The I-94 is the Arrival/Departure Record kept by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Travelers can print their own I-94 from the CBP I-94 website or the CBP Link app. If CBP made an error on the record, you go to a CBP port of entry or deferred inspection office. If USCIS issued the I-94 with an error, USCIS says you may file Form I-102.
What the I-94 is
CBP's I-94 page describes the Form I-94 as an Arrival/Departure Record. The page says CBP no longer requires the paper form for most foreign visitors, and for many travelers the record is electronic. The page also explains that I-94 numbers stay at 11 characters but follow a format of 9 digits, a letter in the 10th position and a digit in the 11th. Older all-numeric I-94 numbers exist too.
Our glossary defines other terms you may see on immigration paperwork.
How to get your I-94
CBP says travelers who want a paper copy can "print their own I-94 Form from the I-94 website using 'Get Most Recent I-94'." The I-94 website and the CBP Link mobile app are the official places to look. USCIS makes the same point in its Policy Manual: a person issued an electronic I-94 may get a paper version through the CBP I-94 website.
The CBP page also says Visa Waiver Program travelers are encouraged to apply for their I-94 in advance through the website or app. Use CBP's own pages for the exact steps and the information you must enter.
The Admit Until date
CBP's page mentions the "Admit Until" date in one place only: it says unexpired I-94s in the older all-numeric format "will continue to be valid until the Admit Until Date printed on the paper I-94." The pages we reviewed do not explain what that date means for a particular visa type or status, and they do not say what happens if it passes. That depends on your category. A Designated School Official (DSO) for F-1 students, your employer's immigration counsel, or a licensed immigration attorney can explain what the date means for you.
If your I-94 has an error: who fixes it
The right office depends on who issued the record.
If CBP issued it
USCIS says that if CBP issued the form with incorrect information, such as a misspelled name, wrong birth date, wrong visa classification or wrong admission date, you should "not file Form I-102." The USCIS Policy Manual says "the alien must contact CBP to correct the information," and gives the nearest CBP port of entry or deferred inspection office as the places to go.
CBP's deferred inspection page says these sites "will only correct errors made at the time of entry." It says site staff can review and issue the necessary documents to remedy errors recorded on arrival documents at entry relating to improper nonimmigrant classification, inaccurate biographical information or incorrect period of admission, if appropriate. It also says "Mail-in procedures are generally not available," though some sites accept correction requests by email. Each site has its own contact method, so check the CBP page for your site. The CBP I-94 page says over 70 Deferred Inspection Sites exist.
For changes after entry, such as extending your stay or changing status, the CBP deferred inspection page says you must contact USCIS instead. Those are separate requests handled by USCIS. For background on USCIS forms, see our Form I-539 page.
If USCIS issued it
The Policy Manual says that if USCIS issued the form with incorrect information, the person may file Form I-102. The Form I-102 page says the form is for nonimmigrants who need a new or replacement Form I-94 or I-95. If USCIS made the error through no fault of the applicant, the Policy Manual says no fee is required. If the applicant's information caused the error, the fee applies. The form cannot be used if a person was not properly inspected and admitted, or to correct an improper inspection. I-102 fees are on the USCIS Fee Schedule at uscis.gov/g-1055.
Filing addresses and any notices about them change, so use the USCIS Form I-102 page for the current filing location and form edition.
Leaving the country by land
CBP's I-94 page notes a recording issue. If you received an electronic I-94 and leave by land, CBP says your departure may not be recorded accurately. It says a departure will be recorded if you leave by land and re-enter the United States before the expiration date stamped in your passport. If you are not a resident of Canada or Mexico and do not re-enter before that date, CBP says you may want to travel with evidence of your departure. It says evidence can include entry stamps in a passport, and lists transportation tickets and pay stubs as examples.
Common questions
Where do I get a copy of my I-94?
From the CBP I-94 website or the CBP Link app, using "Get Most Recent I-94."
Should I file Form I-102 to fix a CBP mistake?
No. USCIS says not to file Form I-102 when CBP issued the form with incorrect information. Contact CBP.
Can I mail my correction request to a deferred inspection office?
CBP says mail-in procedures are generally not available. Some sites accept email. Check your site's page.
Does the I-94 page tell me how long the correction takes?
No. The pages we reviewed do not state a processing time for I-94 corrections.
Official sources
- CBP: I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
- CBP: Deferred Inspection Sites
- USCIS: Form I-102
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 11, Part F, Chapter 2
GreenLight is not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. government. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.