Guide on How to Get an I-94 Record
Form I-94 documents important information about a nonimmigrant’s admission to the United States, including the class of admission and authorized period of stay. Depending on the traveler’s circumstances, the record may also be needed for immigration applications, employment verification, or other official purposes.
Because the information on an I-94 can affect later immigration matters, it is important to know how to access and review your record. This guide explains how to get your I-94 record, find your arrival-departure record number, review your travel history, understand your expiration date, and address inaccurate information.
What Does an I-94 Look Like?
An I-94 record may appear in several forms. Many air and sea travelers receive an electronic record that can be printed from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website. Some travelers receive a paper Form I-94, and USCIS may issue a replacement I-94 at the bottom of a Form I-797A approval notice when it approves requests to extend or change status.
Formats may differ, but an I-94 generally shows the traveler’s name, I-94 number, date of birth, passport information, most recent entry date, class of admission, and “Admit Until Date.” Keep copies of each I-94 issued to you.
How to Get I-94 Record Online
To get your I-94 record, visit CBP’s official I-94 website and select “Get Most Recent I‑94.” The site may prompt you to capture your information by taking a photo of your passport or uploading an image. You can also choose to enter the information manually instead. You’ll then need to provide identifying information like your name, birth date, passport number, and country of citizenship.
Once CBP locates the record, you can review, download, and print it. Check the spelling of your name, passport information, class of admission, arrival date, and authorized stay. A mismatch can prevent the system from finding an otherwise valid record.
Finding Your Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number
When CBP admits you into the country and you get a Form I-94, a distinct identification number is attached to your record. The Form I-94 arrival-departure record number is tied to that specific admission. CBP will generally create a new Form I-94 after a new admission, although the document you receive may depend on the circumstances of your entry.
You can locate the number either on your paper I-94 card or in your online record. Your I-94 may be requested by employers, schools or universities, and government agencies.
I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number Format
Since May 2019, I-94 arrival-departure record numbers are structured as follows:
- 11 characters in total
- The first 9 characters are digits.
- The 10th character is a letter.
- The 11th character is a digit.
I-94 Number Example
An example of a valid I-94 number issued after May 2019 could look like this:
123456789A1
This example follows the current structure:
- The first 9 characters are digits (123456789).
- The 10th character is a letter (A).
- The 11th character is a digit (1).
Older I-94 forms that only contain numbers are still valid until the authorized period of admission ends.
How to Review Your I-94 Travel History
The CBP website may also allow travelers to view an I-94 travel history that shows arrivals and departures recorded during the past ten years for eligible travelers. The I-94 travel history summarizes recorded arrivals and departures, while an individual I-94 reflects a particular admission or authorized-stay record.
Review your travel history for missing or incorrect entries, especially before filing an immigration application that requires a list of international trips. The online I-94 travel history may not contain every trip. You may also reconstruct travel history with passport stamps, airline records, previous I-94 forms, and USCIS notices.
Understanding Your I-94 Expiration Date
For many travelers, the “Admit Until Date” is the I-94 expiration date and shows how long they can remain in the United States after that admission. The expiration date on a visa, passport, Employment Authorization Document, or petition approval may not be the same as the I-94 expiration date.
Some I-94 records show “D/S,” meaning duration of status, instead of a calendar date. This means that the person’s authorized stay is dependent on their continued compliance with the conditions of their immigration classification.
What It Means to Have a Valid I-94 but an Expired Visa
Having a valid I-94 but an expired visa means that you may still be authorized to stay in the United States for the period shown on your I-94 even though your visa has expired.
A visa allows you to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request admission. Your I-94, by contrast, records your class of admission and authorized period of stay after you enter the country or, in some cases, after USCIS approves an immigration request.
If your visa expires while you are in the U.S., it does not by itself end your authorized stay as long as your I-94 is valid and you comply with the terms of your stay (e.g., maintaining your student, work, or visitor status). However, if you leave the U.S. with an expired visa, you will generally need a valid visa to request readmission unless an exception applies.
What to Do if Your Form I-94 Is Not Updated
If your Form I-94 is not updated, determine which agency issued it so you can get an I-94 record with the correct information from them.
- If CBP made an error when issuing the record at entry, ask the port of entry or the nearest CBP Deferred Inspection Site about the correction procedure.
- If USCIS issued the I-94 as part of a Form I-797A approval notice, follow the appropriate USCIS correction process.
Bring all relevant documents, such as your passport and visa, to support your correction request.
Problems With Your Form I-94? Contact Din Law Group
If you have discovered discrepancies in your Form I-94, are struggling to get an I-94, or are concerned that you may have violated the terms of your immigration status, seek assistance from an immigration lawyer.
At Din Law Group, experienced immigration lawyer Asma Din can help identify which agency issued the record, compare the document with your passport and immigration notices, and help determine which correction process applies.
Contact us today to discuss your I-94 issue and the next step for your immigration matter.
