Travel in and out of the U.S. is recorded electronically by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the I-94 Arrival/Departure Record for all international non-immigrant visitors to the U.S.

This important record lists your entry date, port of entry, and immigration status in which you were admitted to the U.S. The I-94 record may be required as proof of status for F-1 or J-1 benefit applications, employment verification and other official purposes.

When you travel through an air or seaport into the U.S., you may or may not receive an entry stamp in your passport. Your admission information will be recorded in your electronic I-94 record. Students who come through a land border crossing will receive a paper I-94 card. If you receive a paper I-94 card, keep the card stapled in your passport at all times.

Access electronic I-94 when arriving by airplane

After you arrive in the U.S. by air travel, you should download and save a copy of your electronic I-94 record from the CBP website. It’s important to check that your electronic travel record is accurate and accessible. Keep the I-94 record with your other immigration documents in your electronic files. New students and scholars will need to submit the “Most Recent I-94” to complete OISS immigration check-in upon arrival to WashU.

Below is a photo of the section you will need to select on the CBP I-94 website to request your most recent I-94:

Accessing the I-94 record when arriving by land

CBP does not issue an I-94 automatically when you enter the U.S. by land border. When you travel via airline, the cost of the I-94 is included in the ticket price. When traveling by land, it becomes the traveler’s responsibility to request the I-94 to be generated and to pay the fee (currently $6). It is essential that you do so.

To obtain your I-94 record when entering the U.S. by land:

  • Go to the CBP I-94 website
  • Click on “Apply for New I-94″and then click the box titled “Visiting the U.S. & Arriving Via a Land Border or Selected Ferry“
  • Complete the required information and pay the I-94 application fee (via PayPal of credit/debit card)
  • Please note: the I-94 you apply for in this manner is provisional. You will also need to appear at a port of entry within seven days of completing this online application. If you do not appear within seven days or are not issued an I-94 for any reason, there are no refunds.
    • At the port of entry, submit your biometrics (if required) and complete an interview.
    • Bring the documents you entered into the application with you to the port of entry.
    • Be prepared to show evidence of your residence, employment and/or travel plans, if asked by the U.S. CBP officer.
    • We recommend that you apply in advance (within 7 days) if you plan to enter the U.S. by land, so that these requirements are completed at the time of your entry.
What does D/S stand for on my I-94 record?

“D/S” or “Duration of Status” will appear on the I-94 record for the “Admit Until Date” line for those in F and J immigration status. This means that you may remain in the U.S. as long as you are properly maintaining status and the program end date on your I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) has not passed.

Students on F-1 OPT or on J-1 Academic Training are also granted “D/S” because they continue to be in F-1 or J-1 status during those practical training periods.

How can I correct a mistake on my I-94 record?

CBP systems sometimes make errors in electronic I-94 records. Some errors, especially those regarding visa type or date of expiration, can impact your immigration status.

How to request a correction to your I-94 record if there is a mistake:
  • Refer to this CBP Site to find the correct email address for your U.S Port of Entry. You must contact the site where you entered the U.S.
  • Subject line: I-94 correction request
  • Body of message: be sure to include your full name (as listed in your passport) and a clear explanation of the error, including the date of arrival to the U.S. and city/airport of arrival
  • Attach images of the following:
    1) U.S. visa page from your passport or I-797 Approval Notice if you are a scholar/employee without a physical visa (Canadians are exempt from the visa requirement and will not attach a copy of a visa)
    2) Passport bio/photo page
    3) Copy of the flight itinerary with the airline and flight number for the entry to the U.S. with the error

Please allow 10 business days for this issue to be resolved. If it remains unresolved after 10 days, contact your OISS adviser for further guidance.