Temporary Work Visas

Practice Areas

How To Obtain An I-94 After Entry To The US

On April 26, 2013, CBP automated the I-94 process. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) no longer issues paper I-94 cards for most arrivals into the U.S. by air and sea (Note: paper I-94s are still issued when a person enters by land). Consequently, additional steps are required for travelers who enter the US by air or sea on non-immigrant visas (such as the following visas: H, L, B, F, O, P, U etc.).These steps also apply to some other non-citizens who enter the US (such as asylees/refugees, those entering on Advance Parole, etc.) by air or sea.
Below are the steps that need to be taken every time you enter the United States by air or sea.

Step #1: Obtain a stamp in your passport.

When you enter the US, CBP will stamp your passport. The admission stamp is annotated with: (1) the date of admission; (2) the class of admission; & (3) the “admitted until date.”

Step #2: Within 24 hours of every entry to the US, follow these steps:

  • Go to this link
  • Click on “Get Most Recent I-94”
  • Read the Security Notice and if you agree click on “Consent and Continue”
  • Complete the information requested and then click next to continue
  • Next, verify the information on the Form I-94 is correct.
  • If all information is correct, save the document for your records.
In particular, you want to assure that the following is correct:
  • Your name
  • Your date of birth
  • You passport number
  • Country of Issuance (the country that issued the passport you used to enter)
  • Your most recent entry date
  • The “Admit Until Date”
  • Your class of admission (this should be the same as your non-immigrant visa)
*Note: You will only have access to your most recent admission record on the I-94 website until your next departure from the US. Because the I-94 is not available indefinitely and an accurate I-94 may be needed to comply with certain non-immigrant visa requirements, you should take steps #1 and #2 above within 24 hours of entry.

Step #3: Assure that your departure is recorded (if departing by land):

Departure by plane: If you leave by plane, your departure will be recorded automatically and you do not need to do anything. The system should automatically be updated upon your departure and entry information should no longer be available in the online I-94 system.

Departure by land:

If you have a paper form I-94 and depart by land, when you enter Canada you can turn the form in to Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) or when you enter Mexico you can give it to CBP at the port of entry prior to entering Mexico.
If you received an electronic I-94 upon arrival by air or sea and depart via land, your departure may not be recorded accurately. A departure will be recorded if you depart by land and re-enter the US prior to the expiration date stamped in your passport. If you are not a resident of Canada or Mexico and you receive an electronic I-94 and depart by land, but do not re-enter the United States prior to the expiration date stamped on your passport, you should travel with evidence of your land departure into Canada or Mexico. Evidence of land departure can include, but is not limited to, entry stamps in a passport, transportation tickets, pay stubs and/or other receipts. A traveler can request an entry stamp from CBSA when entering Canada or from the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM) when entering Mexico.

How to Address Problems with the online I-94 system if they come up:

If the information is not correct on the I-94: You may need to visit a local CBP Deferred Inspection office to request changes.
If you cannot log-in to the I-94 system: It is possible that the Form does not exist because of a system error. It is more likely that the data is formatted differently than you entered it. Double-check the name or combination of names used. If you can’t correct it, call or visit Deferred Inspection.
The phone number to the San Francisco Deferred Inspection office is (415) 844-5227.

Get In Touch

We are ready to answer your individual or business immigration questions.
We just need a brief description of your case. You can discuss all of the details when you speak with someone from our team.

How We Can Help You

Discover a world of possibilities with Becker.

Temporary Work Visas

Embark on Your U.S. Career Journey with Temporary Work Visas. Open Doors to Exciting Opportunities and Professional Growth. Act Now!

Employment – based Green Cards

Your Path to Permanent Residency and a Thriving Career Awaits. Discover Employment-Based Green Cards to Secure Your Future in the United States. Take Action Today!

Humanitarian Immigration

Be a Beacon of Hope – Champion Humanitarian Causes with Our Immigration Services. Make a Positive Impact and Start Your Humanitarian Immigration Journey. Join Us Now!

Family Immigration

Embrace the Joy of Reuniting with Your Family in the U.S. Explore Our Comprehensive Family Immigration Services. Let's Begin the Process to Bring Your Loved Ones Closer. Connect Today!