No I-94 issued at land border crossing

[sumitmn 0]

I'm currently an international student in Canada, and I went to the US for 5 hours. I entered US after 4 years on a fresh visa, at rainbow bridge, Niagara falls. They did not issue me a new I-94 and said it's all good you can go. I'm really confused as the visa officer checked my friend's old I-94 (which was valid), but did not issue me a new one. Can someone please explain?

[TheCaptain 67]

The I-94 is all electronic now. You do not physically receive anything upon entry.

You can retrieve your I-94 by vising the following web site.

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov

[sumitmn 0]

Yes it is electronic if you travel by air or sea. I read that they give you I-94 card upon land entry.

Anyway I checked my electronic I-94 and it doesn't seem to show that particular entry.

[squareleg 69]

If I remember accurately, your last I-94 that you received when traveling by air or sea is what you need. Crossing borders...back and forth won't yield into another I-94.

[sumitmn 0]

Yes but the last I-94 i received was 4 years ago and I surrendered that. So they should have given me a new one.

[squareleg 69]

Why did you surrender?

I am not familiar with electronic. But did you go the link in one of the above posts and tried to look it up.

[sumitmn 0]

Because I had to surrender it. I was living in India at that time. Yes I opened up the link it did not show my recent entry.

[MsCompE 50]

Did you happen to changed your passport number? I got two different electronic i-94 for the same visa number after i renewed my passport.

[sumitmn 0]

No I've only held one passport in my lifetime.

[squareleg 69]

Not sure what issue you facing? Can you please detail?

[sumitmn 0]

I was supposed to be given an I-94 form, which is the record of my admittance and exit from the country. It's really confusing why they didn't give me any form, it's like letting a pregnant lady enter a roller coaster ride. It just doesn't make sense to me.

[newacct 688]

Crossing borders...back and forth won't yield into another I-94.

Canadians don't always get an I-94, but other foreigners always should. You may be thinking of Automatic Revalidation, where if a nonimmigrant in the US goes from the US to Canada for less than 30 days and returns to the US, they don't need a visa and continue their existing I-94, but that's not what's happening here, because the last time the OP was in the US was several years ago, and he went to places outside North America.

Edited August 4, 2016 by newacct

[sumitmn 0]

Exactly, I am not a Canadian, I hold Indian citizenship.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Could have been a mistake by the border officer. He may have just though in his head that you were a Canadian citizen and let you through without an I-94. But your entry is probably in the system and with no I-94 you would have 6 mos to stay in the US.

[sumitmn 0]

Probably. But will it affect if I visit the US after 6 months? I mean I think that they think that I'm still in the US.