Your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record - not the visa stamp in your passport - is the document that legally controls how long you may stay in the United States. A visa only gets you to the border and asks CBP to let you in; it's the I-94 that a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer issues at that moment which actually sets your authorized period of stay. Many people are surprised to learn their visa is valid for years while their I-94 - and their legal permission to remain - expired long before or is tied to something else entirely. Here's how to find your I-94, read it correctly, and fix it if something is wrong.
What the I-94 actually is
The I-94 is a small record created by CBP each time you're admitted to the U.S. at an airport, seaport, or land border. It records your admission date, your immigration classification (such as B-2, F-1, H-1B, or J-1), and - critically - the date or condition your authorized stay ends. Since 2013, most I-94s are issued electronically rather than as a paper stub stapled into your passport; you're expected to retrieve and check your own record online.
How to find your I-94 online
The only official source for your electronic I-94 is CBP's own website:
Go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov (part of the Department of Homeland Security).
Select "Get Most Recent I-94" to see your I-94 number, most recent entry date, class of admission, and admit-until date - or "Get Travel History" to see a longer record of your U.S. entries and exits.
Enter your name, date of birth, and passport information exactly as they appear on your travel documents.
Print or save the record; it's free and available anytime.
Do this every time you enter the U.S., ideally before you leave the airport's secure area, so a CBP officer is still nearby if something looks wrong. Never use a third-party or "immigration lookup" website to check your I-94 - use only the official CBP site above.
Reading your I-94: a fixed date vs. "D/S"
In the "Admit Until Date" field, you'll see one of two things:
A specific date
Most nonimmigrant categories - including most B-1/B-2 visitors, H-1B and L-1 workers, and Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) entrants - are admitted until a fixed calendar date. That date, not your visa's expiration date, is your deadline to leave, change status, or extend your stay.
"D/S" (Duration of Status)
Some categories - historically F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and certain other categories - have been admitted for "Duration of Status" rather than a fixed date. Under this framework, your authorized stay is tied to an underlying program document (Form I-20 for F-1, DS-2019 for J-1) and to maintaining the conditions of your status, rather than to one printed expiration date.
Important heads-up: As of this writing (July 2026), a federal rule that would eliminate D/S for F-1, J-1, and certain I (foreign media) visa holders and replace it with a fixed admission period has cleared federal review but had not yet been published in the Federal Register. If it takes effect, it would change how these categories are admitted and how unlawful presence is calculated going forward, with a transition period after publication. Because this is actively in flux, always confirm your current admission type and any applicable deadlines directly at uscis.gov or cbp.gov rather than relying on older articles or this one.
Why the I-94 - not the visa stamp - controls unlawful presence
This is the single most important thing to understand: your visa is permission to request entry; your I-94 is the actual grant of a specific period of stay. You can have a visa valid for ten years and still be out of status the moment your I-94 period ends. Overstaying your visa's validity date, by itself, means nothing legally - overstaying your I-94's authorized period is what creates a problem.
For people admitted until a fixed date, unlawful presence generally begins accruing the day after that date passes, even if you've filed an application to extend or change status, unless that filing was made in a timely manner and other conditions are met. For people admitted for D/S, current policy is that unlawful presence does not begin accruing automatically on a calendar date; instead it typically starts only after USCIS formally finds a status violation or an immigration judge orders removal or exclusion - though, as noted above, this framework may change. Because the rules for D/S are unusually technical and currently unsettled, anyone in F, J, or I status who is unsure whether they're still in status should not guess - confirm with your school's international student office, USCIS, or an immigration attorney.
The stakes are real: periods of unlawful presence of more than 180 days but less than one year can trigger a 3-year bar on returning to the U.S. after you leave, and one year or more can trigger a 10-year bar. These bars generally apply regardless of whether your visa itself was still technically valid.
How to fix an error on your I-94 ("what to do")
Mistakes happen - a misspelled name, wrong date of birth, wrong classification, or wrong admission date. What you do next depends on who caused the error:
Check immediately. Review your I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov within 24 hours of every entry, ideally before you leave the airport.
If CBP made the mistake at entry (wrong name, date of birth, nationality, classification, or admission date on a record CBP created): do not file Form I-102. Instead, contact the nearest CBP Deferred Inspection Site, listed on cbp.gov, or use CBP's official online inquiry ("Ask a Question") tool. Bring your passport, visa, and any supporting documents showing the correct information.
If USCIS made the error (for example, on a new I-94 generated after USCIS approved an extension or change of status): file Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Record, available at uscis.gov/i-102, along with a letter explaining the specific error and evidence of the correct information.
Check the current fee rules before filing. USCIS fees change; if the error was entirely USCIS's fault, a fee may not be required, but if it stems from information you provided, a fee typically applies. Confirm the current fee and any required documentation on the official USCIS fee schedule at uscis.gov before submitting anything.
Keep everything. Save copies of your original I-94, your correction request, any confirmation numbers, and the corrected record once issued.
Deadlines to watch
Your I-94 "Admit Until" date (or the end of your D/S period, if applicable) is a hard deadline - overstaying it, not overstaying your visa, is what creates unlawful presence.
If you're extending or changing status, file before your current I-94 period ends; filing late generally does not protect you from unlawful presence accruing.
Correct any I-94 error as soon as you discover it - an incorrect record can cause problems later with employers (Form I-9), future visa applications, or reentry, and errors are far easier to fix soon after they happen than years later.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship - immigration consequences can be serious, so consult a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the Department of Justice (listed through justice.gov/eoir) for advice about your specific situation. Be cautious of "notarios" or unlicensed "immigration consultants." In many Latin American countries a "notario público" is a specially licensed attorney, but in the United States a notary public has no such authority and cannot give legal advice - only a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative may lawfully advise you on an immigration matter, and paying an unauthorized provider can lead to costly mistakes and fraud.
Frequently asked questions
Is my I-94 the same thing as my visa?
No. Your visa (the stamp or sticker in your passport) is only permission to travel to a U.S. port of entry and ask to be let in. The I-94 is the actual record of admission that a CBP officer creates when you enter, and it is the I-94 - not the visa - that sets how long you may legally stay.
What does "D/S" mean on my I-94?
D/S stands for Duration of Status. It means, under current policy, that your authorized stay is tied to an underlying document such as Form I-20 (for F-1 students) or DS-2019 (for J-1 exchange visitors) rather than to one fixed calendar date. A pending federal rule could replace D/S with a fixed admission date for these categories, so check uscis.gov for the current status before assuming D/S still applies to you.
How do I get a copy of my I-94?
Go to the official CBP website at i94.cbp.dhs.gov and use "Get Most Recent I-94" or "Get Travel History," entering your name, date of birth, and passport information exactly as they appear in your travel documents. You can view and print it for free at any time.
What happens if I stay past my I-94 date?
You begin accruing unlawful presence, which can lead to being barred from returning to the United States for 3 years (if unlawful presence exceeds 180 days) or 10 years (if it reaches one year or more), even if you leave voluntarily. Rules differ for people admitted for Duration of Status, so verify your specific situation with USCIS or an immigration attorney.
I found a mistake on my I-94 - what do I do?
It depends on who made the error. If CBP made the mistake when you entered (wrong name, date of birth, admission date, or classification), contact a CBP Deferred Inspection Site or use CBP's online inquiry form - not Form I-102. If USCIS caused the error, such as through a status extension, file Form I-102 with a letter explaining the mistake and supporting evidence.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and may not reflect the most current law or the law in your jurisdiction. Laws vary by state and change over time. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
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