US Immigration Form
Form I-94 — Arrival/Departure Record
Form I-94 is the official record of your admission to the United States. It is created electronically when you pass through Customs and Border Protection inspection at a port of entry — an airport, seaport, or land border crossing. The I-94 records your date of entry, the port of entry, your visa classification, and the date by which you must depart or change status. For most nonimmigrants, this date is what governs your authorized stay, not the visa expiration date in your passport.
You can retrieve your I-94 record online through the CBP I-94 website. The record is free to access and should be checked immediately after every entry to confirm that CBP recorded your admission correctly. Errors on the I-94 — such as the wrong visa class or an incorrect admission date — can cause problems with school enrollment, work authorization, and future visa applications.
This guide explains what Form I-94 is, how it works, why it matters, and what to do if the record contains an error.
Who files this form
Form I-94 is not filed by the traveler. It is created automatically by Customs and Border Protection when you are admitted to the United States. The CBP officer inspects your passport, visa, and supporting documents, determines your admissibility, and enters the admission data into the CBP system. The electronic I-94 record is then available for you to download and print.
Certain categories of travelers, including most F-1 and J-1 visa holders, are admitted for "duration of status" rather than a specific date. This means your I-94 shows "D/S" instead of a departure date. For these categories, your authorized stay is tied to your program end date on Form I-20 or DS-2019, not to a fixed date on the I-94.
What this form is for
The purpose of Form I-94 is to create an official record of every noncitizen's admission to the United States. The record documents when you entered, under what visa classification, and how long you are authorized to stay. USCIS, your school, and your employer all use the I-94 to verify that you were lawfully admitted and that you remain in valid status.
For F-1 students, the I-94 admission class should read "F1" and the admit-until date should read "D/S" for duration of status. If your I-94 shows a specific date instead of "D/S," or if the class of admission is incorrect, you must contact CBP to correct the record immediately. An incorrect I-94 can prevent you from enrolling in classes, applying for OPT, or changing status.
Key sections
- Admission number: a unique 11-digit identifier assigned to each entry
- Date of entry: the calendar date you were admitted to the United States
- Class of admission: your visa category — F1, J1, B1, B2, H1B, etc.
- Admit until date: the expiration of your authorized stay, or D/S for duration of status
- Port of entry: the specific airport, seaport, or land border where you were inspected
Common mistakes
- Not checking the I-94 immediately after entry — errors are easier to fix when caught early
- Assuming the I-94 expiration date is the same as the visa expiration date
- Not understanding that D/S means your stay is tied to your I-20 or DS-2019, not the I-94
- Failing to correct an incorrect class of admission before filing for OPT or a status change
- Losing the printed I-94 and not knowing how to retrieve it from the CBP website
- Not realizing that each entry generates a new I-94 — the old one is replaced when you re-enter
Official sources
Always verify the current form edition, fee, and instructions on the government site before filing. This guide is educational and not a substitute for your DSO or a licensed attorney.
Procedural deep-dives
For filing strategy, timing, and evidence standards, use these legal owners.
- US student visas hub
F-1, CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT procedural guides that use these forms.
- OPT & STEM OPT complete guide
How I-765 and I-983 fit the post-completion work path.
- I-765 OPT common mistakes
Category codes, timing, and evidence that trigger rejections.
- F-1 document checklist 2026
Evidence pack around I-20, DS-160, and the consular interview.
- STEM OPT self-employment and startup
When Form I-983 and E-Verify rules constrain founder roles.
- SEVIS termination and reinstatement
What happens when status records break after form mistakes.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get my I-94?
- Visit the CBP I-94 website and enter your passport information. The record is free to access and can be printed immediately. If you entered before the electronic I-94 system was implemented, you may have a paper I-94 stapled in your passport.
- What does D/S mean on my I-94?
- D/S stands for "duration of status." It means your authorized stay is not limited to a specific calendar date. Instead, you remain in valid status as long as you maintain the requirements of your visa category — for F-1 students, this means maintaining full-time enrollment and a valid I-20.
- What if my I-94 has the wrong information?
- Contact the CBP Deferred Inspection office at the port of entry where you were admitted, or visit a deferred inspection site near you. Bring your passport, visa, I-20 or DS-2019, and any evidence showing the correct information. Corrections are usually made on the same day.
- Does a new I-94 mean a new visa?
- No. The I-94 is an admission record, not a visa. Your visa is the sticker in your passport issued by the consulate. Each time you enter the United States, CBP creates a new I-94 record, but your visa remains the same until it expires or is cancelled.
- Can I stay in the US after my I-94 expires?
- If your I-94 shows a specific expiration date, you must depart, change status, or file an extension before that date. If your I-94 shows D/S, your stay is tied to your program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019. Overstaying an I-94 expiration date can result in unlawful presence bars.