On April 30, 2013 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has started the electronic rollout of I-94 arrival/departure-record process for foreign visitors arriving in the United States via air or sea. Form I-94 provides foreign visitors evidence they have been lawfully admitted to the United States which is necessary to verify alien registration, immigration status, and employment authorization.

Passengers arriving by sea or air will no longer complete a paper Form I-94. Within 24 hours of entry into the United States, a traveler will be able to retrieve an electronic Form I-94 online at: www.cbp.gov/I94.

CBP officer will stamp the travel document of each arriving non-immigrant visitor. The admission stamp will show the date of admission, class of admission, and the date that the traveler is admitted until. On arrival travelers will also receive a flier warning them to go to www.cbp.gov/I94 for their admission record information.
Upon exiting the United States, visitors will not need to do anything differently. Visitors previously issued a paper Form I-94 would surrender it to the commercial carrier or to CBP upon departure. If visitors did not receive a paper Form I-94, CBP will record the departure electronically via manifest information provided by the carrier or by CBP. If travelers would like to have a hard copy of the Form I-94 or other evidence of admission, they can print it out from the website www.cbp.gov/I94.

Once the travelers leave the country, they will no longer have access to the admission information. Therefore it is strongly recommended that all foreign visitors and their U.S. employers (if applicable) print a paper record of their admission as soon as possible after arrival. This will help re-construct an individual’s immigration history and U.S. presence if necessary in the future.

CBP will continue to issue a paper form I-94 at land and border ports of entry.

The implementation of the new automated process at air and sea ports of entry is phased in four weeks.

This streamlining process will improve entry procedures for travelers, facilitate security and reduce federal costs. Automating the I-94 and going paperless will save time both for travelers and CBP officers. CBP anticipates that the new automated process will save the agency an estimated $15.5 million a year.

The implementation of the new Form I-94 at air and sea has started in Charlotte- Douglas International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Las Vegas Airport, Chicago O’Hare, Miami International Airport and Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport that week, continuing across the nation through May 21.

We expect more guidance from CBP and USCIS in the coming months.

Author: Aleksandra Chesnokov, Legal Assistant, BridgehouseLaw Charlotte