A Change is Coming in the I-94 Process
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a division of the Department of Homeland Security, officially announced March 27, 2013 that they are going to begin using an electronic I-94 system. The change will begin on April 30, 2013.
Non-immigrants entering the U.S. now get a paper I-94 card when they enter the U.S. This card shows the date of entry to the country, which visa classification the non-immigrant has, and when the person must leave the U.S. In the case of F and J visa types, the person will have the length of time listed as d/s – duration of status.
The change will be that those entering by air and sea will not get the paper I-94. Their arrival will be recorded in the CBP data base electronically at the port of entry.
The visitor will obtain a stamp in the passport. This stamp will be the official record of arrival for the visitor.
How to get a paper I-94 card:
Because many agencies, such as Social Security, Division of Motor Vehicles, and the I-9 verification for employment, require a paper I-94, CBP will set up a website for the non-immigrant to access the arrival record and print out an I-94.
This website will be activated on April 30th: http://www.cbp.gov/i94
To gain access to your I-94 record and print out a copy of the I-94, you will need the following information:
first name
last name
date of birth
passport number
country of issuance
date of entry
class of admission (such as F-1 or J-1)
A few more details:
When you use the I-94 for documentation, you will also have to show the entry stamp in your passport.
When you leave the U.S., your I-94 information will no longer be available on the website.
When leaving by air or sea, you will not have to turn in an I-94 card if you entered on the electronic system.
If you have a paper I-94 card now, you will turn it in when you leave.
If you get a new passport, and your entry stamp is in the old passport, the entry stamp is still valid.
We suggest that you copy all of your documents: passport, visas, stamps in the passport, I-94 cards. And keep them forever, preferably in electronic and paper form. Because systems, processes, and requirements change through the years, we suggest you be extra careful and just keep it all.
Information and regulation: