The I-94 Card is a document required from non-immigrant visitors entering the United States with a visa. Such non-immigrants are required to complete the Arrival-Departure Record, which is the CBP Form I-94, or the Crewman Landing Permit (CBP Form I-95).
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issues Form I-94, Arrival/departure Records. This document is issued to all aliens who are admitted to the U.S., adjusting their status while in the U.S. or extending their stay within the U.S.
The Form I-94 shows the date of arrival in the United States, the date when the authorized period of stay expires (the “Admitted Until” date), and the class of admission.
All non-immigrants need an I-94 Form, except for U.S. citizens, resident aliens, aliens with immigrant status, and most Canadian citizens. I-94s are usually issued at the admission step at the port of entry, by air or sea.
The I-94 form is attached to the non-immigrant visitor’s passport by a Customs and Border Protection officer (CBP). Since April of 2013, I-94 Forms have been created electronically upon arrival.
The Form I-94 has two specific perforated sections. The nonimmigrant or the carrier representative must complete both sections of the form. The top section is the arrival record and is retained by the Customs and Border Patrol officer at the port of entry. The bottom section of Form I-94 is the departure record and must be retained by the nonimmigrant until the time of departure from the United States.
See also: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
[Last updated in May of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]