I-94 and Entry to the U.S.

The I-94: Proof of Legal Entry into the U.S.

When entering the U.S., the Customs Border Protection (CBP) officer examines your passport and visa and then issues either a passport admission stamp or a small white card, called the Form I-94. The passport admission stamp or paper I-94 card indicates how long a scholar or employee is allowed to stay in the U.S. and proves that they arrived in the country legally.

Non-immigrants who arrive in the U.S. by air or sea, should be issued the passport admission stamp. If a scholar or employee has received a passport admission stamp, there will also be an electronic I-94 record. To access this record, visit: www.cbp.gov/I94. This should be printed immediately after arrival.

Non-immigrants who arrive in the U.S. by crossing a land border will continue to receive the paper I-94 card. In this case, there will not be an electronic I-94 record.

Duration of Status (D/S) or Specific End Date

J-1 & J-2: Scholars, employees, and their dependent family members in J status should receive a stamp marked "D/S" or "duration of status." This means that they may remain in the U.S. as long as they continue their research/employment at KU and their DS-2019 (J-1) has not expired.

Employees in H-1B, O-1 or TN status will receive a specific end date on their stamp and this end date will likely match the end date on the I-797 Approval Notice.  If there is a discrepancy in the end date listed on your I-94 and the end date on your I-797 Approval Notice, please contact IP.

More Information

For more information on the new I-94 automation process and passport admission stamps, please review the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Fact Sheet.