Can You Explain Form I-94 Travel Record?
Visitors to the US receive an electronic or paper Form I-94 from CBP. This form tracks US-bound and departing non-citizens. The record shows you entered the US legally and provides a departure date.
Form I-94 was paper for most foreign visitors before May 2013. They had to give the CBP this form to record their departure for the country. Nowadays, most visitors get an electronic Form I-94. This is not yours. Click “Get Most Recent I-94” on CBP’s website to obtain your form.
Some international visitors receive paper I-94s. CBP issues these at land border ports. Aviation and maritime ports of entry use electronic I-94 records. Some asylees, parolees, and refugees receive paper Form I-94 from CBP officers.
Border crossing card holders from Mexico rarely receive I-94 records. You can request one if you enter the US after 25 miles.
How do immigration officials use I-94?
U.S. immigration officials check Form I-94 to determine your stay. Passport and I-94 records show your “Admit Until Date.” You can stay in the country for the date.
If you have a CBP entry stamp on your passport, the officer may write “Duration of Status” or “D/S” as your “Admit Until Date.” If you stay in the US until your visa expires or you remain in authorised non-immigrant status, you can stay.
Post-completion OPT approval allows F-1 students to stay in the US after their visa stamp expires as long as they remain students. If they leave the US, they must renew their visa stamp to re-enter in F-1 status to continue OPT.
Your I-94 travel record shows past US entries and exits. Proof of legal entry and visa compliance is crucial with this record. Certain government processes, like driver’s licence applications, may require this information.
When extending your stay or adjusting your status in the US, such as obtaining a green card, you will receive a new Form I-94 from USCIS to verify your legal status.
Which People Need I-94 Forms?
I-94 forms are usually required for non-citizens entering the US. Entering CBP automatically issues this document.
One may not be needed if:
- You entered via Visa Waiver or Compact of Free Association.
- A Border Crossing Card is used.
- Visa-holders temporarily visiting Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean are reentering automatically.
- Flight crew members are temporarily entering.
Not all visitors must file Form I-94. For visitors with visa waivers, you can now access arrival and departure information online instead of filing Form I-94W. Flight crew should submit Form I-95. These serve the same purpose as a regular I-94, recording travel history. You should ask a CBP officer when you arrive in the US if these apply.
Where to Get a Form I-94 Travel Record?
After entering the US, Customs and Border Protection will check your passport and non-immigrant visa. An electronic tracking system will be used to enter your information and stamp your passport. Land travellers may receive a paper I-94 card. For sea or air entry, you’ll get one electronically.
Think you get the form electronically as an air or sea traveller. Access instructions will likely be printed. Download and print your record from CBP’s website for easy viewing and access.
If you arrive by land, expect a paper copy. A visitor’s passport will have a small white card. When leaving the US, give the officer this I-94. This form ensures you did not overstay your visa by tracking your departure.
