Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record)
Updated May 2026
Form I-94 is the official U.S. record of when a nonimmigrant entered the United States, in what classification, and how long they are authorized to stay. It is generated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry and is the controlling document for lawful presence, more important than the visa stamp in the passport.
Why the I-94 matters
The I-94 is one of the most important documents in U.S. immigration law and one of the most misunderstood. Many nonimmigrants confuse the visa in their passport with their lawful stay period. They are different. The visa is permission to apply for admission. The I-94 is the actual record of admission and the date until which the traveler may lawfully remain. Overstay liability under INA section 212(a)(9)(B), the unlawful presence bar, runs from the I-94 admit-until date, not the visa expiration.
The I-94 is issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and stored in CBP's electronic systems. The traveler can retrieve their own I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov by entering passport number and biographic information.
Electronic vs. paper I-94
CBP has moved most I-94s to electronic format. Today's typical traveler arriving by air or sea receives an electronic I-94 with no paper given at the port of entry. The traveler must retrieve the electronic record online if they need to confirm their admission details.
Paper I-94s are still issued in some situations:
- Land border crossings at most ports of entry.
- Certain humanitarian or special-status travelers, including parolees and certain refugees.
- Secondary inspection where CBP issues a temporary or special I-94.
How to read the I-94
An I-94 has several key fields:
- Admission (I-94) Number. An 11-digit number assigned at the port of entry. Used in many subsequent immigration applications.
- Most Recent Entry Date. The date the traveler was admitted to the U.S.
- Class of Admission. The visa category in which the traveler was admitted. Common codes: B-1 (business visitor), B-2 (tourist), F-1 (student), H-1B (specialty occupation), L-1 (intracompany transfer), J-1 (exchange visitor), and so on.
- Admit Until Date. The date until which the traveler may lawfully remain in the U.S. May be a specific date or 'D/S' (Duration of Status).
'D/S' (Duration of Status)
Some classifications are admitted for 'Duration of Status' rather than a specific date. The most common D/S categories are:
- F-1 students at SEVP-certified schools.
- J-1 exchange visitors in programs administered by designated J-1 sponsors.
- M-1 vocational students.
D/S means the traveler is admitted for the period during which they remain in lawful status for the purpose for which they were admitted. F-1 students remain in status while pursuing a full course of study; J-1 exchange visitors remain in status while their program is active. D/S admissions do not have a fixed end date, but they end when the qualifying activity ends.
I-94 vs. visa: critical differences
The single most common source of immigration legal trouble is confusion between the visa and the I-94. Here is the clearer breakdown:
The visa in the passport is permission to enter the United States. The I-94 controls how long you may stay.
- Visa expired, I-94 valid: You are still in lawful status. You cannot re-enter without renewing the visa at a U.S. consulate abroad, but staying in the U.S. is fine.
- Visa valid, I-94 expired: You are out of status. The visa is irrelevant for the current trip. You are accruing unlawful presence and may trigger the 3 or 10-year bar.
- Both valid: You are in status and can travel internationally and return.
- Both expired: You are out of status and would need a new visa to re-enter.
Extending or changing status
If a nonimmigrant needs more time than the I-94 allows, the options are:
- Extension of status. File Form I-539 (or, for H-1B and similar work visas, Form I-129) before the I-94 expires. USCIS may grant an extension of the same classification.
- Change of status. File Form I-539 or I-129 to change to a different nonimmigrant classification. Common changes: B-2 to F-1 student, F-1 to H-1B.
- Adjustment of status. If the nonimmigrant is the beneficiary of an approved immigrant petition and an immigrant visa is available, file Form I-485 to become a lawful permanent resident.
- Departure and re-entry. Leave the U.S. and re-enter on the same or different visa. Each re-entry generates a new I-94.
USCIS extension or change requests filed before the I-94 expires generally protect the applicant from accruing unlawful presence while the case is pending, even if the I-94 expires during adjudication.
Common I-94 errors and corrections
CBP I-94s contain errors with some frequency. Common patterns:
- Wrong class of admission. B-2 marked as B-1, or H-1B marked as B-2.
- Wrong admit-until date. Often a one-letter typo or wrong year.
- Wrong duration for D/S vs date admissions. An F-1 mistakenly given a specific date instead of D/S.
Errors are corrected through a CBP Deferred Inspection office. Most major airports have one; land borders generally do. The traveler brings:
- The original passport with the visa stamp.
- Any supporting documents (I-20 for F-1, DS-2019 for J-1, offer letter for H-1B, etc.).
- The current I-94 (or printout from i94.cbp.dhs.gov).
The Deferred Inspection officer reviews the case and either corrects the I-94 on the spot or refers it to CBP headquarters for further review. Corrections are free and generally completed within hours to a few weeks.
Why the I-94 matters for green card cases
The I-94 is a foundational document for almost every immigration application. Examples:
- Form I-485 (adjustment of status) requires the I-94 record of the most recent admission. Without lawful admission, most applicants cannot adjust under INA section 245(a).
- Form I-130 (family petition) for a spouse seeking adjustment of status requires evidence of the spouse's lawful admission, documented by the I-94.
- Visa applications at U.S. consulates abroad require the applicant's complete U.S. travel history, which is built from I-94 records.
- Removal proceedings often turn on whether the respondent was lawfully admitted or entered without inspection. The I-94 is the controlling evidence.
Retrieving and saving the I-94 after every U.S. entry is a habit every nonimmigrant should develop. It takes 30 seconds at i94.cbp.dhs.gov and provides a permanent record that subsequent immigration applications will routinely require.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form I-94?
Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, is the U.S. government's official record of when a nonimmigrant entered the United States, what classification they were admitted in, and how long they may lawfully stay. It is generated electronically at the port of entry and is available to the traveler at i94.cbp.dhs.gov. The I-94 controls lawful presence, not the visa stamp.
What is the difference between a visa and an I-94?
A visa is a stamp in the passport issued by a U.S. consulate abroad. It is permission to apply for admission at a U.S. port of entry. An I-94 is the actual admission record created by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when the traveler crosses the border. The visa allows entry; the I-94 controls how long the traveler may stay and in what classification. A traveler may have an expired visa but still be lawfully present if the I-94 is unexpired.
Where do I find my I-94?
Most I-94s today are electronic and can be retrieved at i94.cbp.dhs.gov by entering your passport number and biographic information. Paper I-94s are issued only at land border crossings, at certain secondary inspection scenarios, and to certain humanitarian or special-status travelers. If you cannot find your I-94, contact a CBP Deferred Inspection office or consult an immigration attorney.
How long am I allowed to stay on my I-94?
Look at the 'Admit Until' date on the I-94. That date controls. Some classifications have specific date admissions (B-2 tourist gets a date, typically 6 months from entry). Others use 'Duration of Status' or 'D/S' (F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors). D/S means the traveler is admitted for the period of authorized activity rather than a fixed date. F-1 students remain in status while pursuing a full course of study at a SEVP-certified school.
What is the difference between visa expiration and I-94 expiration?
The visa is the entry permission. Once you have used it to enter the U.S., the visa's expiration only matters for re-entry after international travel. The I-94 expiration is what controls how long you may stay in the U.S. on the current trip. You can have a valid visa with an expired I-94 (you are out of status) or an expired visa with a valid I-94 (you are still in status but cannot re-enter without renewing the visa).
What happens if my I-94 is wrong?
I-94 errors are common, particularly for incorrect admit-until dates and classifications. CBP issues corrections through Deferred Inspection offices at airports and land borders. Common errors: a B-2 visitor admitted as a B-1, a J-1 not marked as D/S, a wrong date stamp. Schedule a Deferred Inspection appointment and bring the original passport, visa, and any supporting documents (offer letter, school I-20, etc.) to correct the I-94.
Does my I-94 expire when my passport expires?
No. The I-94 has its own expiration independent of the passport. However, you must maintain a valid passport while in the U.S. If your passport expires while you are in the U.S., renew it through your country's embassy or consulate. The new passport does not automatically extend the I-94.
What about I-94 for green card holders and U.S. citizens?
Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) do not receive an I-94 at every entry; their LPR status is documented by the I-551 card. U.S. citizens do not receive an I-94. The I-94 is a nonimmigrant document. If a lawful permanent resident has been outside the U.S. for more than a year without a re-entry permit, CBP may issue a special I-94 to facilitate the inspection process.
Go deeper
The I-94 touches almost every nonimmigrant case. For deeper analysis of related topics, see our I-485 vs Consular Processing decision guide, the Form I-485 glossary entry, and the USCIS Processing Times 2026 reference. Return to the Immigration Glossary hub for other terms.
Talk to a Claxton Law immigration attorney
If your I-94 has an error, is about to expire, or you are not sure what your I-94 means for your situation, a quick attorney review can prevent expensive immigration problems. Claxton Law works with nonimmigrants on extensions, changes of status, and the AOS or consular path to permanent residence.