US Embassy Announces new I-94 System

During April and May, the paper Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record is to disappear at US ports of entry and will be replaced by an automated system, which will collect the data from the non-immigrant visa holder’s electronic travel record.  Because advanced information is only transmitted for air and sea travellers, CBP will still issue a paper form I-94 at land border ports of entry.

The automated forms will be phased-in beginning 30 April 2013.  Travelers to the US by air or sea within the next couple of months will be able to check their port of entry and implementation date here on the following website: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/i94_rollout.xml

Under this new system, a CBP officer will stamp a traveler’s passport to show the date of admission, class of admission, and end date of the admission. Travelers will not need to do anything differently upon exiting the US. Travelers previously issued a paper Form I-94 will surrender it to the airline or to CBP upon departure.