I-94 Arrival/Entry Record

Upon EVERY ENTRY into the U.S., all current and alumni international students and any applicable dependents must review, download, and save their I-94  Arrival/Entry Record as part of their immigration history documentation, which may be required in the future.

• What Is An I-94 Arrival/Entry Record?
• How To Obtain An I-94 Record
• I-94 Record Retrieval or Correction Issues
• Additional Resources

WHAT IS AN I-94 ARRIVAL/ENTRY RECORD?

When arriving in the U.S. from abroad, non-U.S. citizens will undergo inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. Once admitted into the U.S., CBP generates an “I-94  Arrival/Entry Record”, which they can obtain online.

IMPORTANT: An I-94 record updates with each entry into the U.S. Therefore, it is crucial to review, download, and save the record after every entry into the U.S. This serves as a record of one’s U.S. immigration history and ensures that CBP has admitted the individual into the U.S. under the correct status.

Back to Top

HOW TO OBTAIN AN I-94 ARRIVAL/ENTRY RECORD

Steps For Obtaining An I-94 Record

After an individual enters the U.S., they must follow the steps below to obtain their most recent I-94  Arrival/Entry Record.

1. Navigate to the U.S. Department of Homeland (DHS)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP) I-94 webpage.
2. Select the “Get Most Recent I-94” tab at the top of the webpage.
3. Review the “Terms of Service” and select the “I Acknowledge And Agree” button.
4. Complete the online form, matching the information listed in the passport the student used to enter the U.S.
5. Review the information entered into the form; if everything is correct, select “Continue”.
6. Review the I-94 record for accuracy; if everything is correct, select the “Print” button on the webpage.
   • NOTE: The separate I-94 Travel History webpage often contains errors, and while DHS/CBP is aware of this issue, they are not currently correcting these inaccuracies. Therefore, if all biographical data/information on the I-94 record is correct, there is no cause for concern. The individual can refer to their passport, plane tickets, and Point of Entry (POE) stamp (if applicable) for accurate information on when and where they entered the U.S.

Back to Top

Tips For Obtaining An I-94 Record

When retrieving an I-94 record online, try the following strategies when encountering difficulties. 

• Name Entry Tips:
  • The Last (Family) Name/Surname and First (Given) Name fields are not case-sensitive, but they are limited to 25 characters.
  • Start by entering the name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable section at the bottom of the passport.
    • Example: If the passport machine-readable section lists **P<USABEAVER<MIT<CAMBRIDGE<<TIM<THE<<<<**:
    • Enter “Beaver Mit Cambridge” in the Last (Family) Name/Surname field.
    • Enter “Tim The” in the First (Given) Name field.
  • If unsuccessful in obtaining the I-94 record using the above instructions, try other name variations like:
    • Entering only one last or one first name.
    • Combining the first and middle names in the First (Given) Name field with a space.
      • Example: “Tim The”.
    • For individuals with only one name, DHS/CBP may have listed it in the Last (Family) Name/Surname field and used FNU (First Name Unknown) in the First (Given) Name field. 
    • Try removing spaces between names.
      • Example: Instead of “Tim The”, enter “TimThe”. 
    • Try adding/removing hyphens between names.
      • Example: Instead of “Beave-Mit-Cambridge “, try “BeaverMitCambridge” or just “Beaver”. 
    • Try shortening long names.
      • Example: Instead of “Beaver Mit Cambridge”, enter “BeaverMitCambridge”, or “Beaver Mit”, or just “Beaver”. 
    • Try entering different name versions from various travel documents, such as the U.S. visa sticker/stamp, airline ticket, and/or boarding pass. This may improve the I-94 record retrieval process since the electronic I-94 record system first receives names from the flight carrier/manifest.

• Date of Birth Entry Tips:
  • Start by entering the date of birth in the U.S. format: Month/Day/Year (MM/DD/YYYY).
  • If unsuccessful in obtaining the I-94 record, try switching the month and day.
    • Example: If the birth date is July 9, 1980 (07/09/1980), try entering 09/07/1980 instead.

• Passport Number Entry Tips:
  • Start by entering the passport number exactly as it appears on the passport.
  • If unsuccessful in obtaining the I-94 record, try other variations like:
  • Try adding a space after any letters.
    • Example: If the passport number is “LA497327”, try entering “LA 497327” instead.
  • Try removing the first two digits of the passport number. 
  • Try dropping the last two digits of the passport number.
  • Try using the passport booklet number instead of the number on the passport bio page. 
  • If the individual’s valid visa sticker/stamp is in an expired passport, try entering the old passport number instead of the new one.

Back to Top

I-94 RECORD RETRIEVAL OR CORRECTION ISSUES

If an individual is unable to retrieve their most recent I-94 record using the tips above or if the information on the I-94 record is incorrect, contact the nearest CBP Deferred Inspections Office for assistance.

Options For I-94 Record Retrieval/Corrections Issues: 

• In-Person Request: Individuals in Massachusetts or New Hampshire can visit the CBP Office at Boston Logan International Airport. They must bring all the required documents (i.e., passport, visa sticker/stamp, and their Certificate of Eligibility document (Form I-20 (F status) or Form DS-2019 (J status)).
  • Address: Logan International Airport / Terminal E, Arrivals / Boston, MA 02128.
  • Hours of Operation: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
  • Contact Information: +1-617-568-1810, Option 1.
• Email Request: Alternatively, submit an email request to CBP-Boston. The email address is provided on the CBP I-94 Correction Request Form. NOTE: DO NOT send multiple email requests to CBP.
  • Required Documents For Email Requests: When submitting an I-94 record retrieval/correction request via email to CBP, ensure that all required documents are combined into a single PDF file no larger than 2MB. The email must include:
    • A completed and signed CBP I-94 Correction Request Form.
    • Scanned copies of the following documents:
    • Passport biographical page.
    • Visa sticker/stamp.
    • Port of Entry (POE) admission stamp (if applicable).
    • Form I-20 (for individuals in F status) or Form DS-2019 (for individuals in J status).

Processing Times & Additional Information

• Processing Time: Approved requests will be processed within 5 to 10 business days.
• No Confirmation or Notification: CBP will not send a confirmation once the correction is made. Individuals must check their I-94 record on the CBP website for updates.
• Additional Information Requests: The CBP Deferred Inspection Office may contact individuals if further information or documentation is needed.
• In-Person Appearance: In some cases, CBP may require an in-person visit.
• Final Decision: CBP will determine whether a correction can be made.

Back to Top

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Main ISO Travel webpage.
• The U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Guidelines For Travel Re-Entry For F-1 Non-Immigrants Webpage.
• The U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Travel For International Visitors webpage.

Disclaimer: The information on this webpage is for MIT students only. For additional questions, students should email their ISO Advisor directly.

Back to Top