←Home/Templates/Legal/Immigration/I-94 Checklist: Arrival/Departure Record Guide

I-94 Checklist: Arrival/Departure Record Guide

Immigration Attorney and Admission Record Resource

Find and use your I-94 with our arrival/departure record checklist. The I-94 is the record of a nonimmigrant's admission to the United States—class of admission and admitted-until date. Most air and sea travelers can print an electronic I-94 from CBP's website; paper cards are less common. This checklist helps immigration attorneys, employers, and visa holders retrieve the correct record, read the dates, know when Form I-102 is needed for a replacement, and keep a copy for I-539, I-9, and other filings. It is a guide, not a USCIS application form. Confirm current CBP and USCIS instructions. Not legal advice.

I-94 Checklist: Arrival/Departure Record Guide form template preview

Key Benefits

Retrieve the electronic I-94 from CBP before filing I-102
Read class of admission and admit-until date correctly
Keep a copy for I-539, I-9, and status filings
Know when a replacement I-102 is actually needed
Spot common name and passport mismatches
Professional admission-record workflow

Common Use Cases

Nonimmigrants printing an I-94 after air or sea admissionAttorneys checking admit-until dates before I-539 filingsHR and employers verifying work-authorized admission for I-9Travelers whose paper I-94 was lost and who need I-102Paralegals assembling passport and I-94 for status packagesApplicants correcting I-94 errors with CBP or USCIS

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an I-94?
An I-94 is the Arrival/Departure Record that shows how you were admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant—your class of admission (for example B-2 or F-1) and the date your authorized stay ends (D/S for duration of status in some categories). It is evidence of lawful admission and status, not a visa stamp.
How do I get my I-94 online?
For most recent air and sea admissions, go to CBP's I-94 website, enter the biographic and passport details exactly as on your passport, and print or save the PDF. Land-border admissions may still use different processes. If the site returns no record, verify spelling and passport number before assuming the I-94 is missing.
When do I need Form I-102 instead of a CBP printout?
Use Form I-102 when you need USCIS to issue or replace an I-94 because it was lost, stolen, mutilated, or never issued, or in other situations listed on that form—and a correct electronic I-94 is not available from CBP. See the I-102 checklist.
Does the I-94 extend my stay?
No. The I-94 records the stay that was already authorized at admission. To extend or change status, file Form I-539 (or I-129 when that form applies) before the admit-until date. Overstaying after the I-94 date can have serious immigration consequences.

Checklist

CBP Process

Search CBP's I-94 website with passport biographic details
Required

Enter name, date of birth, and passport number exactly as in the passport used for admission.

Documentation

Print or save the electronic I-94 PDF when a correct record appears
Required

Keep a copy for status filings, travel, and I-9. Recheck after each new admission.

On departure, keep evidence of exit if you need to prove you did not overstay

Boarding passes and passport stamps help if an I-94 was not closed out correctly.

Notice Review

Confirm class of admission and admit-until date (or D/S)
Required

Admit-until is the last day of authorized stay for most categories. D/S means duration of status—follow I-20 or DS-2019 rules.

Identity Documents

Match the I-94 to the passport and visa used for that admission
Required

A new passport number can make the old search fail. Try the passport that was presented at the port of entry.

Supporting Documents

Compare the I-94 to the passport admission stamp when available

Stamps and electronic I-94s should align. Discrepancies may need CBP Deferred Inspection or counsel.

USCIS Process

If no correct electronic I-94 exists, evaluate Form I-102 for replacement or initial issuance

See the I-102 checklist. Do not file I-102 solely because you have not tried the CBP website.

Attach the I-94 to I-539, I-765, or other filings that require proof of admission

Most status packages need a copy of the I-94 for each applicant listed.