I-94 Issues at Land Borders

The I-94 Arrival/Departure Record is a form issued to foreign nationals coming to the United States. The I-94 is very important as it is evidence of the foreign national’s lawful stay in the U.S.

If you entered the United States by air or sea, you are automatically issued an electronic I-94. There is no fee for this. You can find your I-94 on this website. It is strongly recommended that you check your I-94 at each entry to the U.S. This is especially important if you are entering the U.S. for work or to stay for an extended period of time. Errors on the I-94 are common and the sooner you catch the error, the more likely it is you will be able to have Customs & Border Patrol correct the error.

I-94s can be corrected at deferred inspection sites. CBP offices each have their own process for corrections. You can contact them by phone or email to determine what procedure they would like you to follow.

Paper I-94 forms are still sometimes issued at land borders, although Customs & Border Patrol is automating this process so that most travelers will receive their I-94s online. If you enter the U.S. through a land border, you may need to pay a small fee to get an I-94 issued. There is also an option to apply for a provisional I-94 before you attempt your border crossing by land. You may apply for a provisional I-94 online or through the CBP One mobile app. Applying for the I-94 early may assist with a faster crossing time, although applying early does not guarantee entry into the United States. If you apply online, you should go to the port of entry within 7 days. You will be interviewed and may need to submit biometrics. You should also bring any supporting documents needed to explain the purpose of your trip (tourism, business travel, employment, etc).