Check Your I-94 Record

Dear International Students and Scholars:

The International Center is recommending that all students and scholars who have entered the US from December 2020 or later to check their I-94 records to ensure that their I-94 information is accurate. Please read below for more information.

What is my I-94 Record?

Your I-94 record is a record of your arrival in the US on a non-immigrant visa (such as an F-1 student visa or J-1 exchange visitor visa). You get a new I-94 every time you arrive in the US following an overseas trip. It is essential that your I-94 information is accurate because your I-94 is official evidence of your legal status in the US. Errors in I-94 processing may have serious immigration consequences, such as denial of employment benefits and required departure from the US. As a result, you should check your I-94 after your first arrival and every time you come back to the US after a trip abroad.

Why should I check my I-94 now?

Recent reports indicate that there have been an increase in I-94 processing errors by US Customs and Border Protection, and that these errors have taken place largely over the last two months (since December 2020). In order to ensure that any errors are caught and addressed quickly, we are recommending that you check your I-94, especially if you have recently arrived or returned to the US.

How do I check my I-94?

Checking your I-94 is easy, as it is done on-line - no registration or paperwork is needed. However, you will need your passport number.

• Go to https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov.
• Select the option to "Get Most Recent I-94."
• Fill in the traveler information sections form and press the "Next" button, and a copy of your I-94 will appear

We recommend that you save a PDF copy of your I-94 every time you check the form. (Note: if you arrived in the US from Canada or Mexico by a land crossing, you will be directly issued a paper I-94 instead of an electronic form.)

What should my I-94 indicate? What if there is a mistake on my I-94?

For F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors, your I-94 should indicate your passport name, date of birth, passport number, and date of arrival. In addition, it is essential that your I-94 has the correct Class of Admission (i.e., your visa type, such as F-1 or J-1) and Admit Until date. The Admit Until date for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors should always be "D/S" (for duration of status). If there is any item on your I-94 that is not correct, contact the International Center immediately. The International Center can assist you in getting any mistakes resolved.

If you are entering the US on an H-1B visa sponsored by Tufts, your Admit Until date will be an actual date - usually the end of your H-1B petition plus an optional grace period of ten days.

Where can I get further information?

View this I-94 information sheet from US Customs and Border Protection. In addition, if you have further questions, please contact the International Center at internationalcenter@tufts.edu.

Sincerely,

Tufts International Center