Check Your I-94 Arrival and Departure Record Status

What Is the I-94 Record and Why It Matters

The I-94 Arrival/Departure Record is an official document that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains for every foreign national entering or leaving the United States. This record contains crucial information about your legal status in the country, including when you arrived, what category you entered under, and when you are permitted to stay until.

Your I-94 record serves as proof of your lawful entry into the United States. It documents your arrival date, the port of entry where you crossed the border, your visa category (such as B-1/B-2 for tourism or business, F-1 for students, or H-1B for specialty workers), and your authorized period of stay. This information is maintained in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) databases and is linked to your passport and travel documents.

The I-94 became fully digital in 2013, replacing the paper form that was previously given to travelers. Now, most international arrivals receive a digital record instead of a physical stamp or paper document. This transition means your arrival and departure information is stored electronically in government systems rather than on a physical form you carry with you.

Understanding your I-94 record is important for several practical reasons. Your record confirms your legal entry status, which may be needed when you apply for a state identification card, enroll in school, or change your immigration status. Employers also use I-94 information to verify your work authorization. If your record contains errors—such as the wrong arrival date, departure date, or visa category—these mistakes can affect your ability to work, travel, or remain in the country legally.

Practical Takeaway: Your I-94 record is the government's official documentation of your entry into the United States and your permission to stay for a specific period. Before taking any action related to your immigration status, you should know what information your record contains and verify that it is correct.

How to Access Your I-94 Record Online

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency operates a free online system where you can view your I-94 arrival and departure information without paying a fee. The system is called the CBP Border Wait Times and I-94 Search Tool, and it is accessible to anyone with internet access and a valid passport.

To access your record, visit the official CBP website at cbp.gov/i94. This is the only official government website where you can retrieve your I-94 information. The site is managed directly by CBP, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, so information you find there comes from the primary government source.

When you visit the site, you will need to provide specific personal information to retrieve your record. The system typically asks for your passport number, your full name as it appears in your passport, your date of birth, and your country of citizenship. Some users may also be asked for their visa number. This information helps the system verify your identity and locate your specific record in the CBP database.

The search results will show your arrival information, which includes your arrival date, the port of entry where you crossed the border, your visa category or status category, and your authorized stay period (often called your "Admitted Until" date). If you have traveled to the United States multiple times, your search results may show multiple records, one for each entry. The system may also display your departure record if you have already left the country, or it will show that no departure record exists if you are currently in the United States.

The information typically appears within seconds of submitting your search. You can view the information on screen, take a screenshot, or print the page for your records. Some people save a digital copy of their I-94 information in case they need to reference it later when completing forms, meeting with employers, or working with immigration attorneys.

Practical Takeaway: Visit cbp.gov/i94 directly and have your passport information ready. The search takes less than five minutes and provides you with an official government record of your arrival status and permitted stay period.

Understanding Your Arrival and Departure Information

When you view your I-94 record, you will see several key pieces of information that define your legal status in the United States. Learning what each field means will help you understand whether your record is accurate and whether any corrections are needed.

The Arrival Date is the date you crossed the border and officially entered the United States. This date appears on your I-94 record and matches the date stamped in your passport. For most travelers arriving by air, this is the date you landed at the airport. For those arriving by land, it is the date you crossed at the border checkpoint.

The Port of Entry shows which border crossing or airport you used to enter the country. Examples include Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Diego-Tijuana border crossing, Miami International Airport, or Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. This information is recorded automatically by CBP officers at the point of entry.

Your Admitted Until Date (sometimes labeled as "Expiration of Authorized Stay") is the date by which you must either depart the United States or change your status to remain legally. This is not the expiration date of your visa, but rather the expiration date of your permission to stay. For a tourist on a B-2 visa, this might be six months from arrival. For an F-1 student, it may show "D/S" (Duration of Status), meaning you can stay as long as you maintain your student status. For H-1B workers, it typically shows the end date of the approved petition.

The Visa Class or Status Category on your I-94 record indicates the immigration category under which you were admitted. Common categories include: B-1/B-2 (tourist and business visitor), F-1 (full-time student), H-1B (specialty occupation worker), L-1 (intracompany transferee), O-1 (person with extraordinary ability), EB-1/EB-2/EB-3 (employment-based immigrant), and CR-1/IR-1 (spouse of U.S. citizen). Each category has different rules about work authorization, how long you can stay, and what conditions you must follow.

If your record shows a Departure Date, this means CBP has recorded that you left the country. The departure date should match the date you exited the United States. If you have traveled to the U.S. multiple times, you may have multiple arrival and departure records, one for each trip.

Practical Takeaway: Review your arrival date, admitted until date, and visa category on your I-94 record to confirm they are correct. These three pieces of information define how long you are permitted to stay and under what conditions. If any field appears wrong, note which field contains the error so you can report it through the correction process.

Identifying and Reporting Errors in Your I-94 Record

Errors on I-94 records are not uncommon. Data entry mistakes, system glitches, or miscommunication during your port of entry processing can result in incorrect information being recorded. Common errors include wrong arrival dates, incorrect visa categories, incorrect departure dates, misspelled names, or wrong port of entry information. Identifying these errors early helps prevent problems later when you apply for work authorization, change your status, or travel outside the United States.

To determine whether your record contains an error, compare the information shown on your I-94 with the information on your passport and your visa stamp. Your arrival date should match the date you physically crossed the border. Your visa category on the I-94 should match the visa type in your passport. Your name spelling should be identical. If you have already departed the United States and returned, your old departure record should show a past date, and your newest arrival record should show the date of your most recent entry.

If you notice an error, you can file a request for correction through CBP's I-94 correction process. You will need to submit a written request that includes your name, date of birth, passport number, the date of entry that needs correction, and a clear description of what information is incorrect. You should also explain why you believe the information is wrong and provide supporting documents if possible. For example, if your arrival date is wrong, you could provide a copy of your passport showing the entry stamp. If your visa category is wrong, you could provide a copy