Status as of October 26, 2026. Form I-94 is your U.S. arrival/departure record – not a visa or a work permit. In most nonimmigrant cases it shows the immigration class and the date through which you were admitted. You can usually retrieve and print a CBP-issued electronic I-94 for free. Check it after entering the United States: an incorrect date or classification can affect applications, employment records and travel decisions.
Where to find and print your I-94
Open the official CBP I-94 website. Do not pay a commercial site for an ordinary electronic record lookup.
Choose the option to retrieve your most recent I-94. Enter the identifying information the official site requests, using the spelling and passport information that CBP recorded for your entry.
Review the result and save or print a copy. Check the class of admission, admit-until date, entry date and your identifying information.
Use the site's separate travel-history feature if you need to review recorded entries and departures; travel history is not the same thing as proof of current immigration status.
CBP generally creates electronic I-94 records for travelers admitted at air, sea and land ports of entry. Some categories of travelers are not issued an ordinary I-94, and a paper record may still be used in particular situations. The absence of an online result does not, by itself, prove unlawful entry or unlawful status. See CBP's definition of Form I-94.
What do “Class of Admission” and “Admit Until Date” mean?
Class of Admission identifies the immigration classification recorded at entry, such as B-2, F-1 or H-1B. Admit Until Date ordinarily indicates the end of the period of admission shown in the record. Some I-94 records show D/S (“duration of status”) instead of a calendar date; the meaning depends on the applicable category and current rules. Do not assume that every traveler receives the same period.
The expiration date on a visa stamp is not necessarily the last day you may remain in the United States. A visa is generally a document used to request entry; your admission, the applicable legal rules and any subsequent USCIS action govern your authorized stay. Conversely, having a valid visa sticker does not automatically extend an expired I-94. See the FACTUM guide to entry and CBP for the broader context.
I cannot find my I-94. What should I check?
First re-check the name, passport number, country of issuance and other details exactly as they appear in your travel documents. A different transliteration, an earlier passport or a data-entry discrepancy can cause a mismatch. The CBP portal may not display all categories of records, and some arrivals/departures may be missing from the displayed history.
If you were admitted at a port of entry but cannot retrieve the record, use CBP's Deferred Inspection contact list or contact the port of entry for the appropriate procedure. Have your passport, travel documents and any admission stamp available. Do not send passport or A-number details to FACTUM Immigration.
How to correct an incorrect I-94
CBP issued the I-94 when you entered: Contact a CBP Deferred Inspection Site or the port of entry. Explain the error and bring proof, such as passport pages, entry stamp, visa documents and relevant approval notices. The reviewing officer determines whether and how to correct the record. CBP confirms this route in its I-94 automation guidance.
USCIS issued the I-94 with an approval of extension or change of status: Follow USCIS correction or replacement procedures, which may involve Form I-102, rather than asking CBP to change a record USCIS issued. Check the I-94 portion of any Form I-797 approval notice and the current USCIS instructions. The proper path depends on which agency made the error.
Do not assume a pending correction request extends your authorized stay. If the listed deadline is close or already passed, or the discrepancy could affect work or removal risk, obtain individual advice from a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative.
Is I-94 a visa or a work permit?
No. Form I-94 is primarily a record of admission or parole and related classification. It is not a visa issued at a consulate, and its existence does not automatically authorize employment. Work authorization depends on your specific classification and applicable evidence rules; some classes authorize particular work incident to status, while others require separate USCIS authorization. See nonimmigrant visas and work authorization for the underlying distinctions.
What if the I-94 has expired or I stayed beyond the date?
Do not rely on a generic online overstay calculator. Consequences depend on your classification, whether an extension/change application was timely filed, any USCIS approval, and the rules on unlawful presence – which are not identical to the rules on maintaining status. A pending application does not by itself guarantee that every immigration consequence is suspended. Check the relevant official notice and obtain qualified advice before filing a new application, departing the country or claiming continued employment authorization.
Frequently asked questions
Is looking up or printing an electronic I-94 free?
Yes. An ordinary lookup and printout on the official CBP I-94 website is free. A separate fee can apply to certain applications for a new I-94 at a land border; that is not a fee for simply printing an existing online record.
Can I use an I-94 instead of a visa?
No. They serve different purposes. An I-94 generally records admission conditions, while a visa usually serves as a travel document for seeking admission in a specified classification.
Why does my I-94 show D/S instead of a date?
D/S means “duration of status” for categories governed by that form of admission. Determine whether it applies to your case under the current rules and your specific record; do not treat it as an unrestricted right to remain permanently.
Who fixes a wrong I-94: CBP or USCIS?
Typically CBP handles mistakes in a CBP-issued record created at entry; USCIS handles the I-94 it issued with an extension or change-of-status approval. Use the responsible agency's current correction instructions.