New Form I-94 Procedures

Apr. 25, 2013

NEW Form I-94 Procedure

Beginning April 30, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin issuing Electronic Forms I-94 for travelers entering the U.S. by air or sea.  CBP will start this process April 30 at some airports, and by the week of May 14, all airports and seaports will be issuing Electronic Forms I-94. Logan International Airport in  Boston will begin issuing Electronic Forms I-94 the week of May 7.

What is an Electronic Form I-94?

Electronic Forms I-94 will be replacing the Paper Forms I-94 (the small white cards stapled into your passport) for travelers entering the U.S. by air or sea. When you re-enter the U.S., you will receive a stamp in your passport with your port of entry information and date of entry.  It should also be written "F-1 - D/S" or "J-1 - D/S."  Then, to retrieve your Electronic Form I-94, you will be required to visit the website www.cbp.gov/I94. To log in, you will use information from your entry visa stamp in your passport (received from the U.S. Consulate abroad), or your passport biographical page if you do not have an entry visa stamp. Your Electronic Form I-94 will have all the same information the Paper Forms I-94 have: Your name, date of birth, I-94 Record Number, date of entry, class of admission (F-1, J-1, etc.), and "admit until date" (this should be D/S, for "duration of status"). Please print your Electronic Form I-94 and make sure the information is correct. You will potentially need this print-out if you are working on campus, applying for a driver's license or Massachusetts State ID, and for ISSO Online Check-In.  Your Electronic Form I-94 record will be accessible to you from www.cbp.gov/I94 until the next time you travel outside of the U.S.

Please note that if you are entering the U.S. by a land (such as by car or bus at the Canadian or Mexican border with the U.S.), you will continue to receive a Paper Form I-94 card.  We will be sure to update you if this changes in the future.

If There is a Mistake on your Form I-94 (Paper or Electronic) or Passport Stamp

  • It is very important to carefully review the Form I-94 (paper or electronic) and passport stamp that is issued to you at the port of entry. If you notice a mistake on your Form I-94 (paper or electronic) or passport stamp, please try to request a correction while you are at the airport.

  • For those issued Electronic Forms I-94, the port of entry officer should also stamp your passport. Make sure to review the information written with the stamp as well as going to www.cbp.gov/I94 to access your Electronic Form I-94.

  • Please see the information on Re-Entering the U.S. on the Travel Information of the ISSO website for what mistakes to look for.


What Do I Do When I Travel Outside the U.S.?

  • If you currently have a Paper Form I-94, turn it in to the airline or port officer the next time you travel outside of the U.S.  Until then, keep it!  Your Form I-94, whether paper or electronic, is very important!

  • The next time you travel outside of the U.S., you will turn in your Paper Form I-94, if you have one.  Then, when you re-enter, you will receive the stamp in your passport and an Electronic Form I-94 if you enter by air or sea beginning in May 2013. 

  • If you travel outside the U.S. after you are issued an  Electronic Form I-94, you do not need to turn in the print-out from the website.  Your record will automatically be updated and your previous entry information will not be accessible from that website after you depart.

  • If you enter by land, you will still be issued a Paper Form I-94.

Let us know if you have any questions and have safe travels!