I-94? What is it? And when is it needed?

[AEL81 0]

Is it needed to be filled out before Point of Entry, my fiancee is going to be traveling to houston will she need this at the point of entry?

[stevie b 141]

An I-94 is a form denoting the Arrival-Departure Record of particular foreigners used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses Form I-94 also. Form I-94 must be completed at the time of entry to the United States by foreign citizens that are being admitted into the United States in a nonimmigrant visa status.^[1] While citizens of the countries in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) list,^[2] who are entering the United States via an air or seaport for 90 days or less and who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are required to complete an I-94W ("Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure Form"), these visitors must now also obtain an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the United States. The I-94W form requirement has been dropped during Summer 2010, after a transitional period, for VWP applicants.^[3][4]

A completed Form I-94 is presented by the foreign citizen at the port of entry to the United States to a CBP Officer, who stamps the form and gives the final approval for admission of the foreign citizen into the United States in a specific nonimmigrant status for a specific authorized period.^[5]

As a general rule, non-U.S. citizens who are also non-U.S. permanent residents^[1] departing the United States are required to surrender their Form I-94 when leaving the United States, so that their departure can be properly recorded by the CBP Officers (typically to the airline or ship representative, or into a deposit box in the terminal). If the Departure Record portion is not surrendered then it may cause difficulties trying to re-enter the USA, as the systems used to track ingoing and outgoing visitors may show that the holder has overstayed, although this may be rectified.^[6]

When departing the United States for Canada or Mexico (only), for a trip of less than 30 days, it is not required to surrender the I-94 ^[7] If the I-94 form is lost or stolen while the nonimmigrant is in the United States, a replacement form may be requested from USCIS.^[8]

While in the United States, non-immigrant visitors^{[clarification needed]} (but not VWP visitors) may apply for a change of non-immigrant visa status from one category to another or for an extension of the previous nonimmigrant status by filing form Form I-539 with USCIS.^[9] Upon approving such application, USCIS issues an approval notice, the bottom portion of which is a new Form I-94 for the nonimmigrant, reflecting that visitor's new or extended non-immigrant visa status and also showing a new authorization period for that status.

The I-94 paper form will no longer be required for international visitors arriving by sea or by air. Instead, all arrival and departure information will be gathered electronically at a custom-made website, CBP.gov/I94, where visitors can verify immigration status or employment authorization, as well as record number and admission information. These system shift will be in effect at 5 airports (Charlotte, Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, and Orlando) from April 30, 2013, and will be progressively introduced at other major port of entries at the latest on May 21, 2013

[lubnajavid 20]

I can tell you I was on an international flight a 2 weeks back and the crew announced that the I-94 is no longer filled out manually but is processed at entry.

good luck with your entry!

resident of Houston here too - my wife will POE July 15th into Houston also

[Lilly.Pon 1]

I can tell you I was on an international flight a 2 weeks back and the crew announced that the I-94 is no longer filled out manually but is processed at entry.

good luck with your entry!

resident of Houston here too - my wife will POE July 15th into Houston also

wow, that's some news!

So basically, you do not have any papercopy to present to authorities afterwards, they are supposed to check the website. Did you only have to show your passport and customs declaration form to the officer?

Was going through customs faster / slower due to this change? I imagine that if officers need to "process at entry" and fill info out on computer, it might slow the line down...

[lubnajavid 20]

I can only comment on Houston - it did seem a little quicker than previous two international flights I took earlier this year into Houston...

The line kept moving - didn't really stop from what I can remember.

This was around 5pm on a Sunday - which going by the records/history on CBP site, is a peak time for Houston (IAH)

That's why I picked Monday for my wife's POE

See https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1695/~/i-94-automation---will-cbp-still-issue-paper-i-94%3F for further info regarding the electronic processing.

It is only for air/sea travelers, where they can leverage the advanced info they request and scanning your passport also.

Apparently you can still get a I-94 later - from a specific website listed on the page below:

http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/i94_rollout.xml

Good luck to all who POE - as I will tell my wife (I will be there with her for as far as they let me) - smile, say good afternoon and be confident - all else will be good.

[Lilly.Pon 1]

Javid, thank you! very helpful links

[johnnyv 20]

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html

Fill this out and add the information to your I-129F. This is what I had to do recently because she was here visiting when we filled out all the paperwork together. This made it easy on me, gives you everything you need to complete the question.