How to import Illustrator File into After Effects (Layers)

Hello! 

I've been trying to import an illustrator file that has multiple layers. I clicked "Release to Layers(Sequence) and saved the Illustrator file as as an ai. file. After dropping the illustrator file into the composition, I selected it as "Footage" & "Merge Layers" but  the layers don't pop up on the screen. I've tried downloading file as a pdf & many other file types but it still doesn't work.