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What is an I-94?
The I-94, officially known as the Arrival/Departure Record, is issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to all non-immigrant visitors when entering the U.S.
The I-94 indicates your entry date, the immigration status in which you were admitted, and the duration for which you are permitted to remain inside the U.S.
If you changed or extended your immigration status inside the U.S. after your most recent entry, your new I-94 will appear in the bottom left corner of your I-797 approval notice rather than electronically.
How to Access Your I-94
Download and Save a Copy
Download and save a copy of your electronic I-94 record from the CBP website by selecting “Get Most Recent I-94.”
Follow specific guidance on the CBP website for obtaining an I-94 through a land border.
The USCIS I-797 approval notice confirms your immigration status and the duration you are currently authorized to remain in the U.S.
Review I-94 for Accuracy
Check that your I-94 information is accurate:
- Your passport information
- Your biographical information
- Your date of entry, and
- Your visa class of admission.
I-94 End Dates and Duration of Status (D/S)
If you are an F-1 student, J-1 exchange visitor, or an F-2 or J-2 dependent, you may see the “Admit Until Date” on your I-94 form listed as “D/S”, meaning “Duration of Status”. This means you can stay in the U.S. as long as you maintain your immigration status.
For other visa classifications – commonly employment-based and visitor visa statuses – you will see the “Admit Until Date” on your I-94 form listed as a specific date (MM/DD/YYYY).
This means you can stay in the U.S. until this specific date, as long as you maintain your immigration status.
How to Request a Correction to Your I-94
CBP systems sometimes make errors on I-94 records. It is very important to check your I-94 record for accuracy after each entry into the U.S.
Contact Deferred Inspections
If there is a mistake, request a correction to your I-94 record by contacting CBP Deferred Inspections:
Call the CBP Deferred Inspections office at either JFK or Newark airport (regardless of where you arrived). Be sure to have all of your documents ready when you make the call. They may be able to resolve this by phone.
Contact ISSO
Contact ISSO to report the error and/or to discuss your situation if you need assistance.
I-94 FAQs
Check the I-94 immediately after every entry into the U.S.
Yes. Keep a printed copy of your most recent I-94 accessible at all times.
It is your responsibility to look up your I-94 record after every entry to the U.S.
Check that your I-94 information is accurate. It is extremely important not to overstay the duration for which you were admitted, as it will impact your ability to remain and return to the U.S.
No, it is not an error. Your new I-94 record dictates your legal status in the U.S., not the I-797 approval notice. You must renew your passport before your I-94 expiration date, travel outside the U.S. prior to the I-94 expiration, and re-enter again to be granted the full period of stay.
To do so, you must carry your Documents Needed to Travel, including your new passport.
If you cannot travel abroad, a request must be sent to USCIS to extend your status before your I-94 expires. Contact ISSO and your department immediately if this is the case.
No, it is not an error as long as you have not traveled outside of the U.S. since your change of status was approved.
Your electronic I-94 reflects your immigration status when you entered the U.S. but your I-797 now has your updated I-94 in the lower right corner.
The next time you travel outside of the U.S. refer to our Visa and Travel guidance. In this case, you will receive a new I-94 record upon re-entry. Be sure to check your I-94 to verify that it is recorded correctly.