How to Download Your Most Recent I-94 (and Save a Copy That HR, the DMV and SSA Will Accept)
CBP shows only your newest I-94, so the copy you skip saving today may be the one HR, the DMV or USCIS asks for next year.
Part of our guide to the I-94 record.
To download your I-94 form, go to CBP's official site, i94.cbp.dhs.gov, choose Get Most Recent I-94/I-95, acknowledge the Terms of Service, and enter your name, date of birth, passport number and country of issuance exactly as they appear on the passport you used at your last entry. The record appears on screen; print it or save it as a PDF. It is free, and the site only ever shows your newest record, so save a copy after every entry.
Status line, as of 2026-11-01: looking up your I-94 is free; the only fee on the site, $30 per provisional I-94 for a land-border or selected ferry crossing, has been in effect since 2025-09-30. The Duration of Status (D/S) final rule has been blocked by a federal court since 2026-09-14; summary judgment is briefed (replies due 2026-11-02; check the docket for any ruling), and DHS's First Circuit appeal is pending, with its brief due 2026-11-09. An F-1 I-94 should still read D/S, not a fixed date.
How to download your I-94 form from CBP
Your I-94 download is a printout of the electronic arrival record CBP created when it admitted you. On i94.cbp.dhs.gov or in the CBP Link app, choose Get Most Recent I-94/I-95, enter your details from the passport you entered on, and save the result as a PDF. It costs nothing; a site that charges for it is not CBP.
Paper I-94 cards are mostly gone. CBP's I-94 page (modified 2026-07-22) says travelers who want a paper copy can "print their own I-94 Form from the I-94 website using 'Get Most Recent I-94'", and land-border travelers now get electronic I-94s too. CBP's I-94 home page calls the printout your "lawful record of admission": "If someone requests your admission information, this is the form you would provide."
Step by step on the CBP website
- Type i94.cbp.dhs.gov into your browser yourself, rather than clicking an ad or a search result, and confirm the address ends in .gov.
- Select "Get Most Recent I-94/I-95" from the site menu (older guides say "Get Most Recent I-94").
- Read and acknowledge the Terms of Service.
- Enter your last (surname) and first (given) names as they appear in the machine-readable zone (MRZ) at the bottom of your passport photo page, in that English spelling, without accents or other special characters. If your passport lists more than one first or last name, enter all of them; where the MRZ shows a chevron (<) between names, type a space.
- Enter your date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY).
- Enter your passport number in the document number field, with no spaces. CBP says it appears in zone 2 of the MRZ or at the top right under "Passport Number," may mix letters and numbers, and warns you not to confuse zero with the letter O or one with the letter I.
- Select your passport's country of issuance. CBP notes that the country of citizenship on your passport is the issuing country "even if you obtained your passport in a different country."
- Submit and review the record: your I-94 number, most recent date of entry, class of admission and admit-until date.
- Save it as a PDF from your browser's print menu, name the file with the entry date (for example,
I-94_2026-01-06.pdf), and keep it with your I-20, EAD or I-797.
The passport rule trips people up most. CBP's FAQ says to "enter the biographical data from the passport you used to enter the United States," and to use the passport number tied to the I-94 "regardless of whether the passport has expired." If you renewed your passport after your last entry, search with the old number. If you no longer have the original passport number, CBP says you will need to submit a redress request through the CBP Information Center's Ask a Question portal.
What your I-94 printout should show
CBP says I-94 numbers issued before May 2019 are 11 digits; newer ones are 11 characters, "nine numbers, one letter, and one final number (e.g., 012345678A1)." The class of admission should match your status at entry, such as F1, J1, H1B or H4. The admit-until date should read D/S for an F-1 admission while the D/S rule stays blocked, and a specific date for H-1B, H-4 and most other work classes.
Common misconception, then correction. "Since September 15, 2026, new F-1 I-94s carry a fixed end date instead of D/S." That is not correct as of 2026-11-01. The rule that would have made that change has been blocked by a federal court since 2026-09-14, and USCIS says on its Form I-539 page that "USCIS will proceed under the previous regulatory provisions." If your new F-1 I-94 shows a fixed date, contact your DSO promptly and see our guide to correcting an I-94 error with CBP.
Is it free to get your I-94?
Yes. CBP charges nothing to look up and print an existing I-94 on its website or in the CBP Link app; its FAQ lists a fee only for applying for a new provisional I-94. USCIS's own Form I-765 instructions (edition 08/21/25) point filers to www.cbp.gov/i94 "to obtain a paper version of your electronic Form I-94."
The fee you may see on the CBP site is for something else: applying for a provisional I-94 up to seven days before you cross at a land border or a selected ferry port. CBP's FAQ puts it at $30 per application, "consisting of the $6 land border fee and the HR-1 $24 fee," in effect since September 30, 2025. USCIS's FY2027 inflation notice, effective 2026-10-16, keeps the HR-1 I-94 fee at $24, so the land-border total stays $30. For air and sea arrivals, CBP says the I-94 fee is built into your airline or sea ticket. None of that applies to downloading a record you already have.
Watch out for paid lookalike sites
Search results for "I-94 download" include commercial sites that look official, charge a "processing" fee, give you nothing CBP does not, and collect your passport number and date of birth. CBP's FAQ is blunt about who may use its lookup: "If you are a non-U.S. employer or a non-U.S. federal agency, including any parties other than the individual traveler, you are NOT authorized to retrieve Form I-94 information from this website." If you believe someone accessed your I-94 or travel history without your consent, CBP's FAQ says to report it to [email protected].
Why can't you print your old I-94 after you re-entered?
Because CBP keeps only one current record on screen. Its FAQ says: "The website will only display the most recently created I-94 that matches the provided name and date of birth." Its example: a traveler admitted in 2005 and again in 2017 sees only the 2017 record, and "Earlier I-94 records cannot be retrieved."
Every new admission replaces the previous record, even if nothing about your status changed. The View Travel History tool lists your arrival and departure dates for the past 10 years, but it is not the I-94 itself, and CBP calls it "not an official record for legal purposes." For a copy of an older record, the route is a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to CBP; its FAQ explains how to file one. The cheap fix is a habit: save a PDF within days of every entry.
Age is rarely the problem. Most travelers can pull a most recent I-94 issued after 1983, and D/S admissions such as F1 and J1 "can access their Form I-94 information regardless of the creation date, as long as an electronic record exists." You still see only the latest one.
A worked timeline: one F-1 student, four I-94s
Maya (a hypothetical student) enters as an F-1 student, travels once, moves to OPT, then gets an H-1B change of status. Here is what the website may show at each point and which record governs.
| Date | What happens | What "Get Most Recent I-94/I-95" shows | The I-94 that governs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-12 | Admitted at Chicago O'Hare as F-1 | Record 1: F1, D/S | Record 1 |
| 2026-01-06 | Re-enters after winter break | Record 2: F1, D/S (Record 1 is gone from the site) | Record 2 |
| 2026-06-15 | Starts post-completion OPT on her EAD | Still Record 2 (OPT creates no new I-94) | Record 2 |
| 2026-10-01 | H-1B change of status takes effect; I-797A arrives with an I-94 at the bottom | Possibly still Record 2; do not rely on it updating | Record 3, on the I-797A |
| A later trip | Readmitted on an H-1B visa stamp | Record 4: H1B with a fixed admit-until date | Record 4 |
Had Maya saved PDFs of Records 1 and 2, she could show a future attorney her exact admission history in minutes. Without them, she has a FOIA request ahead of her.
Can you get your I-94 on your phone?
Yes. CBP's FAQ says you can download the CBP Link app on an Apple or Android phone, sign in with a free Login.gov account, then open the "Get Most Recent I-94/I-95" tab. It lists three ways to find the record: scan your passport's machine-readable zone, search by a selfie, or type in your name, date of birth, document number and citizenship.
If the app gives you trouble, open i94.cbp.dhs.gov in your phone's browser instead and use the share or print menu to save the page as a PDF you keep somewhere you control. Either source works for HR: CBP's FAQ says of the website and app printouts, "Both versions are acceptable for Form I-9 purposes." A cropped screenshot that cuts off the I-94 number or admit-until date is not, so send the full page.
Which I-94 should you give your employer after an extension?
Give the newest I-94 by date, whichever agency issued it. When USCIS approves an extension or change of status for someone already in the US, it issues an I-797A, which USCIS's Form I-797 page says is "issued to an applicant as a replacement Form I-94." The I-94 at the bottom of that notice is your current record.
Do not count on the CBP website to show it. CBP's FAQ warns that its travel history may leave out "I-94s issued by USCIS for changes of status, extensions of stay, or adjustments of status," and it sends you to USCIS, not CBP, to correct or replace an I-94 USCIS issued. If "Get Most Recent I-94/I-95" still shows your older entry record after an I-797A, give HR the I-797A copy for an I-9 update or reverification. Once you travel and CBP readmits you, the new CBP record replaces the I-797A I-94.
Our guide to the H-1B approval notice, I-797A vs I-797B explains why an I-797B carries no I-94 at all. If your CBP I-94 and your I-797A disagree on dates, or your passport expires before the petition does, that is a question for your employer's immigration attorney, not HR.
Who asks for your I-94, and which copy to hand over
Who asks for an I-94 and what to bring, as of 2026-11
| Who asks | Why they want it | What to bring | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer, Form I-9 | Section 1 identifiers and, for some workers, the document itself | Most recent I-94 (CBP printout or I-797A); OPT workers usually present the EAD | USCIS lists a foreign passport with an I-94 under List A item 5 and the I-94 under List C item 7 (I-9 documents, reviewed 10/05/2026) |
| State DMV (license, ID) | Proof of lawful presence | Passport, most recent I-94, I-20 or EAD; check your state's list | The DMV usually checks your status through SAVE |
| Social Security office (SSN) | Immigration status and work eligibility | Passport, most recent I-94, I-20, plus EAD or on-campus job letter | SSA suggests waiting about 10 days after arrival |
| DSO or international office | Check-in, SEVIS records, travel questions | PDF of each new I-94 | Wrong class or a fixed F-1 date: tell your DSO quickly |
| USCIS filings (I-765 OPT/STEM OPT, I-539, H-1B change of status) | Your I-94 number and authorized-stay date | Printout of your latest I-94 | I-765 Item 17 asks for both |
A few notes on that table:
- DMV and SSA. USCIS describes SAVE as the service agencies use when you apply for benefits "such as healthcare, a driver's license, or a social security card," so they check your status against federal records. Bring the latest I-94; Georgetown's SSN checklist, for example, asks for the "Most Recent I-94 Entry Record." Our guide to an SSN and driver's license as an international student has the full lists; on OPT, you apply for the SSN on or after your EAD start date.
- USCIS. I-765 Item 17 asks for your "Form I-94 number and date that your authorized period of stay expires or expired," and the instructions accept "a printout of your electronic Form I-94 from www.cbp.gov/i94" as evidence.
- School. Your I-94 and your I-20 work as a pair: the I-94 shows D/S, and the I-20's program end date defines how long that duration runs.
When to pull a fresh copy
Download and save a new PDF:
- After every admission by air or sea. After a land crossing, check too: CBP says short trips (under 30 days) by land or ferry to contiguous territories "will not result in a new Form I-94 or extend your current 'Admit Until Date.'"
- When an I-797A arrives (save the I-797A itself; the website may not show it).
- Before an I-9, DMV or SSA appointment, or any USCIS filing.
- Before boarding a flight back to the US under automatic visa revalidation (8 CFR 214.1(b) and 22 CFR 41.112(d)) after 30 days or less in Canada, Mexico or (for F and J holders) adjacent islands. CBP's FAQ says you "may need to print a copy of your electronic I-94 from the CBP website and present it to the air or sea carrier before boarding." Whether you qualify is a question for your DSO (F-1) or your employer's attorney (H-1B) before you leave.
If the record will not load at all, see what to do when CBP says no record was found; the I-765 instructions add that you may then request it on Form I-102. If the record is there but wrong, CBP's FAQ says to contact a Deferred Inspection office "within thirty days of admission or parole" for errors on an I-94 CBP issued, or use its Ask a Question portal. For an I-94 USCIS issued, CBP sends you to USCIS, whose I-102 page covers replacing an I-94 issued "due to a USCIS error."
Common mistakes
- Using your new passport number. The record is tied to the passport you entered on. If you renewed afterward, search with the old number.
- Paying a lookalike site. Retrieval is free on cbp.dhs.gov. A paid site adds risk to your passport data and gives you nothing extra.
- Handing HR the old CBP printout after an I-797A. The I-797A I-94 is newer, and the website may not show it.
- Never saving older records. Once CBP issues you a new I-94, the previous one disappears from the site.
- Ignoring a fixed date on an F-1 I-94. With the D/S rule blocked, an F-1 record should read D/S. Tell your DSO the same week.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download my I-94 from the CBP website?
Go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov, choose Get Most Recent I-94/I-95, acknowledge the Terms of Service, and enter your first name, last name, date of birth, passport number and country of issuance exactly as they appear on the passport you used at your last entry. When the record appears, print it or save it as a PDF. As of November 1, 2026, CBP offers the same lookup in its CBP Link phone app and charges nothing for it on either.
Is it free to get my I-94?
Yes. CBP charges nothing to look up and print your existing I-94 on its website or in its CBP Link app. The only fee CBP lists is $30 per application for a provisional I-94 before a land-border or selected ferry crossing, in effect since September 30, 2025 and unchanged as of November 1, 2026. A site that charges you to download your record is not CBP.
Why can't I print my old I-94 after I re-entered?
CBP's website shows only the most recently created I-94 that matches your name and date of birth, and CBP says earlier records cannot be retrieved there. Each new admission replaces the old one on screen, which is why you should save a PDF after every entry. The travel history tool lists arrival and departure dates for the past 10 years, and a FOIA request to CBP is the route for older records.
Can I get my I-94 on my phone?
Yes. CBP's CBP Link app for Apple and Android phones has a Get Most Recent I-94/I-95 tab once you sign in with a free Login.gov account, and CBP's FAQ describes scanning your passport, searching by a selfie, or typing your details. You can also open the CBP website in your phone's browser and save the page as a PDF.
Which I-94 should I give my employer after an extension?
Give the newest I-94 by date. If USCIS approved an extension or change of status after your last entry, that is usually the I-94 printed at the bottom of your I-797A approval notice. CBP's FAQ warns that its travel history and compliance tools may not reflect USCIS extensions or changes of status, so keep the I-797A itself. If you travel and are readmitted after the approval, the new CBP record from that entry replaces it. Ask your employer's immigration attorney if the two records disagree.
Sources
- CBP, I-94 official website and FAQ (read 2026-11-01)
- CBP, Arrival/Departure Forms: I-94 (modified 2026-07-22)
- USCIS, Form I-765 instructions, edition 08/21/25
- USCIS, Form I-797 types and functions
- USCIS, Form I-9 acceptable documents
- USCIS, Form I-102 and SAVE
- USCIS, Form I-539 page, D/S court-order notice
- CourtListener, Presidents' Alliance v. United States docket
- Federal Register, Fiscal Year 2027 Inflation Adjustment to H.R. 1 Immigration Fees, 91 FR 62540
- Georgetown Law, Social Security Number guidance
How we checked this: on 2026-11-01 we read CBP's I-94 website and its FAQ, CBP's I-94 page, USCIS's I-765 instructions and its I-797, I-9, I-102, SAVE and I-539 pages, the FY2027 HR-1 fee notice in the Federal Register, and the D/S court docket.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice; your own I-94, I-20 and approval notices govern, your DSO handles F-1, OPT and SEVIS questions, and a licensed immigration attorney handles petitions and status problems.
Keeping your paperwork clean is one part of a sponsorship job search. If you want help with the rest, from targeting employers that sponsor to preparing for interviews on OPT or STEM OPT, F1Jobs can walk you through how our job-search service works.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download my I-94 from the CBP website
Go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov, choose Get Most Recent I-94/I-95, acknowledge the Terms of Service, and enter your first name, last name, date of birth, passport number and country of issuance exactly as they appear on the passport you used at your last entry. When the record appears, print it or save it as a PDF. As of November 1, 2026, CBP offers the same lookup in its CBP Link phone app and charges nothing for it on either.
Is it free to get my I-94
Yes. CBP charges nothing to look up and print your existing I-94 on its website or in its CBP Link app. The only fee CBP lists is $30 per application for a provisional I-94 before a land-border or selected ferry crossing, in effect since September 30, 2025 and unchanged as of November 1, 2026. A site that charges you to download your record is not CBP.
Why can't I print my old I-94 after I re-entered
CBP's website shows only the most recently created I-94 that matches your name and date of birth, and CBP says earlier records cannot be retrieved there. Each new admission replaces the old one on screen, which is why you should save a PDF after every entry. The travel history tool lists arrival and departure dates for the past 10 years, and a FOIA request to CBP is the route for older records.
Can I get my I-94 on my phone
Yes. CBP's CBP Link app for Apple and Android phones has a Get Most Recent I-94/I-95 tab once you sign in with a free Login.gov account, and CBP's FAQ describes scanning your passport, searching by a selfie, or typing your details. You can also open the CBP website in your phone's browser and save the page as a PDF.
Which I-94 should I give my employer after an extension
Give the newest I-94 by date. If USCIS approved an extension or change of status after your last entry, that is usually the I-94 printed at the bottom of your I-797A approval notice. CBP's FAQ warns that its travel history and compliance tools may not reflect USCIS extensions or changes of status, so keep the I-797A itself. If you travel and are readmitted after the approval, the new CBP record from that entry replaces it. Ask your employer's immigration attorney if the two records disagree.