I-94 and I-94W Forms
What is an I-94 or I-94W?
Foreign visitors to the United States complete an I-94 (white) if they hold a valid visa, or an I-94W (green) if traveling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. The card is obtained from the transportation carrier and must be surrendered to an inspector of the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of entry in the United States when applying for admission.
The inspector separates the bottom part of the card and attaches it to the passport. The part attached to the passport notes the date of entry to the United States and the authorized period the visitor may remain in the country. When a visitor departs the United States, the transportation carrier representative, usually at the check-in counter, should remove the I-94 or I-94W from the passport. Sometimes due to an oversight the card is not removed. If this occurs, the passenger's departure from the United States will not be registered with the CBP.
If this happens, the the next time you apply to enter the United States, your visa may be subject to cancellation and/or you may be denied entry into the United States. In particular, visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the United States under the Visa Waiver Program cannot reenter the U.S. in the future without obtaining a visa. If this occurs and you arrive at a U.S. port of entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa, United States immigration officials may deny you entry into the U.S. Therefore, visitors must ensure that they surrender the I-94 or I-94W stub to the transport carrier before they depart the United States.
I still have the I-94 or I-94W in my possession; what should I do?
If you have departed the United States and are still in possession of the I-94 or I-94W, then it is in your best interests to forward it to the appropriate authorities so that your record is corrected and that you do not experience any problems on future travel to the United States as a result.
It is very important that you complete the back of the card listing the port of departure and date of departure from the United States and the carrier/flight information. Please mail the I-94 or I-94W, together with a letter of explanation and evidence of your departure from the U.S., to:
| ACS-CBP, SBU 1084 South Laurel Road London, KY 40744 USA |
Do not mail the I-94 or I-94W to the Embassy. Doing this will only delay the update of your departure information.
What evidence can help prove my departure from the United States?
The evidence can come from a variety of sources, including but not limited to:
- Original boarding passes you used to depart the United States;
- Entry or departure stamps in your passport to indicate you entered another country after you departed the United States (please copy all passport pages that are not completely blank and include the biographic page containing your photograph);
- Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate that you worked in another country after you departed the United States;
- Dated bank records showing transactions in your home country to indicate that you were in another country after your left the United States;
- School records showing your attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States;
- Dated credit card receipts with the credit card number deleted for purchases you made after you departed the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States.
Plase send legible copies or the original material where possible. If you send original materials, then please retain a copy for your records; the originals will not be returned to you. It will assist the CBP if you include an explanation letter.
What if I no longer have the card?
If you left the United States with the I-94 or I-94W in your possession but no longer have the card, then you should write to the same address above in London, Kentucky, and include the following information in the letter:
- Name;
- date and place of birth;
- country of citizenship;
- date of arrival in the U.S.;
- date of departure from the United States;
- airline or carrier departed on;
- flight number or name of vessel.
If departure was via a land border port please enter "land" instead of carrier information.
You must also include evidence of your departure as noted above.
I am experiencing problems when I enter the United States
If you believe that you are having problems entering the United States due to incorrect arrival and departure information, you can request a review of the information by writing to the following office:
Customs and Border Protection
1300 Pennsylvania Ave
Room 5.4.D
Washington DC 22209
Attn: Passenger Operations
It is necessary for you to submit evidence of your previous departure(s) from the United States, as noted above.
For more information
Please see the web site of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service.