Check Your I-94 Arrival and Departure Record Status

What the I-94 Record Actually Is and Why It Matters

The I-94 Arrival/Departure Record is a document maintained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that tracks when noncitizens enter and leave the United States. Think of it as an official timestamped record of your physical presence in the country. Every person who arrives at a U.S. port of entry—whether by air, sea, or land—should have an I-94 created in the CBP system.

How Much Car Wraps Cost: Pricing Guide →

For many years, the I-94 was a paper form that travelers received at the border and kept in their passport. Starting in 2013, CBP transitioned to an electronic system for most arrivals, meaning your I-94 now exists only as a digital record in government databases. This shift created both convenience and confusion: you don't carry a physical document anymore, but you also can't simply look in your passport to confirm your entry date or permitted stay duration.

The I-94 record contains several critical pieces of information. Your arrival date tells you when CBP officially recorded your entry. Your departure date (if you've already left) confirms when you exited. Your status code indicates what category you entered under—this might be F-1 if you're a student, H-1B if you're a temporary worker, or B-2 if you're visiting. The "Admit Until" date shows how long CBP permitted you to stay, which directly affects your immigration status and your legal ability to work or study.

Why does this matter beyond bureaucratic record-keeping? An incorrect I-94 can have serious consequences. If your admit-until date is wrong—say, CBP accidentally recorded it as 30 days when you were actually permitted one year—you could technically be in violation of your status without realizing it. Discrepancies between your I-94 and your visa, visa waiver, or other travel authorization can create legal problems when you try to change status, renew a visa, or leave and re-enter the country. Educational institutions and employers rely on I-94 information to verify your lawful status. For these reasons, knowing how to check your own record is a practical step in managing your immigration information.

Takeaway: Your I-94 is the government's official record of your U.S. entry, exit, and permitted stay duration. Unlike a visa (which gives you permission to apply to enter), your I-94 is created after you actually arrive and directly affects how long you can legally stay.

How to Access Your I-94 Record Online

CBP maintains an online portal specifically designed for checking I-94 records. The website is located at i94.cbp.dhs.gov. This is a direct government tool—you're going straight to the source rather than using a third-party website or service. The portal is available 24/7 and requires no registration or login.

Free Guide to Making Fish and Chips at Home →

To retrieve your record, you'll need to provide specific information that only you should know: your last name, date of birth, passport number, and country of passport issuance. You may also be asked to verify your travel document number and country of citizenship. The system uses these details to locate your record in the CBP database and display it to you. The entire process typically takes 30 seconds to a few minutes, depending on server traffic.

Here's the step-by-step process: First, visit i94.cbp.dhs.gov directly in your web browser. Look for the section that says "Retrieve Your I-94" (the exact wording may vary slightly). You'll see a form with fields for personal information. Fill in your last name exactly as it appears in your passport. Enter your date of birth in the format specified (usually MM/DD/YYYY). Provide your passport number and the country that issued your passport. Some versions of the form ask for your arrival date or confirmation number if you have it, though this information isn't always necessary. After submitting, the system searches its database and returns results within moments.

The search results show your I-94 information in a simple format. You'll see your admission number (a unique identifier), your arrival date, your departure date (if applicable), your status of admission, your class of admission code, and your admit-until date. You can print this screen directly from your browser using Ctrl+P (Windows) or Command+P (Mac), or you can take a screenshot for your records. Many schools and employers accept a printed or digital copy of this screen as proof of your I-94 information.

If the system doesn't return any results, it doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong. The record might not be in the system yet (which can take up to 72 hours after arrival), your personal information might not match the government database exactly (middle names, accents, or spelling variations can cause mismatches), or you may need to use an alternate spelling of your name. If you arrived very recently or under unusual circumstances, you may need to contact CBP directly or visit your nearest CBP office.

Takeaway: The CBP I-94 portal at i94.cbp.dhs.gov is a free, publicly available tool where you can retrieve your own record using basic personal information. No registration, fees, or third-party service is required.

Understanding What You'll See in Your Record

Once you retrieve your I-94, the document displays several fields with specific meanings. Understanding what each field tells you is essential for recognizing whether your record is accurate or whether something needs correction.

Get Your Free JBL Speaker Charging Guide →

The Admission Number is a unique identifier assigned to your specific entry. It's usually a seven-digit number. This number is used in official correspondence and when contacting CBP about your record. Keep this number in a safe place.

The Arrival Date is the date CBP officially recorded your entry into the United States. This is usually the calendar date you physically crossed the border, but in some cases (particularly for air arrivals), it might be the date your flight arrived. This date matters because it's the official start of your authorized stay.

The Departure Date field appears only if you've already left the country and your exit was recorded by CBP. If you're currently in the United States, this field should be empty. If you've left but the field is empty, it means CBP has no record of your departure—which can create problems if you want to return or if you're applying for certain immigration benefits. Conversely, if you haven't left but a departure date appears, that's a red flag requiring immediate attention.

The Status of Admission and Class of Admission Code are closely related. The class of admission is a two-letter code that categorizes why you were permitted to enter. Common codes include: F-1 (student), H-1B (specialty occupation worker), B-2 (tourist), B-1 (business visitor), J-1 (exchange visitor), L-1 (intracompany transferee), and WT (visa waiver tourist). Your status should match the purpose for which you obtained your visa or travel authorization. If you're a student but your code says "B-2," there's a discrepancy that should be investigated.

The Admit Until Date (also called "Permitted Until Date") is arguably the most important field for your day-to-day life. This date tells you when your authorized stay in the United States expires. It does not mean you must leave on that date—rather, it's the deadline by which you must either leave the country or take affirmative steps to extend your stay (such as filing for a status change or extension). Some admission categories, like F-1 student status, show "Duration of Status" or "D/S" instead of a specific date, meaning you can stay as long as you maintain your student status and your school maintains your SEVIS record. Other categories show a specific date.

Some I-94 records display additional information such as your port of entry (the specific airport, land crossing, or seaport where you entered), whether you required a visa to enter (visa required or visa exempt), and any notes or special circumstances related to your admission.

Takeaway: Each field on your I-94 tells a specific part of your entry story. The admit-until date and class of admission are the most critical to monitor regularly, as errors in these fields can affect your immigration status.

Common Problems and When Records Don't Match Reality