Frequently Asked Questions: Admission I-94 Number Retrieval

Our office reported on the new automated I-94 system launched by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on April 30, 2013. The change implemented at air and sea ports of entry applies to most foreign travelers entering the United States and the travelers now receive a stamp in their passport rather than a paper I-94 card.

However travelers wanting a hard copy or other evidence of admission are directed to the CBP site to print a copy of an I-94 based on the electronically submitted data, including the I-94 number from the form, to provide as necessary to benefits providers or as evidence of lawful admission.  In an effort to clarify the new protocol for retrieving the I-94 information, CBP published frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the automation of I-94 arrival / departure documentation. The following are some of the questions and answers provided by the CBP.

Q: What information must I provide to retrieve my I-94?

Answer:

The following information is required to retrieve your Admission (I-94) number. Enter the information as it appears on the travel document you used to enter the United States.

1. Family Name- Enter your family name as it appears in the Family Name or Surname field on the travel document you used to enter the United States. First (Given) Name- Enter your first (given) name as it appears in the First or Given Name field on the travel document you used to enter the United States. Do not include middle names, nicknames, or titles.
2.  Birth Date- Enter the date of your birth in the MM/DD/YYYY format (e.g., March 4, 1960 is 03/04/1960).
3. Passport Number- Enter your passport number as it appears on your passport biographic page. The passport number may contain numbers and/or letters. Please closely distinguish between the two. Some commonly confused characters are the number zero (0) and letter ‘O’ and the number one (1), and the letter ‘I’.
4. Country of Issuance- The passport country of issuance is your country of citizenship as it appears on your passport. The country of citizenship on your passport is the passport issuing authority, regardless of the country the passport was physically obtained in.
5. Date of Entry- The date of entry refers to the date you entered the United States. This date can be found on the admission stamp located on your passport.
6. Class of Admission-Your class of admission can be found on the admission stamp in your passport. Class of Admission is typically two to three characters, which may contain numbers or letters.

Q: Will CBP provide a traveler with any documentation or evidence showing status and time allowed in the U.S.?

Answer:

Yes. CBP will provide each traveler with an admission stamp that is annotated with date of admission, class of admission and admitted until date. The CBP admission stamp is listed as an alien registration document found in 8 CFR. 264.1.

Q: How long will my admission record be available on the I-94 website?

Answer:

A traveler will have access to their most recent admission record on the I-94 website until departure from the United States. An admission record will no longer be available to the traveler on the website once he or she departs the United States. The record will remain available to the traveler for the duration a traveler remains in the United States. The availability of the record does not convey legal authority to remain in the United States outside of the terms and conditions of admission. All travelers must comply with the terms of the classification granted and admitted until date.

Q: What should a traveler do if he or she was admitted incorrectly to the United States?

Answer:

If a traveler was admitted incorrectly to the United States, the traveler should visit a local CBP Deferred Inspection Site or Port of Entry (POE) to have his or her admission corrected. A list of Deferred Inspection Sites and POEs can be found on CBP’s website, www.cbp.gov, under the “Ports” link at the bottom of the page. If a traveler was issued an incorrect I-94 by USCIS, the traveler should refer to the Form I-102, which can be found at www.uscis.gov/forms.

Q: How does a traveler revalidate a visa without their I-94?

Answer:

The I-94 admission record is created electronically and maintained in CBP systems. CBP will verify the I-94 electronically to re-validate an expired visa if the traveler meets the conditions of automatic revalidation. In order to demonstrate eligibility for automatic revalidation, a traveler may be required to present a copy of the website printout to the air or sea carrier prior to boarding. If entry occurred prior to automation, a paper form must be presented in order to comply with validation requirements. For more information about automatic revalidation go to http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/clp/bulletins/

Conclusion

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