New Electronic Arrival/Departure-Record Process for Foreign Travel Begins April 30

Starting April 30, 2013, foreign travelers arriving in the U.S. by air or sea will no longer fill out paper I-94 arrival/departure forms upon arrival. Rather, their arrival/departure information will be obtained automatically from the electronic travel records. To prove their legal-visitor status to employers, schools/universities, or government agencies, travelers will be able to access their U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrival/departure record information online when the agency starts its records automation on April 30, 2013.

CBP will phase-in the Form I-94 automation at air and sea ports of entry through April and May. Foreign visitors will continue to receive the paper Form I-94 until the automated process arrives at their port of entry. Following automation, if travelers need the information from their Form I-94 admission record to verify immigration status or employment authorization, the record number and other admission information will be available at CBP.gov/I94. ( CBP.gov/I94 )

With the new CBP process, a CBP officer will stamp the travel document of each arriving non-immigrant traveler. The admission stamp will show the date of admission, class of admission, and the date that the traveler is admitted until. Travelers will also receive on arrival a flier alerting them to go to CBP.gov/I94 for their admission record information. ( CBP.gov/I94 )

Travelers will not need to do anything differently upon exiting the U.S. Travelers previously issued a paper Form I-94 would surrender it to the commercial carrier or to CBP upon departure. If travelers did not receive a paper Form I-94, CBP will record the departure electronically via manifest information provided by the carrier or by CBP.

For more information and for answers to frequently asked questions, visit CBP’s Form I-94 webpages. ( I-94 Fact Sheet (pdf – 94 KB.) )