I-94 Admission Number: Where to Find It and How It Differs From Your Visa, SEVIS and A-Number
Your I-94 admission number has 11 characters, changes with every entry and is not the red number on your visa. Here is how to find the one a form wants.
Part of our guide to your SEVIS record.
Your I-94 admission number is the 11-character number on your electronic arrival-departure record, and the fastest place to find your I-94 number is CBP's official website, i94.cbp.dhs.gov. Choose "Get Most Recent I-94" and read the "Admission (I-94) Record Number" at the top. If USCIS approved a change or extension of status after your last entry, your newest I-94 is printed at the bottom of your I-797A approval notice instead. Either way, it is not your visa number, SEVIS ID, passport number, USCIS receipt number or A-number.
Status line, as of November 1, 2026: the number format CBP adopted in May 2019 (nine digits, a letter, a digit) is in effect and unchanged. For F-1 students, admissions still use duration of status (D/S): the DHS rule that would replace D/S with fixed end dates (91 FR 44976) has been blocked by a federal court since 2026-09-14. Summary judgment is briefed (replies due 2026-11-02), and DHS's appeal is pending, with its First Circuit opening brief due 2026-11-09. A ruling can come any time after 2026-11-02, so check the district court docket before you rely on this line. Your own I-94 shows what CBP actually granted you.
Where to find your I-94 number
Your I-94 number is on the record CBP creates when it admits you. Download it free from CBP's I-94 website under "Get Most Recent I-94," where it appears as the Admission (I-94) Record Number. A USCIS-approved extension or change of status comes with its own I-94 at the bottom of the I-797A.
How to get your most recent I-94 number, step by step
- Open CBP's official I-94 website, i94.cbp.dhs.gov, or CBP's CBP Link mobile app, and choose "Get Most Recent I-94." Retrieval is free; a site that charges you to "look up" an I-94 is not CBP.
- Enter your name and date of birth exactly as they appear in the passport you used at your last entry, then that passport's number in the "Document Number" box and its issuing country.
- Retry with your old passport number if you renewed your passport after that entry, because the record is tied to the document you showed CBP.
- Copy the "Admission (I-94) Record Number" at the top, all 11 characters, and check the class of admission and "Admit Until Date" beside it (D/S for F-1 students).
- Compare the entry date with any I-797A approval notice USCIS issued afterwards. If the I-797A is newer, its tear-off I-94 is your current record.
- Save a PDF of the record with your other immigration papers, and repeat these steps after every trip.
Our walkthrough on downloading your most recent I-94 covers lookup failures. A record that exists but shows the wrong name, class or date is a correction problem; see how to correct an I-94 error.
On an I-797A approval notice
When USCIS approves an extension or change of status for someone already in the US (an I-129 for H-1B, or an I-539 for H-4, F-1 and other classes), the I-797A notice carries a replacement I-94 at the bottom. USCIS's own reference guide says it "issues this document to an applicant as a replacement Form I-94 (an arrival and departure record)," and that this "typically means that USCIS approved an applicant's change of status" (USCIS I-94 quick reference guide).
That tear-off has its own admission number, different from the one CBP gave you at the airport. University international offices and immigration law firms commonly note that the CBP website shows only CBP admissions, so a USCIS-issued I-94 usually will not appear there. Keep the original notice with your passport. Our guide to reading an I-797A or I-797B shows where the tear-off sits.
On an old paper I-94 card
Air and sea arrivals have received electronic I-94s since 2013 (the I-765 instructions refer to admissions "after April 30, 2013"). Before that, travellers got a paper card stapled into the passport. The same instructions note that the I-94 number "also is known as the Departure Number on some versions of Form I-94," so that is the number to copy from an old card.
If you entered by land
CBP's I-94 page (modified 2026-07-22) says "travelers will be issued I-94s electronically and will no longer receive a paper I-94 stub" at the land border. You can apply in advance on the I-94 website or in CBP Link; that provisional land-border application costs $30 as of November 2026, while looking up a record you already have is free. Once you are admitted, you retrieve the record and its number the same way as an air arrival.
What does an I-94 number look like? (I-94 number example)
An I-94 number is always 11 characters. Since May 2019, new numbers are nine digits, a letter, then one digit; older numbers are 11 digits with no letter.
ICE's announcement to schools put it this way: "I-94 identifiers will remain at 11 characters, but will follow the format of nine (9) digits followed by a letter in the tenth (10th) position and a digit in the 11th position" (ICE Broadcast Message 1904-02, April 11, 2019). The same message said unexpired numeric-only I-94s stayed valid until their admit-until date.
| Format | Illustration (not a real number) | When you will see it |
|---|---|---|
| Alphanumeric | 123456789A1 | Admissions from May 2019 onward |
| Numeric only | 12345678901 | Admissions before May 2019 |
| SEVIS ID, for contrast | N0012345678 | Top of your I-20 or DS-2019; also 11 characters |
Two tips for copying by hand:
- Zero or the letter O? In a post-2019 number, positions 1 to 9 and position 11 are always digits, so a round character there is a zero. Position 10 is always a letter.
- I-94 or SEVIS ID? Both have 11 characters. A SEVIS ID starts with N. An I-94 number never starts with a letter.
Common misconception: "The I-94 number is 11 digits."
Correction: the current Form I-9 instructions (edition 01/20/25) still describe the "Form I-94 Admission Number (11 digits)," but since May 2019 the tenth character is a letter. Enter all 11 characters, letter included. If an HR portal or form field rejects letters, tell HR so they can fix the field; do not drop the letter or replace it with a digit.
Is the I-94 number the same as your visa number?
No. Your visa number is printed on the visa foil in your passport, usually in red, and identifies one visa issued by the State Department. Your I-94 number identifies one admission by CBP, or one stay granted by USCIS. They come from different agencies, change at different times, and go on different forms.
Every number in your immigration paperwork, decoded (as of November 2026):
| Number | Where it is printed | Format | What it identifies | Where you are asked for it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-94 admission number | CBP I-94 website; bottom of an I-797A; "Departure Number" on old cards | 11 characters (123456789A1 since May 2019) | One admission by CBP, or one stay granted by USCIS | I-765, I-539, I-9 Section 1 (one of three options), employer onboarding |
| Visa (foil) number | Visa stamp in your passport, usually in red at the lower right | Usually 8 characters | One visa | DS-160 previous-visa question, consular forms |
| SEVIS ID | Top of your I-20 or DS-2019 | N plus 10 digits | Your SEVIS record | I-765, I-901 fee, DS-160 for students, SEVP Portal |
| A-number (USCIS#) | EAD card ("USCIS#"), green card, some USCIS notices | A plus 7 to 9 digits | Your USCIS file | I-765, I-539, I-9 Section 1 |
| USCIS receipt number | Top of I-797 notices | 3 letters plus 10 digits | One USCIS filing | Case status checks, HR for a pending EAD or extension |
| Passport number | Passport bio page; CBP's lookup calls it "Document Number" | Varies by country | Your passport | I-94 lookup, I-765, I-539, I-9 option 3 |
| Social Security number | Social Security card | 9 digits | Your SSA record | Payroll, taxes, I-9 (voluntary unless the employer uses E-Verify) |
The visa foil is the number people confuse most often. Our guide to where your F-1 visa number is printed shows the sticker layout. If a field wants a number that starts with N, it is asking for your SEVIS ID; see what a SEVIS ID number is and where to find yours. And if a form asks for an A-number, that is a USCIS file number that many students first receive with an EAD, covered in our A-number guide.
Which I-94 number goes on the I-765, I-539 or I-9?
Each of these forms wants the I-94 number for your current stay, which in practice is your most recent record, whether CBP issued it at the border or USCIS issued it on an I-797A. None of them has a field for your visa foil number.
The I-765 instructions say it directly: "If U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or USCIS issued you a Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, provide your Form I-94 number and date that your authorized period of stay expires or expired (as shown on your Form I-94)" (Form I-765 Instructions, edition 08/21/25, Part 2, Item Number 17).
Where forms ask for your I-94 number (editions USCIS accepts as of 2026-11-01, per its I-765, I-539 and I-9 pages; USCIS is not accepting the 09/15/26 editions of the I-765 and I-539 while the D/S court order stands):
| Form (edition) | Field | What goes there | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-765 (08/21/25) | Part 2, Item 17, "Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number (if any)" | Your current I-94 number and the stay end date shown on it (D/S for F-1) | Item 26 asks for your SEVIS number separately; there is no visa-number field |
| I-539 (08/28/24) | Part 1, Item 11, "Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number," next to date of last arrival and passport number | Your current I-94 number | A D/S checkbox sits beside the status expiration date in Item 12 |
| I-9 (01/20/25) | Section 1, "Form I-94 Admission Number (11 digits)" | One of three: A-number/USCIS number, I-94 number, or foreign passport number and country | The instructions say "Your employer may not ask for documentation to verify the information you entered in Section 1" |
| DS-160 (online) | No I-94 field in the previous-travel questions we reviewed | Dates and length of earlier visits, the previous visa number from your foil, and your SEVIS ID if you are a student | The travel history tool on CBP's I-94 website helps you reconstruct dates |
| Social Security number application | An online start, then original documents at an SSA office | Your passport and most recent I-94; on OPT, also your I-20 and EAD | On OPT, apply on or after your EAD start date |
Field labels come from the current Form I-539 and Form I-9 instructions. The SSA document list for OPT follows Georgetown's international student SSN guide, which says "You can apply once you reach the start date on your OPT EAD card"; your own school's office may add steps.
If you are on F-1 and filing for OPT or STEM OPT, your current I-94 is usually the one CBP issued at your last entry, with D/S as the end date. If you changed to F-1 inside the US on an I-539 and have not travelled since, it is the I-94 on that I-797A. Our I-765 OPT walkthrough goes through the rest of the form. If your I-94, I-20 and SEVIS record disagree on name, class or dates, raise it with your DSO before you file.
If you are mailing a paper I-765 or I-539, USCIS changed its filing addresses on 2026-10-07, and old addresses are accepted only if postmarked on or before 2026-11-09 (USCIS filing locations update).
If you are moving to H-1B, the I-94 on your I-797A becomes your current record when the change of status takes effect, and HR will usually need it for your I-9 if you choose the I-94 option. After your first trip abroad, the new CBP record replaces it.
Does your I-94 number change every time you travel?
Generally yes. CBP creates a new I-94 record, with a new admission number, every time it admits you, and USCIS issues a separate I-94 with its own number when it approves a change or extension of status. Renewing your passport does not create a new I-94.
Here is how that plays out for one hypothetical student. The dates are illustrative; your own records govern.
| Date | What happened | Current I-94 | What forms use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-10 | Admitted at JFK in F-1 status | I-94 number 1 (CBP), D/S | — |
| 2026-01-06 | Returns from winter break | I-94 number 2 (CBP), D/S; number 1 is now history | The OPT I-765 filed in February 2026 lists number 2 |
| 2026-07 (approval), 2026-10-01 (start) | H-1B change of status approved on an I-797A | I-94 number 3 (USCIS tear-off), H-1B from 10-01 | The CBP site still shows number 2; an H-1B I-9 using the I-94 option lists number 3 |
| A later trip abroad, if taken | Re-admitted by CBP in H-1B status | I-94 number 4 (CBP) replaces number 3 | Every later form uses number 4 |
In this example the student did not leave the US while the OPT application or the H-1B change of status was pending. Cornell, Johns Hopkins and USC all advise against international travel until the OPT EAD arrives; Cornell's page says, "We suggest you do not travel internationally before it is approved" (Cornell's OPT travel guidance). Ask your DSO before any trip on F-1 or OPT, and your employer's immigration attorney before any trip while an H-1B petition is pending or after it is approved. Short trips to Canada or Mexico can be handled differently, so check the website after any trip rather than assume the old number still stands.
"I-94 document number": the label that trips people up
On CBP's lookup screen, "Document Number" means the passport or travel document you used to enter; Dartmouth's international office tells students to enter their "Passport Number as Document Number." When an employer's HR portal asks for an "I-94 document number," it usually means the admission number itself, because the I-94 is the document and its number is the admission number. If a field is ambiguous, ask HR which document it belongs to before you guess.
Common mistakes
- Typing the red visa foil number into an I-94 field. The I-765 does not ask for the visa number at all.
- Swapping the SEVIS ID and the I-94 number. Both are 11 characters. The SEVIS ID starts with N.
- Using an old I-94. Each admission creates a new number; a printout from two trips ago is history, not your current record.
- Forgetting the I-797A tear-off. If USCIS changed or extended your status after your last entry, the CBP site can show an older record than the one you actually hold.
- Using the I-797A tear-off after you have travelled. Once CBP admits you again, the new CBP record is current.
- Dropping the letter. A post-2019 number has a letter in position 10. A form that says "11 digits" still needs it.
- Entering your passport number where the I-94 number belongs because CBP's site labels the passport "Document Number."
When to call your DSO, an attorney or HR
- Your DSO for anything tied to F-1, OPT, STEM OPT or your SEVIS record, including an I-94 that does not match your I-20.
- A licensed immigration attorney, usually your employer's, for H-1B and other petition questions, or when an I-94 class or date error could affect your status.
- HR when an onboarding or I-9 field will not accept the format your I-94 actually uses.
Frequently asked questions
Where is my I-94 number?
On CBP's official I-94 website (i94.cbp.dhs.gov). Choose "Get Most Recent I-94" and read the Admission (I-94) Record Number at the top of the record. If USCIS approved a change or extension of status after your last entry, your current I-94 number is printed at the bottom of your I-797A approval notice instead. Some older paper I-94 cards label it the Departure Number.
How many characters is an I-94 number?
Eleven. Since May 2019, CBP has issued I-94 numbers as nine digits, then a letter in the tenth position, then a digit, for example 123456789A1, according to ICE Broadcast Message 1904-02. Older numbers are 11 digits with no letter. Enter all 11 characters exactly as shown, even where a form still says 11 digits.
Is the I-94 number the same as my visa number?
No. The visa number is printed on the visa foil in your passport, usually in red at the lower right, and identifies that visa. The I-94 number identifies one admission by CBP or one stay granted by USCIS. The Form I-765 asks for your I-94 number and has no field for the visa foil number, while the DS-160 asks for your previous visa number.
Which I-94 number do I put on the I-765 or the I-9?
The I-765 (edition 08/21/25, Part 2, Item 17) asks for the I-94 number CBP or USCIS issued you and the date your stay ends as shown on it, which in practice is your most recent record. On the I-9 (edition 01/20/25), a noncitizen authorized to work enters only one of three numbers in Section 1: the A-number or USCIS number, the I-94 admission number, or a foreign passport number and country. If your records conflict, ask your DSO for F-1 and OPT questions or your employer's immigration attorney for H-1B questions before you file.
Does my I-94 number change every time I travel?
Generally yes. CBP creates a new I-94 record with a new admission number each time it admits you, and USCIS issues a separate I-94 with its own number when it approves a change or extension of status on an I-797A. Renewing your passport does not create a new I-94. Download your record after every entry, and check the website after a short trip to Canada or Mexico instead of assuming nothing changed.
Sources
- ICE, Broadcast Message 1904-02: Changes to the Form I-94 Numbering Format (April 11, 2019)
- USCIS, Form I-765 Instructions (edition 08/21/25)
- USCIS, Form I-539 (edition 08/28/24)
- USCIS, Form I-9 Instructions (edition 01/20/25)
- USCIS, I-94 Quick Reference Guide for Local, State and Federal Agencies
- USCIS, form pages for the I-765, I-539 and I-9 (accepted editions), and the filing locations update
- CBP, I-94 information page (modified 2026-07-22) and the official I-94 website
- Georgetown University, Social Security Number guide for international students
- Cornell University, OPT travel guidance
- CourtListener, Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration v. United States (D/S rule docket)
How we checked this: we read the current I-765 form and instructions (08/21/25), the I-539 form (08/28/24) and the I-9 instructions (01/20/25) on uscis.gov, ICE Broadcast Message 1904-02, CBP's I-94 page and USCIS's I-94 reference guide, and checked accepted editions, the filing-address grace period and the D/S docket status on 2026-11-01.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice; your own I-94, I-20 and approval notices, and your DSO or immigration attorney, govern over anything published here.
If you are on OPT or STEM OPT and working toward a sponsored role, F1Jobs helps international candidates run a focused search for employers that sponsor H-1B.
Frequently asked questions
Where is my I-94 number?
On CBP's official I-94 website (i94.cbp.dhs.gov). Choose Get Most Recent I-94 and read the Admission (I-94) Record Number at the top of the record. If USCIS approved a change or extension of status after your last entry, your current I-94 number is printed at the bottom of your I-797A approval notice instead. Some older paper I-94 cards label it the Departure Number.
How many characters is an I-94 number?
Eleven. Since May 2019, CBP has issued I-94 numbers as nine digits, then a letter in the tenth position, then a digit, for example 123456789A1, according to ICE Broadcast Message 1904-02. Older numbers are 11 digits with no letter. Enter all 11 characters exactly as shown, even where a form still says 11 digits.
Is the I-94 number the same as my visa number?
No. The visa number is printed on the visa foil in your passport, usually in red at the lower right, and identifies that visa. The I-94 number identifies one admission by CBP or one stay granted by USCIS. The Form I-765 asks for your I-94 number and has no field for the visa foil number, while the DS-160 asks for your previous visa number.
Which I-94 number do I put on the I-765 or the I-9?
The I-765 (edition 08/21/25, Part 2, Item 17) asks for the I-94 number CBP or USCIS issued you and the date your stay ends as shown on it, which in practice is your most recent record. On the I-9 (edition 01/20/25), a noncitizen authorized to work enters only one of three numbers in Section 1, the A-number or USCIS number, the I-94 admission number, or a foreign passport number and country. If your records conflict, ask your DSO for F-1 and OPT questions or your employer's immigration attorney for H-1B questions before you file.
Does my I-94 number change every time I travel?
Generally yes. CBP creates a new I-94 record with a new admission number each time it admits you, and USCIS issues a separate I-94 with its own number when it approves a change or extension of status on an I-797A. Renewing your passport does not create a new I-94. Download your record after every entry, and check the website after a short trip to Canada or Mexico instead of assuming nothing changed.