I-94 Arrival/Departure Record: How to Retrieve It and Read Every Field
I-94 arrival/departure record: what it is and why it matters
The I-94 is the Department of Homeland Security record that shows a noncitizen’s class of admission and authorized period of stay after being inspected and admitted (or paroled) at a U.S. port of entry. Since 2013, most I-94s are electronic; travelers admitted by air or sea retrieve them online, while some land entries may still receive paper cards. Your I-94—not your visa’s expiration date—controls how long you may remain in the United States.
• Where to get it: Retrieve your I-94 and travel history online using your passport details, or use the paper card given at land borders.
• What to check: Class of Admission (e.g., B-2, F-1, H-1B), Admit Until Date (or D/S for “duration of status”), Admission Date, and your I-94 Number (11-digit electronic format).
• Why it matters: The I-94 governs your lawful stay. If you remain past the “Admit Until Date” (or violate D/S rules), you risk overstay and unlawful presence penalties.
• If it’s wrong: Contact a CBP Deferred Inspection Office for corrections to admission details; USCIS handles later status/approval issues.
How to retrieve your I-94 (electronic and paper)
Electronic I-94 (air/sea entries)
- Go to the official CBP I-94 website and choose “Get Most Recent I-94.”
- Enter your passport number, country of issuance, name, and birth date exactly as shown in your travel document.
- Download/print the PDF. Also check “View Travel History” for your arrivals/departures.
Tip: Try variations if you cannot locate your record: remove hyphens or accents, swap first/last name order if your passport has multiple surnames, or use the machine-readable zone (MRZ) spelling.
Paper I-94 (some land entries)
Land ports may still issue a small white card (I-94) stapled into your passport. The officer writes your class (e.g., B-2), an admit-until date, and the I-94 number. Keep it safe; surrender it when you depart if instructed or when asked by airline/carrier. If lost, request a replacement with supporting proof.
| Step | What you’ll need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Retrieve I-94 online | Passport number, issuing country, full name, birth date | Use exact passport formatting; try removing spaces/accents if not found |
| Download travel history | Same as above | Helpful for proving departures & maintaining status timelines |
| No record found | Boarding pass, passport stamps, visas | Contact CBP Deferred Inspection; bring evidence of entry |
How to read the I-94: field-by-field
- Name/Passport Info: Must match the travel document. Minor formatting differences (accents, hyphens) are common in the system.
- Most Recent Date of Entry: The day CBP admitted or paroled you.
- Class of Admission: Your status category—e.g., B-2 (visitor), F-1 (student), H-1B (specialty worker), TN, E-2, PAR (parole), etc. The class controls what you may do in the U.S.
- Admit Until Date: The last day of your authorized stay—unless your class uses D/S (“Duration of Status”), in which case you remain authorized so long as you comply with your category’s rules (e.g., full-time study for F-1).
- Admit Until: D/S: For F-1/J-1/M categories (and some others), the stay is tied to valid program documents (I-20/DS-2019) and compliance. There is no fixed date on the I-94; however, you must maintain the conditions at all times.
- I-94 Number: The unique identifier for your admission (11 digits for electronic I-94s). Use it for forms, DMV, SSN, and I-9 employment eligibility, when applicable.
- Travel History Table: A convenience log of recent entries/exits. It may omit older records or land crossings—save your own evidence as well.
- Controls stay: The I-94—not the visa—sets your authorized period in the U.S.
- Proof of admission: Shows you were inspected and admitted/paroled in a class.
- Does not equal work authorization by itself (except where immigration class + regulations permit it, e.g., some paroled groups or when combined with other documents for I-9).
- Does not extend itself: Only CBP at reentry or USCIS approval (I-797A with new I-94) can change/extend it.
Reading scenarios (with practical tips)
1) Visa expires before I-94
Your visa foil can expire while you remain lawfully present because the I-94 controls your stay. Do not travel internationally unless you plan to apply for a new visa (or you qualify for limited Automatic Visa Revalidation).
2) I-94 expires before the petition/DS-2019/I-20
Common causes are passport expiration or an officer writing a shorter date. If it’s a CBP error, request a correction. If it is tied to passport validity, renew the passport and consider a USCIS extension to align the I-94 with the approved program or petition.
3) USCIS approval changes the class
When USCIS approves an extension or change of status inside the U.S., the I-797A approval notice includes a new I-94 at the bottom. That supersedes the online “most recent” CBP I-94 for your current stay. If you later depart and reenter, CBP will issue a new one again.
4) Parole vs. Admission
Parolees receive an I-94 showing a parole class (e.g., PAR) and an “admit-until” date of authorized parole. Parole is not an immigration status; employment and benefit rules vary—check your specific program and documents.
5) Not found online
Try name variations; confirm exact passport number and country; remove accents/hyphens; check the MRZ line. If still missing, contact CBP Deferred Inspection with evidence (boarding pass, stamps, approval notices). For land entries, you may only have a paper record.
Maintenance and compliance: using your I-94 correctly
- Retrieve and save the PDF same day.
- Confirm class of admission and admit-until date/D/S.
- Compare to your petition/I-20/DS-2019 validity and passport expiry.
- Set calendar alerts 90–180 days before expiration.
- If any field is wrong, contact CBP Deferred Inspection promptly.
- I-94 PDF(s) and travel history screenshots
- Passport biographic page + visas/parole docs
- I-797 approvals (workers), I-20/DS-2019 (students)
- Pay stubs or enrollment records (to prove compliance)
- Address updates (AR-11) confirmations
Risks: overstay and unlawful presence
If you remain past the Admit Until Date (or violate D/S rules), you become out of status and may accrue unlawful presence (ULP). Departing after 180+ or 365+ days of ULP can trigger 3-year or 10-year bars to reentry. Minors under 18 do not accrue ULP. For F/J/M categories, ULP typically begins only after an agency or court makes a formal determination of a status violation, or after certain denials that identify the violation.
Quick Guide (EN)
- Retrieve your I-94 after every entry; save PDF + travel history.
- Read three things: Class of admission, Admit-Until Date (or D/S), and the 11-digit I-94 number.
- I-94 controls stay; the visa controls travel to request entry.
- Corrections: CBP Deferred Inspection fixes admission errors; USCIS approvals inside the U.S. issue new I-94s on I-797A.
- Track deadlines 90–180 days early; file extensions/changes before expiry.
- Overstay/ULP = reentry bars. Leave a buffer and maintain compliance.
- Parole ≠ status. Follow your program’s specific rules.
- Keep records: I-94s, I-797s, I-20/DS-2019, passport, pay/enrollment proof.
FAQ
1) My visa expired but my I-94 is valid. Am I okay to stay?
Yes. Your I-94 governs your authorized stay. The expired visa only affects re-entry if you travel abroad (with narrow exceptions such as Automatic Visa Revalidation).
2) The I-94 shows a shorter date than my approval notice. What now?
If due to a CBP error, ask Deferred Inspection for a correction. If tied to passport expiry or other lawful limitation, consider a timely USCIS extension to bridge the gap.
3) What does “D/S” mean?
Duration of Status. You remain authorized while you maintain program compliance and valid documents (e.g., full-time study for F-1, valid DS-2019 for J-1). There is no fixed end date on the I-94, but violations can end authorization.
4) Can I see every past entry on the travel history page?
Not necessarily. The online history may omit older or land-border records. Keep your own evidence (stamps, tickets) and save PDFs each trip.
5) USCIS approved my change of status. Why does CBP still show the old class?
The CBP site shows your most recent CBP admission. Your current stay may be governed by the new I-94 on your I-797A approval notice from USCIS. Use the I-797A I-94 for I-9/DMV when appropriate.
6) I can’t find my I-94 online. What should I try?
Remove accents and hyphens, try different name orders, verify passport number/country, and check the MRZ spelling. If still missing, contact Deferred Inspection with proof of entry.
7) Do children receive I-94s?
Yes. Each traveler (including infants) receives an I-94 with their class and admit-until date or D/S.
8) Does the I-94 permit employment?
Only if your class of admission and regulations authorize it (e.g., H-1B with the petitioning employer; some parole programs when combined with an EAD). The I-94 alone is not general work authorization.
9) If I overstay by a few days, can I fix it by leaving?
Departing stops additional unlawful presence, but penalties may apply if you accrued 180+ or 365+ days. Speak with counsel before travel if you have any overstay.
10) How do I correct a misspelled name or wrong date?
For admission data (class, date, name tied to the entry), contact CBP Deferred Inspection. For post-entry status issues (e.g., you need more time), file with USCIS—CBP cannot extend your stay after admission.
Technical basis & legal notes (EN)
- Inspection and admission/parole: INA §235; 8 C.F.R. part 235 (CBP inspection authority and admission process).
- Evidence of authorized stay: I-94 issued upon admission or parole; electronic automation began in 2013 (CBP policy/guidance).
- Nonimmigrant maintenance, extensions, and changes: 8 C.F.R. §214.1 (general), class-specific rules in 8 C.F.R. §214.2; changes/extensions via I-797A include a new I-94.
- Unlawful presence and reentry bars: INA §212(a)(9)(B) (3-/10-year bars); accrual rules vary for D/S categories.
- Address updates: 8 C.F.R. §265.1 (AR-11 within 10 days of moving).
- Automatic Visa Revalidation: DOS/DHS regulations (commonly referenced under 22 C.F.R. provisions) allow limited reentry with an expired visa after short trips to contiguous territory/adjacent islands, subject to conditions.