Caution!''' ==


Un "número-A" es un número de identificación único que los inmigrantes deben proporcionar en sus formularios y documentos de inmigración. Permite al gobierno hacer un seguimiento del historial y situación inmigratorio de una persona. Un número A es similar al número de Seguro Social para los ciudadanos estadounidenses, pero es específico para los no ciudadanos y su proceso de inmigración. Los testamentos siempre estarán vinculados al expediente A de un inmigrante y, por lo general, tienen nueve dígitos. Sin embargo, algunos números A más antiguos pueden tener siete u ocho dígitos.
U.S. immigration laws, policies, and practices continue to change rapidly in 2026. Before making any decisions, consult an immigration attorney. One way to find an attorney is through the [https://www.ailalawyer.com American Immigration Lawyers Association Find an Immigration Lawyer].


== ¿Qué es un archivo de extranjería (A-File)? ==
== A-Number ==


Un "A-File" es el registro oficial de inmigración de un inmigrante. Cualquier persona no ciudadana que haya tenido una interacción con una autoridad de inmigración de los Estados Unidos tendrá un testamento de archivo A. Las tres agencias siguientes conservan los A-Files: Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS), Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP) y Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE).
An '''A-Number''' (Alien Registration Number) is a unique identification number used by U.S. immigration agencies. It allows the federal government to identify a noncitizen and track the person's immigration history and records.


Cualquier persona que alguna vez haya solicitado un beneficio de inmigración en los Estados Unidos o haya ingresado ilegalmente a los Estados Unidos y haya sido detenida tendrá un testamento A.
An A-Number is usually nine digits long. Some older A-Numbers have seven or eight digits.


== ¿Dónde puedo encontrar un número A? ==
An A-Number is connected to the person's [[#A-File|A-File]].


Los números A se pueden encontrar en los documentos de inmigración emitidos por USCIS, como tarjetas verdes, permisos de trabajo, visas y avisos. También se pueden encontrar en documentos emitidos por ICE o CBP, como el Aviso de Comparecencia (NTA).
=== Where to find an A-Number ===


== ¿Qué es el Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS)? ==
An A-Number may appear on immigration documents issued by [https://www.uscis.gov/ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)], including:


El Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglés) es la agencia del gobierno federal que supervisa la inmigración legal a los Estados Unidos. Esta agencia es responsable de procesar las solicitudes de inmigración y naturalización. El USCIS también establece políticas relacionadas con los servicios de inmigración.
* green cards
* work permits
* visas, and
* USCIS notices


== ¿Qué es el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE)? ==
An A-Number may also appear on documents issued by [https://www.ice.gov/ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] or [https://www.cbp.gov/ U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)], such as a [[#Notice to Appear (NTA)|Notice to Appear]].


El Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) es una agencia federal de cumplimiento de la ley responsable de hacer cumplir las leyes de inmigración en los Estados Unidos.
== A-File ==


== ¿Qué es la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP)? ==
An '''A-File''' (Alien File) is a person's official immigration record. A noncitizen who has interacted with a U.S. immigration authority may have an A-File.


La Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP, por sus siglas en inglés) es la agencia federal de cumplimiento de la ley responsable de proteger las fronteras de los Estados Unidos mediante la aplicación de la ley de inmigración. CBP también inspecciona a los viajeros en los puertos de entrada.
A-Files are maintained by federal immigration agencies, including:


== ¿Qué es un Aviso de Comparecencia (NTA)? ==
* [https://www.uscis.gov/ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)]
* [https://www.cbp.gov/ U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)]
* [https://www.ice.gov/ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)]


Un Aviso de Comparecencia (NTA) es el documento oficial de inmigración que inicia los procedimientos de expulsión o deportación de una persona en la corte de inmigración. Este documento ordena a una persona no ciudadana presentarse en su audiencia programada ante un juez de inmigración para determinar si puede permanecer legalmente en los Estados Unidos. Un NTA puede ser emitido por el ICE o por el USCIS.
For example, a person may have an A-File if they applied for an immigration benefit in the United States or were detained after entering the United States without authorization.
 
== Federal immigration agencies ==
 
Several federal agencies have different responsibilities within the U.S. immigration system.
 
=== U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) ===
 
[https://www.uscis.gov/ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)] is the federal agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States.
 
USCIS processes many immigration and naturalization applications and petitions and establishes policies related to immigration services.
 
=== U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ===
 
[https://www.ice.gov/ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] is a federal law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Among its responsibilities is enforcing federal immigration laws.
 
=== U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ===
 
[https://www.cbp.gov/ U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)] is a federal law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Its responsibilities include enforcing immigration laws at U.S. borders and inspecting travelers at ports of entry.
 
== Notice to Appear (NTA) ==
 
A '''Notice to Appear (NTA)''' is an immigration document used to begin removal (deportation) proceedings in immigration court.
 
An NTA directs a noncitizen to appear in immigration court, where an immigration judge considers whether the person may remain lawfully in the United States.
 
An NTA may be issued by [https://www.ice.gov/ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] or [https://www.uscis.gov/ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)].
 
== External Links ==
 
* [https://www.uscis.gov/ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services]
* [https://www.ice.gov/ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]
* [https://www.cbp.gov/ U.S. Customs and Border Protection]
 
== Sources ==
 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20260929140932/https://texaslawhelp.org/article/basic-immigration-concepts Basic Immigration Concepts], ''TexasLawHelp.org''. Archived by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine on September 29, 2026.  
 
[[Category:Immigration]]
[[Category:Immigration basics]]

Latest revision as of 20:49, 1 November 2026

This article explains some basic immigration concepts—terms, numbers, documents, and federal agencies that you will hear about in the U.S. immigration system. Understanding these terms can make it easier to read immigration documents and understand the immigration process.

Caution!

U.S. immigration laws, policies, and practices continue to change rapidly in 2026. Before making any decisions, consult an immigration attorney. One way to find an attorney is through the American Immigration Lawyers Association Find an Immigration Lawyer.

A-Number

An A-Number (Alien Registration Number) is a unique identification number used by U.S. immigration agencies. It allows the federal government to identify a noncitizen and track the person's immigration history and records.

An A-Number is usually nine digits long. Some older A-Numbers have seven or eight digits.

An A-Number is connected to the person's A-File.

Where to find an A-Number

An A-Number may appear on immigration documents issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including:

  • green cards
  • work permits
  • visas, and
  • USCIS notices

An A-Number may also appear on documents issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), such as a Notice to Appear.

A-File

An A-File (Alien File) is a person's official immigration record. A noncitizen who has interacted with a U.S. immigration authority may have an A-File.

A-Files are maintained by federal immigration agencies, including:

For example, a person may have an A-File if they applied for an immigration benefit in the United States or were detained after entering the United States without authorization.

Federal immigration agencies

Several federal agencies have different responsibilities within the U.S. immigration system.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the federal agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States.

USCIS processes many immigration and naturalization applications and petitions and establishes policies related to immigration services.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Among its responsibilities is enforcing federal immigration laws.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Its responsibilities include enforcing immigration laws at U.S. borders and inspecting travelers at ports of entry.

Notice to Appear (NTA)

A Notice to Appear (NTA) is an immigration document used to begin removal (deportation) proceedings in immigration court.

An NTA directs a noncitizen to appear in immigration court, where an immigration judge considers whether the person may remain lawfully in the United States.

An NTA may be issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Sources

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