The following FAQs and additional
information can be found here: Arrival/Departure
Forms: I-94 and I-94W
What is a Form I-94?
Form I-94 is the DHS
Arrival/Departure Record issued to aliens who are admitted to the U.S., who are
adjusting status while in the U.S. or extending their stay, among other things.
A CBP officer generally attaches the I-94 to the non-immigrant visitor’s passport
upon U.S. entry. The visitor must exit the U.S. on or before the departure date
stamped on the I-94.
How will the new I-94 automation
impact international travelers’ entry to the U.S.?
I-94 automation will not impact a
traveler’s ability to enter the U.S. CBP will continue to create an I- 94
record for all travelers who require one, but the paper form will be created in
an electronic format and not provided to the traveler. If a traveler requires a
paper version of Form I-94, it will be available at www.cbp.gov/I94
Will CBP provide a traveler with
any documentation or evidence showing status and time allowed in the U.S.?
Yes. CBP will provide each
traveler with an admission stamp that is annotated with date of admission,
class of admission and admitted until date. The electronic arrival/departure
record can be obtained at www.cbp.gov/I94.
Will travelers need to do
anything differently when exiting the U.S.? How can they be sure their
departure will be recorded properly with this new the I-94 automation process?
Travelers will not need to do
anything differently upon exiting the U.S. Travelers issued a paper Form I-94
should surrender it to the commercial carrier or CBP upon departure. The
departure will be recorded electronically with manifest information provided by
the carrier or by CBP. If travelers did not receive a paper Form I-94 and the
record was created electronically, CBP will record their departure using
manifest information obtained from the carrier.
How does a traveler revalidate a
visa without their I-94?
The I-94 admission record is
created electronically and maintained in CBP systems. CBP will verify the I-94
electronically to re-validate an expired visa if the traveler meets the
conditions of automatic revalidation. If entry occurred prior to automation, a
paper form must be presented in order to comply with validation requirements.
Will CBP still issue a paper Form
I-94 once the automation begins?
No. Rather than distributing a
paper Form I-94, CBP will scan a traveler’s passport, generating an electronic
arrival record with data elements found on the current paper Form I-94. CBP will
make the electronic I-94 available at www.cbp.gov/I94. Travelers may visit this
website to print their electronic I-94 number before applying for immigration or
public benefits, such as a driver’s license or a Social Security number. Since
automation only affects air and sea arrivals, a paper Form I-94 is still issued
at the land border ports of entry. Also, CBP intends to continue to provide a
paper Form I-94 to certain classes of aliens, such as refugees, certain asylees
and parolees, and whenever CBP determines the issuance of a paper form is appropriate.
What should a traveler do if he
or she was admitted incorrectly to the U.S.?
If an applicant was admitted
incorrectly to the U.S., the applicant should visit a local CBP Deferred Inspection
Site or port of entry to have his or her admission corrected. A list of
Deferred Inspection Sites and ports of entry can be found at www.cbp.gov, under
the “Ports” link at the bottom of the page. If an applicant received an incorrect
I-94 from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the applicant should refer
to Form I-102 available at www.uscis.gov/ forms.
Will the process help expedite
passenger processing time?
The I-94 automation will expedite
passenger processing. CBP automated the I-94W process in 2010, which
independent studies show has resulted in an approximate 20- second time savings
per passenger. CBP estimates that I- 94 automation will result in similar time
savings.
What is the I-94 website (www.cbp.gov/I94)?
Travelers may visit www.cbp.gov/I94
to retrieve their electronic I-94 number. Upon entering the U.S., travelers will
receive a paper with instructions on how to access the website.
