I-94 Form: What It Is, How to Get It, and Mistakes to Avoid

You land at a U.S. airport, passport in hand, and the CBP officer waves you through. What you probably don’t see is the electronic record they just created — your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. That seemingly invisible document tracks every non-citizen’s lawful entry and authorized stay, and fixing a mistake on it can be surprisingly tricky. Here’s what you need to know about retrieving yours and correcting errors before they cause problems.

Issued by: U.S. Customs and Border Protection ·
Format: Electronic record (paper discontinued in 2013) ·
Cost: Free ·
Official retrieval site: i94.cbp.dhs.gov

Five key facts at a glance, one pattern: the I-94 is simple in concept but critical to get right because it drives almost every immigration benefit.

The implication: this table distills the I-94’s core identity — a free, electronic record issued by CBP that touches every foreign visitor’s legal stay.

What is Form I-94 used for?

What information does the I-94 record contain?

• Your admission number (11-digit alphanumeric)
• Class of admission (e.g., B-2 tourist, F-1 student)
• Date of entry and date authorized to stay until
• Port of entry and mode of travel

According to the CBP I-94 FAQs, the electronic record “documents a foreign visitor’s lawful admission to the United States.” It is the primary proof of lawful entry for applying for a visa extension, change of status, or adjustment of status.

Why is the I-94 important for maintaining legal status?

The date stamped on your I-94 — not your visa expiration date — determines how long you may legally remain in the U.S. The U.S. government’s official portal (USAGov) states that staying beyond the “Admit Until” date on your I-94 constitutes unlawful presence and can trigger a three- or ten-year bar from re-entry.

The pattern: keeping a copy of your I-94 is not optional — it’s the reference document for every future interaction with U.S. immigration authorities.

Where can I find the I-94 form?

How to retrieve your electronic I-94 record online

• Go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov
• Click “Get Most Recent I-94”
• Enter your name exactly as on your passport, date of birth, and passport information
• Make the required attestation (you agree the information is correct)
• View or print your record

The NAFSA (association of international educators) resource recommends entering the name exactly as listed in the passport, because even a single character mismatch will fail to match CBP’s database.

What if you have a paper I-94 from before 2013?

Paper I-94 forms were discontinued for most travelers in April 2013, according to CBP. Travelers who entered before that date should keep the original paper form stapled in their passport. For entries after 2013, the electronic record is the official version. Land border entries may still receive a paper I-94 at some ports — the USAGov page advises checking with CBP at the port.

Where to find the I-94 admission stamp in your passport

CBP officers often stamp the passport with the date of admission and the visa class. This stamp is a helpful visual confirmation, but the authoritative record is the electronic I-94. If your stamp is missing or illegible, you can still retrieve the electronic version online.

The pattern: the electronic I-94 is the legal source of truth; the passport stamp is merely a convenience.

Who needs to complete an I-94 form?

Do U.S. citizens need an I-94?

No. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are not issued I-94 records. CBP’s system automatically exempts them.

Do Visa Waiver Program travelers need an I-94W?

Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries (e.g., the U.K., Japan, Germany) receive an I-94W record instead of a standard I-94. The I-94W is functionally the same but is linked to ESTA authorization. The CBP help page notes you can retrieve it via the same website using the “Get Most Recent I-94” button.

Do F-1 students or exchange visitors need an I-94?

Yes. F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and all other nonimmigrants receive an I-94 upon admission. For F-1 students, the I-94 typically shows “D/S” (Duration of Status) in the “Admit Until” field, meaning they can stay as long as they maintain full-time enrollment and a valid I-20. The University of Wisconsin-River Falls guide emphasizes checking the I-94 immediately after each entry to confirm the D/S notation is correct.

What if I don’t have I-94 on my passport?

How to check your electronic I-94 record if the passport stamp is missing

Not having a physical stamp does not mean you lack an I-94. As CBP explains, most entries are recorded electronically. Go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov and enter your travel document information. The system displays your most recent I-94 record — even if the officer never placed a stamp in your passport.

What to do if the admission stamp was not placed by the CBP officer

If you cannot retrieve an electronic record and no stamp exists, you may have been admitted incorrectly. The CBP help page advises contacting the Deferred Inspection office closest to your location. Alternatively, you can use CBP’s Traveler Communication Center webform under “I-94/Traveler Compliance” and select “Issue with my I-94/Traveler History.”

The NAFSA resource adds that travelers who were admitted incorrectly should visit a local CBP Deferred Inspection Site or Port of Entry for correction. If you have already left the port, a correction may still be routed through deferred inspection.

The implication: an inaccurate or missing I-94 can make it impossible to prove lawful entry, blocking everything from a driver’s license renewal to a green card application.

How do I get my I-94 form?

Step-by-step to retrieve your electronic I-94

1. Open your browser and go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov.
2. Click the “Get Most Recent I-94” button.
3. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport, your date of birth, and your passport number and country of issuance.
4. Check the attestation box (you confirm the information is accurate).
5. Click “Submit” and your most recent I-94 record will appear.

The NAFSA guide warns that the system is case-sensitive and will reject entries if the name on the form does not match the passport exactly. If you get an error, try alternative capitalizations or check for middle names.

How to download your I-94 as a PDF

Once your record is displayed, use your browser’s “Print” function and select “Save as PDF.” The CBP system does not offer a direct PDF download button, but the printed page includes a header with your name and admission information that is legally sufficient for most applications. The USAGov page confirms the printed record is acceptable as proof of lawful admission.

How to get an I-94 at the port of entry if entering by land

Travelers entering the U.S. by land at a border crossing may still receive a paper I-94 (Form I-94A) from the CBP officer. This paper form has a tear-off section that you keep with your passport. If you lose it, you must apply for a replacement through the CBP Deferred Inspection office — the online system only handles electronic records.

The pattern: paper I-94 holders cannot retrieve a duplicate online. If you lose the paper, you must visit a CBP office in person or use the Traveler Communication Center webform. Keep the paper I-94 attached to your passport at all times.

Common I-94 errors and how to fix them

According to HSD Immigration Lawyer (immigration law practice), the most frequent errors on I-94 records include inaccurate name spelling, wrong admission date, incomplete travel history, and incorrect visa classification. Many of these can be corrected without a lawyer if you act quickly.

“Foreign visitors to the US no longer need to complete paper Customs and Border Protection Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record.”

— U.S. Customs and Border Protection (official guidance)

“The I-94 is the Arrival/Departure Record issued to foreign visitors who are admitted to the US.”

— University of Wisconsin Terradotta (international student services)

If you spot an error in your I-94, here are the correction channels ranked by authority:

• CBP Deferred Inspection office (in person) — best for admission class or date errors discovered within days of entry.
• CBP Traveler Communication Center webform — choose “I-94/Traveler Compliance” → “Issue with my I-94/Traveler History.” Suitable for non-urgent corrections.
• DHS TRIP — for inaccurate arrival/departure history data that cannot be fixed through CBP. NAFSA notes CBP has suggested this route for historical data errors.
• Email — some CBP deferred inspection offices now accept emailed correction requests, as reported by Hunton (business immigration law firm).

The Foster Global (immigration advisory) resource specifies that if you have already left the port of entry, the correction request is routed through deferred inspection rather than the inspection booth.

A traveler’s single most important action: check your I-94 within 24 hours of every U.S. entry. If the record is wrong, fix it immediately. The catch: spend 10 minutes now to verify your I-94, or risk weeks of paperwork and possible status violations later.

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