How do I get my I-94?
Most travelers no longer receive paper. Go to the official site, i94.cbp.dhs.gov, or the CBP Link app, and choose Get Most Recent I-94. Print it, save the PDF, and repeat after every entry, because each admission creates a new record. You can ask for paper during inspection, but CBP says that request is handled in a secondary setting. At land borders the record is also electronic now, and you no longer get a paper stub. Since May 2019, numbers have been alphanumeric: nine digits, a letter in the 10th position and a digit in the 11th. An older numeric record stays valid until its Admit Until Date. Keep each record with your passport, because forms such as Form I-485 and Form N-400 ask about your entries. Use only the government site; do not pay a third party for this lookup.
Which date controls my stay?
Read the Admit Until Date. If it shows D/S instead of a date, see the next section. A visa is permission to travel to the border and apply for entry. Its expiration date does not necessarily set your permitted stay. You may hold a 10-year visa and still be admitted for much less, or hold an expired visa and still be in valid status. The statute counts unlawful presence after the expiration of the period of stay DHS authorized, so this date drives the 3-year and 10-year bars. Those bars and their waivers are explained on our page about unlawful presence. Also check your class of admission, because the legal idea of admission affects what you can do next. Put the date in your calendar with a 60-day warning, and speak to a lawyer early if you want to extend, change status or file for a green card.
My I-94 says D/S. Which date applies?
D/S means duration of status. F students, J exchange visitors and I media representatives admitted this way have no date on the record, so students and exchange visitors should watch the program end date on Form I-20 or DS-2019. DHS issued a rule replacing D/S with fixed admission periods of up to 4 years from September 15, 2026. A federal court in Massachusetts blocked that rule on September 14, 2026, while the lawsuit continues, so D/S remains for now. The government appealed on September 30, 2026, and the rule could return. Do not rely on older articles saying D/S has ended. Talk to your school official or program sponsor before your end date passes, and see a lawyer if you have left your program.
What if my record is wrong?
The fix depends on who issued the record. If CBP issued it at entry, go to the nearest port of entry or Deferred Inspection Site; there are over 70. Staff there can review and fix errors in classification, biographical information or period of admission. Check the site's rules first, since some require email or an appointment. Bring your passport, visa and any petition approval. If USCIS issued it, for example with an extension, you file Form I-102. That form is not for a record CBP issued. If an asylum office issued it, contact the office for your area. If an ADIT stamp on it is wrong, call 800-375-5283. Act before the printed date passes, because a shorter date than you were granted can start problems. Fix the name and birth date too: they must match your passport, or later forms and work records will conflict.
What does a replacement cost, and when do I use Form I-102?
For an air or sea arrival, print the record from the CBP site if it was issued electronically; that lookup needs no form. Form I-102 covers a record USCIS issued that was lost, stolen or damaged, as well as some initial records. The fee is $560, plus a separate $24 fee under Pub. L. 119-21 when you request a replacement or initial I-94. It is $0 for a replacement caused by USCIS error, and certain military and NATO filers pay $0 plus the $24 fee. Replacing a lost I-94W or I-95 does not carry the $24 fee. On paper, pay with Form G-1450 (U.S.-issued card) or Form G-1650 (U.S. bank account); checks and money orders are accepted only with an exemption under Form G-1651. For a stolen paper record, include a police report or an explanation. Then gather the ID copy and proof of admission.
How do I prove I left on time?
Air and sea departures are recorded through carrier manifests or by CBP. Land departures are less reliable: CBP says they may not be recorded correctly, and that a departure is recorded when you leave by land and re-enter before your stamped date. If you are not a resident of Canada or Mexico and you leave by land without returning, keep proof of departure, such as a passport entry stamp, ticket or receipt. You can ask Canadian or Mexican officers for an entry stamp. Keep those papers for years. If a record wrongly shows you never left, it can look like an overstay on your next visa application. Before you depart, save your I-94 and boarding pass. If a past record is wrong, bring your proof to a lawyer before you apply for another visa, because an unexplained gap can be used against you.
What if my date has already passed?
Do not leave without advice, and do not ignore it. Leaving after more than 180 days of unlawful presence can trigger a bar on return, which may require Form I-601 or Form I-601A. Staying risks a Notice to Appear, and an overstay is a charge under the deportability rules. If you married a citizen, or have another route, a lawyer can check whether you can still file. If you have any court paper or think a case exists, use our guide to finding your hearing today, because the consequences of missing court are severe. Ace Immigration reviews these situations; see our removal defense page and bring your passport, every I-94 and any notices.