I-94 thinks I left the USA.....

[TheCaptain 67]

The biggest issue that everyone is going to have when they are reported as departed the U.S., Is that there may have been an automatic departure indicator issued against your I-94 and subsequently your AOS which means that you may not know there is a problem until USCIS get to your AOS application and notice the departure record.

The onus is on the individual to prove they didn't leave, which is very difficult when you are trying to get USCIS to accept documentation from an Airline. Also CBP need to update your records on behalf of USCIS which in itself is going to be a nightmare.....

All USCIS need to do is ask "what's to say you didn't leave the U.S. And then return across the border without inspection?"

Good luck to those who are in this predicament and be aware that this will be a long and drawn out appeal process.....

[BritInMA 15]

Guys,

I have sorted this today with ease.

First, I called my local CBP office - for me, that was Worcester MA. You can find yours here: http://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports

The guy I spoke to was very helpful; He says this happens a lot - especially with British Airways; He also said it probably would not affect my immigration, but he went on to say that at some point in time - maybe next month, maybe 5 years from now, it could cause big issues. His advice was to come to the office with my passport and all of my I-797 notices, and he would fix it. I asked how soon he could see me, and he said in about an hour!

I drove there, went to the office, he took my papers, asked me to sit for 20 minutes; about 25 minutes later he came back, said it was all sorted.

I just checked the I-94 website, and indeed it is all sorted; I never left the USA!!!!

So, yes, it needs sorting - the sooner the better - but chances are it wont get you an instant denial, but it could cause issues, and remember it is on YOU, the intending immigrant, to prove you didn't leave; For me this was easy because just a few hours after I supposedly left the USA, I was having my USCIS medical here in the USA.

My experience to sort this was quick and easy. I hope you all get yours sorted as easily!!!

[Erminio 3]

I am trying to stay positive here and visit CBP as soon as possible, that is this Tuesday, even without the statement from British Airways that will likely take some time to arrive.

According to the wrong fly records, I left US on Monday evening for London - I do hope the CBP officer will be reasonable enough to

- accept a written statement from my supervisor that I was actually at work in America on Tuesday morning

-- understand that it would be just foolish of me to re-enter illegally having an already approved Advance Parole

[Erminio 3]

Great news - thanks for sharing!

Guys,

I have sorted this today with ease.

First, I called my local CBP office - for me, that was Worcester MA. You can find yours here: http://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports

The guy I spoke to was very helpful; He says this happens a lot - especially with British Airways; He also said it probably would not affect my immigration, but he went on to say that at some point in time - maybe next month, maybe 5 years from now, it could cause big issues. His advice was to come to the office with my passport and all of my I-797 notices, and he would fix it. I asked how soon he could see me, and he said in about an hour!

I drove there, went to the office, he took my papers, asked me to sit for 20 minutes; about 25 minutes later he came back, said it was all sorted.

I just checked the I-94 website, and indeed it is all sorted; I never left the USA!!!!

So, yes, it needs sorting - the sooner the better - but chances are it wont get you an instant denial, but it could cause issues, and remember it is on YOU, the intending immigrant, to prove you didn't leave; For me this was easy because just a few hours after I supposedly left the USA, I was having my USCIS medical here in the USA.

My experience to sort this was quick and easy. I hope you all get yours sorted as easily!!!

[BritInMA 15]

He made several phone calls, and although he was behind security glass, I do believe I heard British Airways "on-hold music" but I could be wrong!

Seems like BA do this a lot!!!!!!!!

[BritInMA 15]

The biggest issue that everyone is going to have when they are reported as departed the U.S., Is that there may have been an automatic departure indicator issued against your I-94 and subsequently your AOS which means that you may not know there is a problem until USCIS get to your AOS application and notice the departure record.

The onus is on the individual to prove they didn't leave, which is very difficult when you are trying to get USCIS to accept documentation from an Airline. Also CBP need to update your records on behalf of USCIS which in itself is going to be a nightmare.....

All USCIS need to do is ask "what's to say you didn't leave the U.S. And then return across the border without inspection?"

Good luck to those who are in this predicament and be aware that this will be a long and drawn out appeal process.....

With respect, TheCaptain, my own experience says otherwise. It was around 24 hours from discovering the mistake to having it completely sorted; It took 1 5 minute phone call, a drive to my local CBP, and 30 minutes sitting around waiting.

There was no appeal process; I simply stated it was wrong; He said he would make some calls; He did - I believe one of the calls was to BA - and then he deleted the incorrect record; By the time I got home - less than an hour later - my online I-94 was corrected.

USCIS has no part in correcting this; they cannot; it has to be done by CBP.

[ilovethebeach310 8]

So just for a update...

After calling about 100 different numbers today that were given to me by various CBP agents, I lose my rag and eventually get given another number but it was the same number that I rang back at 8am who said "nothing we can do, it's not public record so doesn't matter" this time It went to voicemail and said "if you are calling about I-94 correction please come down to our office with passport and other documents and we can get it sorted - no appointment needed" Why didn't the ####### on the other end just tell me this from the beginning!!!!! I've spent a whole day trying to find this out and all he needed to say was one sentence!!! So pissed but got there in the end.

Crisis averted

[andfp 14]

All the airlines do the same. It happened to me with Aeromexico and I tried to contact them but NEVER will do nothing. They don't even know what I'm talking about.

Who in the world is going to leave the country with a PENDING AOS and come back risking their LIFE thru the borders. If somebody has an emergency they would just go to field office and get issued Emergency AP.

I'm just going to explain this at the moment of the interview. I have nothing to worry about. It's too much stress already with all this waiting game to keep up with more stress about something EVERY airline do. If they really want to find out that someone left the country they just need to look at the bording gate camera for less than 30 minutes which is the boarding time.

Also my country stamp passport each time I go there. So there's no stamps for that day.

[Greenhouse 0]

I read this post and I started to get a little paranoid.

I am adjusting my status and I have my interview for next month. I came in the U.S. in Dec 2014. Port of entry Miami. Then went to the U.S. Virgin Islands. A few weeks ago, I made a short trip to Puerto Rico. Both countries are U.S. state territories. I have applied for my travel document and I haven't received it yet.

I recently checked my I-94 online and I see my arrival in Miami (which is fine), then departure 27 April (day I went to Puerto Rico) and it doesn't mention the port of entry/exit!

Should I be anxious?

[BritInMA 15]

I read this post and I started to get a little paranoid.

I am adjusting my status and I have my interview for next month. I came in the U.S. in Dec 2014. Port of entry Miami. Then went to the U.S. Virgin Islands. A few weeks ago, I made a short trip to Puerto Rico. Both countries are U.S. state territories. I have applied for my travel document and I haven't received it yet.

I recently checked my I-94 online and I see my arrival in Miami (which is fine), then departure 27 April (day I went to Puerto Rico) and it doesn't mention the port of entry/exit!

Should I be anxious?

I dont think you should be too worried; my issue was my departure didnt happen.

If your arrival / departure dates are correct, I would think that would be ok

YMMV

[Marco&Bettina 502]

On Friday, I noticed my wife has this issue as well. I guess we'll try to deal with it by calling the CBP offices in San Antonio & Dallas, as both are about 2 hours drive from where we live. I'm assuming my wife has to deal with it as it's her issue.

[Mr&MrsJenkins 11]

On Friday, I noticed my wife has this issue as well. I guess we'll try to deal with it by calling the CBP offices in San Antonio & Dallas, as both are about 2 hours drive from where we live. I'm assuming my wife has to deal with it as it's her issue.

Did she cancel the return portion of her ticket? (I'm just wondering)

[BritInMA 15]

Did she cancel the return portion of her ticket? (I'm just wondering)

Turns out I did not cancel my ticket, but others on here with the same problem have stated they did cancel, so I think it's somewhat hit & miss

[Mr&MrsJenkins 11]

Turns out I did not cancel my ticket, but others on here with the same problem have stated they did cancel, so I think it's somewhat hit & miss

I doubt that it is a hit and miss. I read every post in this thread and only one user (Avrora9002) said that "she thought she cancelled the ticket". But a few months ago she made a thread and it turned out that she did not contact the airline directly, she contacted the agency where she bought it and they just didn't cancel her return ticket. This is the thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/541780-help-return-flight-was-not-canceled/#entry7534955

So I think when one cancels the return portion of their ticket by directly contacting the airline, this I-94 issue can't happen because they remove the name from the passanger list right then and there.

[Marco&Bettina 502]

Did she cancel the return portion of her ticket? (I'm just wondering)

No she did not.