For foreign visitors to the United States, the process of entering and proving legal visitor status has become significantly more streamlined. No longer are paper Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Records automatically issued. Instead, CBP now efficiently gathers your arrival and departure information electronically. But what if you need a physical copy of your I-94, specifically, how do you Print I94? This guide will walk you through accessing and printing your electronic I-94 form, ensuring you have the documentation you need for employers, schools, or government agencies.
Understanding the Electronic I-94 and When You Might Need a Printout
The transition to electronic I-94 forms means most travelers arriving by air or sea, and increasingly at land borders, will have their arrival records created digitally. This modernization offers convenience and reduces paper waste. However, situations arise where a printed I-94 is beneficial or necessary. You might be asked to provide proof of your legal visitor status to:
- Employers: To verify your work authorization if applicable.
- Educational Institutions: For enrollment or student status verification.
- Government Agencies: For various applications or processes requiring proof of legal presence in the U.S.
In these scenarios, knowing how to print i94 from your electronic record is essential.
Accessing Your I-94 Online to Print
Fortunately, CBP has made it simple to access your I-94 information online and obtain a printable version. Here’s how you can retrieve your record and print i94:
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Visit the Official CBP I-94 Website: Go to the official CBP I-94 website: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home. This is the trusted and secure portal to access your official I-94 record.
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Select “Get Most Recent I-94”: On the website, you will find an option to “Get Most Recent I-94.” Click on this to proceed.
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Enter Your Information: You will be prompted to enter personal information to locate your I-94 record. This typically includes:
- Last Name
- First Name
- Date of Birth
- Passport Number
- Country of Passport Issuance
Ensure you enter this information accurately as it appears on your passport and travel documents.
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Review and Retrieve Your I-94: After submitting your information, you will be able to view your electronic I-94 record. Review the details to ensure accuracy.
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Print Your I-94: Once you have accessed your record, you will find a print option directly on the webpage. Simply click the print button and use your connected printer to print i94. Alternatively, you can download the I-94 as a PDF document and then print it.
Using the CBP GO Mobile App to Print I-94
For added convenience, CBP also offers the CBP GO mobile app. This app provides another avenue to access and print i94 from your smartphone or tablet.
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Download the CBP GO Mobile App: Install the CBP GO app from your device’s app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store).
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Navigate to I-94 Section: Within the app, locate the section related to I-94.
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Retrieve Your I-94: Follow the prompts to enter your personal information, similar to the website process, to retrieve your electronic I-94.
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Print from the App (if possible) or Share/Download: The app may offer a direct print option depending on your device and printer compatibility. If direct printing is not available, you can typically share or download your I-94 record (often as a PDF) and then print i94 from your computer or another device.
What About Paper I-94 at Land Borders?
While electronic I-94s are standard, travelers arriving at land borders now receive I-94s electronically as well, without automatically getting a paper stub. However, if you specifically require a paper Form I-94, you have options:
- Print it Yourself in Advance: As described above, you can use the CBP I-94 website or CBP GO app to apply for and print i94 proactively before arriving at the land border.
- Request a Paper Form at Secondary Inspection: If you need a paper form and haven’t printed one, you can request it during your inspection at the land border. Keep in mind that these requests are handled in a secondary inspection setting, which might take additional time.
Important Considerations for Departure and Your I-94 Record
It’s also important to understand what happens with your I-94 record when you depart the United States.
- Electronic I-94 Departures by Air or Sea: When leaving by air or sea, CBP will generally record your departure electronically through the airline or shipping carrier information.
- Electronic I-94 Departures by Land: If you received an electronic I-94 and depart via land, your departure might not always be automatically recorded, especially if you are not a resident of Canada or Mexico and do not re-enter the U.S. before your I-94 expires. In such cases, it’s advisable to carry evidence of your departure (like entry stamps into Canada or Mexico, transportation tickets, or receipts) in case there are any questions about your departure record in the future.
Alphanumeric I-94 Numbers
Keep in mind that starting in May 2019, I-94 numbers transitioned to an alphanumeric format. While older I-94 numbers were purely numeric (11 digits), new I-94 numbers now include letters. This change was implemented to ensure a sufficient supply of unique I-94 numbers. Whether your I-94 number is numeric or alphanumeric, the process to access and print i94 remains the same via the CBP website or app.
Conclusion
While the U.S. has moved towards electronic I-94 records for efficiency and convenience, the need to print i94 still exists for various verification purposes. CBP provides user-friendly online tools and a mobile app to easily access and print your official I-94 record whenever you need it. By following these steps, you can readily obtain the printed documentation required to prove your legal visitor status in the United States. For any further questions or detailed information, refer to the I-94 Fact Sheet on the CBP website.
