Form I94 Arrival/Departure Record – Everything you Need To Know
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security uses Form I94 to record U.S. arrivals and departures. Form I94 records would show a history of your U.S. travel history.
You will be typically issued an I94 travel document upon entry unless you are one of the following:
- U.S. citizen
- Holder of an immigrant visa
- Green card holder
- Canadian citizen visiting or passing through the U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officers now issue electronic I94 travel documents at the point of entry when a visitor travels by plane or boat.
Visitors that arrive by land can either apply for an I94 in person upon arrival or just before arriving through the official I94 website or the CBP One app.
Advantages of the CBP One App and the Official I94 Website
There are many advantages to using the app or the website for your travel documentation including:
- Accessibility of your most recent I94 document
- Ability to print or download your most recent Form I94
- Viewing your U.S. travel history for the previous 10 years
- Quickly viewing your legal length of stay
- Email reminders about your departure deadline
- Notifications if you exceed your admission period
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Form I-94W and the Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program is for visitors to the United States from certain participating countries.
The program allows these visitors to stay in the U.S. for up to 90 days without getting a visa. These visitors must have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization approval prior to arrival and meet certain requirements.
Visitors to the U.S. taking part in the VWP aren’t issued a normal Form I-94. They are issued an I-94W.
Why Do You Need an I94?
An I94 is used as proof that you entered the U.S. legally and have not overstayed your visa. You are usually required to provide a Form I94 to USCIS when you apply to adjust your status.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Form I94
Does the I94 have an expiration date?
Your Form I94 has an OMB No. and expiration date. This expiration date is the I94 form’s validity date and does not affect your immigration status. The OMB expiration date must be in date for the form to be I94 to be valid.
This is often confused with your Admit Until Date. The Admit Until Date is your deadline for exiting the country.
Sometimes, an I94 will have no Admit Until Date. Instead, an I94 could have “D/S” written in place of a date. That means that you can stay for the “Duration of Status.” In other words, you would be allowed to stay until your visa status expires.
I was admitted incorrectly, according to my I94. What should I do?
While unusual, errors like this can happen. You can contact an experienced immigration attorney to make sure you have fair representation, but you will need to have your I94 corrected.
If the document can’t be immediately corrected at the port of entry due to lack of documentation, you may need to visit a CBP Deferred Inspection Site to get your I94 corrected. Unfortunately, there are only around 70 of these locations throughout the country and its territories.
Correcting errors on your I94 is very important because federal agencies use I94 records for many immigration purposes. It’s vital that your visits are properly documented.
What do I do if my I94 is shown as “not found” on the official website?
First, be sure to check that you have done the following:
- You entered your name exactly as it’s shown on your passport.
- You entered the correct passport number.
- You entered your country of citizenship properly, if you live in a country different from your country of citizenship.
If you have done these things, you can try to find your I94 by searching for your first and middle name in the first name box. You can also try just putting your middle name in the first name box. If you’ve tried these things and you still can’t find a record of your I94, you can contact the CBP Traveler Communications Center.
Keep in mind, if you are an asylum seeker or received a handwritten or stamped I94 on paper when you entered the U.S., you might not be able to find an electronic copy of your I94 on the official website or app.
Do You Need Legal Assistance in the U.S. as a Foreign National?
If you are a visitor in the U.S. and need help with your I94 or you are adjusting your status and need help obtaining your I94 and other documentation for your application, please contact an attorney with U.S. Customs and Border Protection experience. At Warren Law Firm, one of our attorneys may be able to help. Call our office or contact us online today.