Green Card Category Codes: Complete List and What Your Code Means

Every green card has a short code printed under “Category”, such as IR6, CR1, F21, E26 or AS6. That code tells you, and any government officer who reads your card, exactly how you became a permanent resident. This guide explains what the code is, where to find it, what each common code means, and what to do if yours looks wrong.

What Is the Category Code on a Green Card?

The category code is your class of admission: a code assigned by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the Department of State when you are granted permanent residence. You do not choose it. It is assigned based on the petition or application your green card was approved under.

Most codes are made of two letters and a number. The letters identify the immigration category, for example IR for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, F for family preference categories, E for employment-based categories and AS for asylees. The number usually tells you two more things:

• Who you are in the case: the principal applicant, or a spouse or child included as a derivative.
• How you got your green card: as a rule, codes ending in 1 to 5 are for people who received an immigrant visa abroad and were admitted as new arrivals, and codes ending in 6 to 9 or 0 are for people who adjusted status inside the United States.

For example, IR6 and IR1 both mean “spouse of a U.S. citizen,” but IR1 means the spouse came from abroad on an immigrant visa and IR6 means the spouse adjusted status in the U.S. There are a few exceptions to the digit rule, which are noted in the tables below.

Where Can I Find My Category Code?

• On your green card: the front of the Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) shows the code in the field labeled “Category.”
• On your immigrant visa: if you immigrated through a U.S. embassy or consulate, the immigrant visa in your passport shows the visa classification, and the admission stamp you received at the port of entry records your class of admission.
• On your USCIS paperwork: approval and welcome notices for adjustment of status applications generally identify the classification you were approved under.

Forms such as the N-400 naturalization application and the I-90 card replacement application may ask for your “class of admission.” That is the same code.

What Does My Green Card Category Code Mean?

Find your code in the reference tables below. Each row shows the code for someone who came from abroad and the code for someone who adjusted status in the U.S., who the code covers, and where to read more. Most codes that begin with C, such as CR1, CR6 or C51, are conditional codes, which come with a two-year green card instead of a ten-year card. (CU6 and CU7, for Cuban Adjustment Act cases, are an exception.)

Complete Green Card Category Code Reference Tables

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (IR and CR Codes)

Note: “IRO” on a card is the code IR0 (with a zero), for a parent of a U.S. citizen who adjusted status in the U.S.

Family Preference Categories (F Codes)

Conditional versions of these codes begin with C (for example, C21 or CX1) and are used when the qualifying marriage was less than two years old. Learn more about family-based cases from our family immigration lawyers.

Employment-Based Categories (E and EW Codes)

The employment-based codes do not all follow the same pattern for spouses and children, so check your code carefully.

EB-5 Investors

Conditional EB-5 investors must file Form I-829 to remove conditions. Read more about getting a green card through EB-5 or see our EB-5 investor visa services.

Special Immigrants (EB-4 and S Codes)

Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Codes)

Refugees and Asylees (RE and AS Codes)

These green cards are always obtained by adjusting status in the U.S., so there is no “from abroad” code.

Crime and Abuse Victims: U Visa, T Visa and VAWA (SU, ST and IB Codes)

VAWA self-petitioners in the family preference categories receive codes beginning with B (for example, B21/B26 for the spouse of a green card holder, or BX6 for a spouse exempt from per-country limits). See our VAWA lawyer page for help.

Cancellation of Removal, Registry and Other Codes

Note that Z13, Z33 and NA3 end in 3 but are not “new arrival” codes. They are exceptions to the general digit rule. If you face removal proceedings, our deportation defense lawyers can explain whether cancellation of removal may be available.

Common Codes Explained: CR6, IR5, E21, E27, E18 and AS6

What does CR6 mean on a green card?

CR6 means you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen who got a conditional green card by adjusting status inside the United States. “Conditional” means your marriage was less than two years old on the day your green card was approved, so your card is valid for only two years.

What to do with a CR6 card:

• Remove the conditions. File Form I-751 with your spouse during the 90 days before the card expires. If you are divorced, widowed or were abused, you can file alone and ask for a waiver. If you do not file, your status ends when the card expires.
• While the I-751 is pending, your receipt notice and expired card together extend your status for 48 months from the card’s expiration date.
• Citizenship: time as a conditional resident counts. If you are still married to and living with your U.S. citizen spouse, you can apply for naturalization after three years.

CR6 is the in-U.S. version of CR1 (spouse who came from abroad with an immigrant visa). If the marriage had been two years old at approval, the code would have been IR6. Read IR6 vs CR6 and removing conditions on a green card.

What does IR5 mean on a green card?

IR5 means you are the parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21, and you immigrated from abroad on an immigrant visa. Parents of adult citizens are “immediate relatives,” so there is no annual limit and no wait for a visa number in the Visa Bulletin.

Things to know:

• Your card is a 10-year card with no conditions.
• Each parent needs a separate I-130 petition from the citizen son or daughter.
• Immediate relative cases do not include derivatives, so the parent’s other children (the citizen’s brothers and sisters) are not included and would need their own petition.
• A parent who adjusted status inside the U.S. receives IR0 (zero) instead.

See family immigration and how long an I-130 takes.

What does E21 mean on a green card?

E21 is the code for the principal applicant in the EB-2 category: a professional holding an advanced degree, or a person of exceptional ability, who immigrated from abroad on an immigrant visa. It includes national interest waiver (NIW) cases. Most E21 cases start with an employer’s PERM labor certification and an I-140 petition; NIW applicants can self-petition without PERM.

The spouse of an E21 receives E22 and a child receives E23. If the principal had adjusted status in the U.S., the code would be E26. Read what E26 and E22 mean and PERM processing time.

What does E27 mean on a green card?

E27 means you are the spouse of an EB-2 principal (an E21 or E26) and you adjusted status inside the United States. You received your green card as a derivative of your spouse’s EB-2 case.

Once your green card is approved, it is your own status. You can work for any employer, and you can apply for citizenship under the five-year rule. (The three-year rule is only for spouses of U.S. citizens.) When you naturalize, USCIS may ask about the principal’s case, because your eligibility depended on it.

A spouse who came from abroad on an immigrant visa receives E22 instead, and children of the principal receive E23 (from abroad) or E28 (adjusted).

What does E18 mean on a green card?

E18 is the code for an EB-1 multinational executive or manager who adjusted status inside the United States. These cases are filed by a U.S. employer on Form I-140 for an executive or manager who worked for a related company abroad, and they do not require PERM labor certification. The immigrant-visa (from abroad) version is E13. A spouse who adjusted receives E19, and a child receives E10.

See our employment immigration and business immigration pages.

What does AS6 mean on a green card?

AS6 means you were granted asylum in the United States and then adjusted to permanent residence as the principal asylee. Asylees can generally apply for a green card after one year of physical presence in the U.S. after the asylum grant. A spouse who got asylum through you and later adjusted receives AS7, and a child receives AS8.

Two things are different for AS6 green card holders:

• Your residence date is rolled back one year. For naturalization, USCIS generally counts your permanent residence as starting one year before your green card was approved, so you may be able to apply for citizenship sooner than the date on your card suggests.
• Travel to your home country can raise questions about your asylum claim. Speak with a lawyer before you travel there, even with a green card.

See asylum and refugee status and how long naturalization takes.

Preference Category vs Class-of-Admission Code: What’s the Difference?

People often confuse these two terms because both describe your green card category:

• A preference category is the broad visa category defined by immigration law, such as F2A, F4, EB-2 or EB-3. Preference categories are what the monthly Visa Bulletin uses to set priority date cutoffs and track annual visa limits.
• A class-of-admission code is the specific code recorded when you actually become a permanent resident. It is more detailed: it shows whether you were the principal, spouse or child, whether you came from abroad or adjusted status, and whether your residence is conditional.

For example, F2A is a single preference category, but people who immigrate through it can receive F21, F22, F23, F26, F27, F28, FX1, FX2, FX6, FX7 or a conditional C2 code, depending on their role and how they immigrated.

Can My Category Code Affect My Rights, Status or Naturalization?

All lawful permanent residents have the same core rights: to live and work permanently in the U.S., to travel, and to apply for citizenship once eligible. Your code does not give you more or fewer of those rights. It can matter in a few specific ways:

• Conditional residence: codes such as CR1, CR6, CF1 and the EB-5 C, T, I and R codes come with a two-year card. You must file to remove conditions (Form I-751 for marriage cases, Form I-829 for investors) during the 90 days before the card expires. Learn more about removing conditions on a green card.
• When your naturalization clock starts: most green card holders can apply for citizenship after five years of permanent residence, or three years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen. For refugees, permanent residence is counted from the date of arrival in the U.S., and for asylees it is generally counted from one year before the green card was approved. See how long naturalization takes.
• Review of your original case: when you apply to naturalize, USCIS reviews whether you were eligible for the category you were approved under. For example, a principal applicant whose green card was based on a job offer may be asked about the sponsoring job, and someone approved through marriage may be asked about the marriage.

What Should I Do If My Green Card Shows the Wrong Category?

Compare the code on your card with the tables above and with how you actually immigrated. Common errors include a spouse receiving a principal’s code, a new-arrival code on a card for someone who adjusted status, or a missing conditional code.

1. Check your approval notice to see whether the error is only on the card or also in USCIS’s record of your case.
2. If only the card is wrong, you can generally request a corrected card by filing Form I-90. If the mistake was caused by USCIS, the filing fee is generally waived.
3. If the underlying record is wrong, or you are not sure which category you should have, speak with an immigration attorney before filing anything. A category error can affect conditional residence deadlines and future applications.

Green Card Code FAQ

Is CR6 a permanent green card?

CR6 is permanent residence, but conditional. The card lasts two years, and you must file Form I-751 to remove the conditions and get a 10-year card.

What is the difference between E21 and E26?

Both are EB-2 principal applicants. E21 came from abroad on an immigrant visa; E26 adjusted status in the U.S.

What is the difference between E22 and E27?

Both are spouses of EB-2 principals. E22 came from abroad; E27 adjusted status in the U.S.

What is the difference between IR5 and IR0?

Both are parents of adult U.S. citizens. IR5 came from abroad; IR0 adjusted status in the U.S.

Can I naturalize after three years with an E27 or AS6 code?

Not with E27 unless you are married to a U.S. citizen. With AS6, the one-year rollback can make you eligible earlier than the card date suggests, but the general rule is five years of permanent residence.

Questions About Your Green Card Category?

If your code does not match your case, you are preparing to remove conditions, or you are getting ready to apply for citizenship, BCA Law Firm can review your situation. Consultations are 30 minutes and cost $175, at our office at 700 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross, GA 30071, or online, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Call 678-292-6111 or book a consultation online.

This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Every case is different; speak with an attorney about your situation.