I-94 Admissions Number Guide

Updated on April 11, 2024

Traveling into the United States involves a lot of paperwork and maintaining multiple records. I-94 is one of those records that’s crucial for the entire time you’re in the U.S. But what exactly is the I-94 admission, and to whom is it issued? I-94 admission is different from the I-94 extension. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about I-94.

What Is an I-94 Admissions Number?

When you travel into the United States, either as an immigrant or nonimmigrant, your passport is stamped. This is the usual immigration protocol. Along with that, you also receive a white card. This is what is known as Form I-94 or the “White Card.” Officially, Form I-94 is known as the “Arrival/Departure Record.” Every Form I-94 has a unique 8, 9, or 11-digit number. This is known as the I-94 number or the Admission Number.

Please note, this is different from your alien number, which is assigned to every immigrant by the Department of Homeland Security. This is a 7, 8, or 9-digit unique number found on your permanent resident green card, EAD or work permit, and immigrant visas.

This essentially records your arrival and departure from the United States and is proof that you’ve entered the U.S. territory legally, either via sea or land. The form is issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Unlike the passport issued back home, your I-94 document is generated on the spot after your passport is scanned. There are two formats issued. One is an electronic format and the other a paper format.

When exiting the U.S., you have to surrender the I-94 document to the airline carrier or the CBP. Alternatively, the CBP can manifest information as provided by the carrier.

What Is an I-94 Admissions Number Used For?

An admission number is a unique number assigned to every immigrant. No two I-94 numbers are the same. This helps the CBP and other agencies in identifying an immigrant to provide relevant services.

Today, these processes have been transitioned to an electronic format. This helps CBP officials gather your arrival/departure records straight from the database. They update the records on your I-94 each time you arrive and depart from the U.S.

The main objective of the I-94 is to streamline the entry process for incoming travelers. This also facilitates security and reduces costs for the federal government. As per reports, the digitization of I-94 is saving the CBP approximately $15 million per year.

The number is also used by schools, universities, and employers to verify your legal-visitor status. Legally speaking, any institution that serves foreigners must ensure that they’re legally allowed to be in the States.

So if, as a traveler, you need information about your arrival and departure record to verify your immigration status, you have to get your I-94 number and the form itself. This can be accessed online from the CBP’s website. Then follow these steps:

  • Click on the “Get Most Recent I-94″ button
  • Then click on the “Enter Traveller Info” tab
  • Enter the details like name, passport number, among other details

The server will retrieve your I-94 and display it on the screen. You print this for further processing. But remember, by using the online server, you agree to the terms by default. One of the terms states that you cannot retrieve anyone else’s I-94 other than yours.

How to Find Your I-94 Admissions Number

The I-94 admission number is printed in the Form I-94 itself. In the form, you’re going to find the following fields:

  • Admission (I-94) Record Number
  • Admit Until Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
  • Family Name
  • First (Given) Name
  • Birth Date
  • Passport Number
  • Passport Country of Issuance
  • Date of Entry
  • Class of Admission

As you can see, the I-94 admission number is the first field mentioned in the I-94 form.

Difference Between I-94 and I-94W

Other than Form I-94, which is white, you can also receive a form that is green in color. This form is known as Form I-94W. If you’ve been entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, you’ll be issued the I-94W form. Other than that, the forms are nearly the same and serve the same purpose: recording your arrival and departure dates.

Conclusion

The I-94 Admission Number is an important number you’re likely to use at multiple places. But before departure, you must surrender it to the CBP or the airline carrier. For further information, please refer to the CBP website or a CBP official.

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Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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