Visa Information
I-20 Information
Consulate Interview
I-94 Information
I-94 Information
What is an I-94?
The I-94 is your arrival/departure record. It is a small, three-part white card that will be given to you to fill out on the airplane before you arrive in the United States. The customs and border official will keep the arrival portion of the card and then stamp the departure record part of the I-94 with your visa type, the place and date of your admission to the United States and the date when you are to depart the United States. For F-1 students, the border official will most likely write "D/S" which means "Duration of Status." This means that you are allowed to stay in the United States until the program end date on your I-20 plus your 60-day grace period that is to be used to pack your bags and fly home. This is the documentation that will be used to keep track of when you must leave the United States. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you can stay in the United States until your visa expires. Your I-20 and I-94 are what immigration officials are looking at to make sure you remain only as long as you need to in order to complete your studies.
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What do I need to do with my I-94?
Your I-94 will be stapled into your passport. Be sure to take very good care of it; it is a crucial document!
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Who issues my I-94?
You will be issued your I-94 on the airplane when you arrive in the United States. Before your I-94 will be stamped, you will need to have satisfied the customs and border official that you are a legitimate visitor or student and plan to leave the United States upon completion of your visit or course of study.
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Where do I go to get an I-94?
You will only receive an I-94 on the airplane when you arrive in the United States. Do not lose this document! Leave it in your passport and then keep this and all other documentation in a safe place where you can find it quickly, if necessary.
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What do I need to provide in order to get my I-94 stamped?
The border official will ask you to provide your I-20, passport, and financial documents in order to ensure that you have obtained your visa legitimately. Be prepared to present any other documentation upon request.
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What is the fee for obtaining an I-94?
The fee for an I-94 was $8 USD as of 12/31/08 but is subject to change without notice.
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