An essential part of the process for entering and staying in the United States for foreign nationals is Form I-94, which is an official document recording the arrival and departure dates of a foreign national in the country. This document is necessary for complying with U.S. immigration laws, as well as for processing various visa and legal procedures.
What is Form I-94?
Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) is a document used to record information about the entry and exit of foreign nationals into the United States. In the past, Form I-94 was issued as a paper card, but since 2013, most travelers entering the U.S. by air receive an electronic version of this document.
When you arrive in the U.S., a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer records your entry and creates an electronic Form I-94 based on the information provided. This form indicates the arrival date, your immigration status (e.g., tourist, student, worker), and the validity period of your visa, which is the date until which you are allowed to stay in the U.S.
It is important to note that Form I-94 is not a visa. It serves as the official record of your stay in the U.S. and is an integral part of complying with the country’s immigration laws.
Why Do Immigrants in the U.S. Need to Have Form I-94?
- Proof of Legal Stay
Form I-94 is an official document confirming your legal status in the U.S. Without this document, you cannot prove your legal status in the country, and therefore, you may face issues like overstaying your visa. - Required for Accessing Various Services
Many government and private organizations in the U.S. require Form I-94 when applying for various services, such as opening bank accounts, obtaining a driver’s license, filing tax returns, and more. - Facilitates Status Extension
If an immigrant decides to extend or change their status (e.g., from tourist to worker visa), Form I-94 will be used to establish the exact duration of their previous stay and ensure proper filing for a status change. - For Leaving the U.S.
Form I-94 is also required when leaving the U.S. It is essential that this document be closed and processed upon your departure to avoid potential violations for overstaying. If any changes need to be made to your I-94, it’s important to promptly contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
How to Obtain Form I-94?
If you are entering the U.S. through an international airport, Form I-94 will be automatically created electronically, and you won’t need to fill out any additional forms. You will just need to present your passport and visa to the border officer.
If you are crossing the border by land (e.g., from Canada or Mexico), you will need to fill out a paper Form I-94 at the border and provide it to border control.
In both cases, you can check and print your Form I-94 from the official website of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at: www.cbp.gov/I94.
Form I-94 is a vital document for all foreign nationals staying in the U.S. This document serves as the official record of your stay, is necessary for various administrative procedures, and helps you stay within the bounds of the law. It is important to always verify the accuracy of the information on your I-94 to avoid potential issues with immigration authorities.
Sources Used:
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – www.cbp.gov
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – www.uscis.gov
- VisaJourney – www.visajourney.com