FLT Custom's and Border

[firecrew1 2]

I have called all over today to try and fix this problem. Fort Lauderdale Customs and Border Protection tells me people lose the I 94 all the time. WE DIDN'T LOSE ANYTHING! They either took the I 94 or never gave it to us. It looks like my only course of action is to file a I 102 and pay $330.00 for the replacement I 94. I also understand it takes three months so it’s going to cause a problem with our K 1 Visa--- Adjustment of Status. If anyone knows how I can get my hands on a copy of the I 94 that I should have received in Fort Lauderdale please let me know. Seems like this should have a simple fix.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I have called all over today to try and fix this problem. Fort Lauderdale Customs and Border Protection tells me people lose the I 94 all the time. WE DIDN'T LOSE ANYTHING! They either took the I 94 or never gave it to us. It looks like my only course of action is to file a I 102 and pay $330.00 for the replacement I 94. I also understand it takes three months so it’s going to cause a problem with our K 1 Visa--- Adjustment of Status. If anyone knows how I can get my hands on a copy of the I 94 that I should have received in Fort Lauderdale please let me know. Seems like this should have a simple fix.

Most people return to the airport and they get sorted out. If the person had another leg to their flight after POE, they are sorted out at their closest CBP office. Many I-94s are stapled inside the passport. I guess you already looked?

Is this the person you spoke to?

Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport

Passenger Service Manager Kim Kerdyk

(954) 634-1905

I find when I need customer service, it works out better if I state what I want to happen to solve the problem. "I entered on a K1 visa on [date] and the officer in secondary failed to put my portion of the I-94 in my passport. I need it found or replaced as soon as possible so I can get my social security card and adjust status." Be sure they know it was the officer's mistake and you shouldn't be charged $330 when other CBP offices are able to resolve it immediately. Here's the most recent case with a similar problem

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/300913-i-94-form/

Edited March 19, 2011 by Nich-Nick

[Little_My 464]

When did you arrive in the US? Aren't they starting to go paperless now and getting rid of I94s for good? Have you also checked that there is no stamp in your passport with a date in it? Just a thought. Many people who have arrived recently have said they did not get an I-94 upon arrival, only a stamp with a date for authorized stay written in the stamp.

[firecrew1 2]

She does have a dated stamp in her passport! The stamp says Dept of Homeland Security US Customs and Border Protection Class K1 Feb 23 2011 Until May 24th 2011 It also says ADMITTED PEV She arrived on February 23rd at 6:30 PM. We didn't know we had a problem until we went to the SS office in the Cleveland Ohio area last Thursday. I called all over the US but the last person I talked with was at this number 954-336-8452. I didn't get his name. He was very nice but said they didn't have any records stored on site. Nothing was stapled in Veronica's passport. I bet the stamp replaced the I 94 also but if it did then why is it that nobody seems to be aware of it. You are right I shouldn't have to pay but after reading the I 102 it talks about people that never received the I 94 but not about NOT PAYING the fee to receive one.

[Little_My 464]

"Admitted PEV" is probably the POE she entered through.. as in "Admitted at Port Everglades, Florida" - sound right? Is that where she flew in? I can't be sure, but I'd say that stamp is your "I-94". Many people have said lately that they have not received an I-94 when they arrived, and that the process is now going paperless and thus they are only issuing the stamps. The date on that stamp is the duration of stay that used to be marked in the I-94. I would assume that whatever form requires a copy of the I-94, a copy of that passport page will suffice in stead. All the better, less hassle for people who had a habit of losing their I-94s. That does happen quite a lot.. Not saying that you guys did! Just in general I'm sure lost I-94s used to be a good source of revenue for this country..

[firecrew1 2]

We flew into Fort Lauderdale Airport on Sprit. I flew from Bogotá and her from Medellin so I arrived 20 minutes after her and met up with her at immigration. After we sat in the back room for 2 hours (just long enough for our plane to leave and make us spend the night. They called my name and I went up to the counter to receive Veronica's passport/visa. I guess we assume that the people working there know a hell of a lot more about what we should receive than I do.

I sure hope the passport stamp is a replacement for the I 94.

If others have received the stamp as a replacement I wish they would let me know.

Thanks for HELPING US. Money is still tight from spending 2 weeks waiting around for the Visa in Colombia and I don't want to toss away another $330.00. I will say if I had not gone to the Embassy with Veronica they would have turned her down. That's the vibe we both received.

[Little_My 464]

hmm.. I don' think the "admitted PEV" is very important in this case, but what is interesting is that after a quick research, I am pretty sure it stands for "Port Everglades" - which, in fact, is a port in Fort Lauderdale and has nothing to do with the airport.. a person who arrived by sea would be admitted through Port Everglades POE.. I don't want to confuse or worry you! But it is a bit weird.

In any case, why won't you just call USCIS and check with them. The stamp should suffice, especially since it does have a date of authorized stay on it. Or, you can go back to the airport to Deferred Inspection and try to get a new I-94

Edited March 20, 2011 by Mrs.Finland-USA

[firecrew1 2]

USCIS told me to call Fort Lauderdale and Fort Lauderdale said call USCIS. I'm in Cleveland and it cost more to fly back to Fort Lauderdale than to pay the $330.00!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

They are only going paperless for the VIsa Waiver Program. K-1s are obviously not visa waiver and therefore should get an I-94. Good luck OP. Chasing this around must be a huge pain - I feel for you.

[firecrew1 2]

After calling all over I was able to talk with some nice people but no one could help. I called to Cleveland Hopkins airport and a Officer told me right away that he would help. He made some calls and found out that we never received an I 94. He called me back in an hour and said come on over and pick one up. We now have to wait 10 days to go to Social Security. 5 days for the I 94 to hit the system an 5 extra Social Security is asking for.