Form I-94 — Complete Guide 2025: Download, Travel History, Errors, AOS Cases, and Everything You Must Know
- Таня В
- Nov 22
- 4 min read
If you are an immigrant, a visitor, a student, a worker, or applying for Adjustment of Status (AOS), your Form I-94 is one of the most important documents in your entire immigration history. It controls your legal status, your authorized stay, and your ability to adjust, extend, or change status inside the United States.
In this complete 2025 guide, we will break down everything you need to know about Form I-94, including:
what I-94 is and why it matters
how to download your I-94 online in seconds
how to retrieve your travel history
how to correct mistakes in your I-94
what to do if your I-94 expires before your visa
how I-94 affects AOS (Adjustment of Status) using my personal experience
critical warnings and common problems
full FAQ and checklist
This is the most up-to-date and beginner-friendly resource — written from real experience and professional immigration knowledge.
What Is Form I-94 and Why It Matters in 2025
Form I-94 is the official record created by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) every time a non-citizen enters the United States.It shows:
your legal immigration status (B2, F1, H1B, parole, etc.)
your admission date
your admit-until date (the date your status expires)
your I-94 number
your travel history
Unlike a visa, which only allows you to enter the U.S., your I-94 controls how long you can legally stay.
If your I-94 expires — your authorized stay also expires. Even if your visa is still valid.
This is why monitoring your I-94 is critical.
How to Download Your I-94 Online (Step-by-Step)
You can access your I-94 record in seconds using the CBP website.
👉 Official CBP link:https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov
Steps:
Go to “Get Most Recent I-94”
Enter:
First and Last Name (exactly as in passport)
Passport Number
Passport Country
Confirm security check
Your I-94 will appear on the screen
Click “Print I-94” or “Download PDF”
💡 Important Tip:
If your name includes:
hyphens
double names
Cyrillic transcription/Latin mismatch
Try several variations — CBP often stores names incorrectly.
How to Retrieve Your Full Travel History
On the same page, select:
👉 “View Travel History”
You will see:
every entry and exit
dates
ports of entry
method of travel (air/land/sea)
Why travel history matters:
DS-260 immigrant visa cases
AOS interviews
Naturalization (N-400)
Court cases
Tax residency checks
Proving continuous residence
For many clients, I recommend saving the page as a PDF or screenshot yearly.
Common I-94 Errors and How to Fix Them
CBP frequently makes mistakes — especially with:
names
passport numbers
incorrect status
shortened I-94 validity
wrong admit-until dates
⚠️ The most dangerous error:
I-94 is shorter than your visa or shorter than your immigration status.
This can cause:
unauthorized stay
loss of AOS eligibility
unlawful presence
How to correct an I-94 mistake:
✔ Option 1 — Go to a CBP Deferred Inspection Office
This is the fastest and easiest way.
You do NOT need an appointment in many locations.
Search “Deferred Inspection Office + your city”.
Bring:
passport
visa
I-94 printout
entry stamp
flight ticket
proof of correct status (I-797, approval notice)
Most corrections are done the same day.
I-94 and Adjustment of Status (AOS): My Personal Experience
Since you position your website as written from personal experience — здесь уместно добавить твой реальный опыт.
When I applied for Adjustment of Status (AOS), my I-94 was the key document that allowed me to remain lawfully in the U.S. and submit Form I-485.I entered the U.S. on parole and filed for AOS inside the country. USCIS used the I-94 to confirm:
my legal entry
my eligibility to adjust
my status at the moment of filing
If your I-94 is missing, wrong, or expired before filing — USCIS may reject or deny your AOS package.
That’s why I always recommend:
✔ Before filing AOS, download your I-94
✔ Make sure your status is correct
✔ Verify your “Admit Until” date
✔ Save a PDF copy for your immigration file
This seems simple, but many applicants get denied for avoidable I-94 mistakes.
I-94 for Different Visa Categories
F-1 Students
Your I-94 will show D/S (Duration of Status) — not a date. This means you are legally staying as long as you follow F-1 rules.
Visitors (B1/B2)
Typically admitted for 6 months, but CBP can shorten this at any time.
Work Visa Holders (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN)
I-94 usually matches your I-797 approval notice, not your visa. Visa is irrelevant once you are inside the U.S.
What Happens if Your I-94 Expires Before Your Visa?
A very common situation:
Visa expiration = irrelevant
I-94 expiration = controls your legal stay
If your I-94 expires:
❌ You are out of status
❌ You may begin accumulating unlawful presence
❌ You cannot file AOS (in most categories)
Solutions:
File extension/change of status before the I-94 expiration
Leave the U.S. and re-enter
Fix incorrect I-94 through Deferred Inspection
Critical Warnings (Read Carefully)
⚠️ 1. I-94 controls your stay — NOT your visa
Many immigrants get this wrong.
⚠️ 2. Overstaying I-94 affects future visas and green cards
Even 1 day can cause issues.
⚠️ 3. Errors in I-94 must be corrected immediately
Don’t wait — do it within days of arrival.
⚠️ 4. Save your I-94 every time you enter the U.S.
CBP may not keep historical records forever.
Checklist: What You Must Review on Your I-94
What You Must Review on Your I-94
✔ Name spelled correctly
✔ Status is correct (B2, F1, H1B, Parole, etc.)
✔ Admit-Until date correct
✔ Passport number correct
✔ Class of admission matches your visa or approval
✔ Travel history matches your entries
✔ Save PDF copy securely
You can turn this into a downloadable PDF for your website.
FAQ — Most Common Questions About I-94
What if I cannot find my I-94?
Try different spellings of your name — CBP often mis-types surnames.
Why does my I-94 have a different date from my visa?
The visa does NOT control your stay — I-94 does.
Can I fix an I-94 online?
No — only Deferred Inspection or re-entry.
My I-94 expired — can I still file AOS?
Only if:
you are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen
or you entered through parole
Otherwise — no.
Can I enter the U.S. without downloading I-94?
Yes, but you should download it immediately because USCIS may ask for it anytime.
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