With the year 2013 coming to a close and the holiday season here, many people may be planning trips outside the U.S.  If you are a nonimmigrant seeking readmission (or initial admission) to the U.S., you may be aware that paper I-94 Arrival/Departure Records are no longer in use at airports and sea ports of entry.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), however, continues to issue paper I-94s at land ports of entry.

If you enter the U.S. through an airport or seaport, even though you won’t receive a paper I-94 record, your passport should be stamped by a CBP Inspector to show the date of your admission into the U.S., your class of admission and the expiration date of your period of stay.  Nonetheless, it is important that you check the information in your electronic I-94 record and print a copy of it as early as possible after your arrive. Checking the electronic I-94 record for accuracy should be done to catch and correct an inadvertent error such as an incorrect status category or expiration date.  While errors may be few, with increased passenger flow and corresponding pressure on port of entry inspectors, it is best to check.  In addition, it is recommended that the electronic I-94 record be printed so that there is a paper record.  This is of course essential for nonimmigrants who are required to be able to demonstrate their legal status to employers, academic institutions, or government agencies such as a motor vehicle department for the purpose of obtaining a driver’s license, but printing the I-94 record is also recommended for visitors as a means to keeping track of the status expiration date.

Electronic I-94 records may be accessed at the CBP website.  It has been reported that U.S. CBP has continuously tweaked its system in response to customer feedback such that significantly fewer people are having difficulty accessing their electronic I-94 records.

When departing the U.S. those who still have paper I-94s should give them to the commercial carrier or to a CBP officer.  For those who have electronic I-94 records, CBP will use the carrier manifest information to electronically record the departure from the U.S.

Happy travels!