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The I-94 form (Arrival / Departure Record) is used to record the entry and exit of foreign persons (e.g., holders of US visas or ESTA authorizations) to or from the United States as well as their legal residency status within the United States.
The so-called I-94 form or entry form initially documents the entry and exit to and from the United States of holders of a US nonimmigrant visa and an ESTA approval or participants in the Visa Waiver Program.
In the I-94 form, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), stores simple data identifying the traveler – such as name, passport number, flight information, etc. – hence the name Arrival / Departure Record. The I-94 form thus serves as proof of the lawful entry or departure of foreign individuals.
At the same time, the document serves as proof of legal residence (= residence status) within the United States, in addition to important documents such as the US visa or passport including entry stamp.
Nearly all travelers visiting the United States receive an I-94 form upon entry, except, for example:
Travelers to the USA are receiving fewer and fewer physical stamps in their passports at border control, causing uncertainty about possible consequences. This change is the result of advancing digitalization, which is making paper-based processes obsolete. The entry stamp, which once provided information about the date and status of entry, is gradually being replaced by the digital I-94 form replaced.
The advantages of digital forms lie in faster processing and a national security system. Departure information will continue to be provided by transportation companies. Travelers can check their residency status online using the I-94 form, with airline tickets serving as additional proof. The alternative for land travelers is the exit stamp of the country of origin.
Form I-94 is proof of entry into the country and can be obtained from Customs and Border Protection. CBP website can be obtained. To view the approved residence status after entering the USA, travelers can call up the I-94 form online in the "Arrival/Departure Record" area.
The document also contains the records of all foreign entries and exits to the US territory within the last 5 years ("Travel History").
Travelers should check their information immediately after entering the country. Errors on the I-94 can be corrected at CBP's 70 Deferred Inspection Sites, which can be done in person or by email. The passport and copies of the visa should be kept ready.
Since May 2013, the I-94 entry form has been filed electronically and entries and exits to the US are registered online in an automated manner with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Therefore, non-US citizens entering the United States by air or sea no longer need to fill out a paper I-94 form at the border or on the airplane/ship in advance. Upon entry, only the passport (incl. US visa) and, if applicable, other documents depending on the visa category must be presented to the border officials. The data entry is then done by scanning the passport and is electronically recorded in the system of the U.S. authorities.
Persons entering the country with a US visa or under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA approval) can then access the electronic form of the entry form on the official I-94 website immediately after crossing the border. There, the current I-94 can be viewed on the Internet using the passport data after entry has been completed.
If you are entering via a land border or ferry from select ports, you can apply for an I-94 here in advance to save time later at the port of entry.
The USCIS / CBP store all relevant information on the residence status at this point:
We recommend that all travelers check the information on this website and print out the form immediately after entering the USA.
We advise you on the choice of the appropriate visa category and take over the complete processing for you or your company.
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