Quick answer
Your I-94 is the record of your arrival in the United States. The admit-until date on it, or the notation “D/S”, is the official record of how long you may stay. Your visa expiration date is not. You can look up and print your I-94 on the I-94 website or in the CBP Link app with “Get Most Recent I-94”. Visa Waiver Program travelers can stay up to 90 days.
Checked on November 13, 2026 against U.S. Customs and Border Protection: I-94.
- You no longer fill in a paper I-94. CBP gets your arrival and departure data from electronic travel records.
- You can find your I-94 online when you need to prove your legal visitor status to an employer, a school or a government agency.
- Since May 2019, I-94 numbers have 11 characters: 9 digits, a letter in position 10 and a digit in position 11.
On this page
What the I-94 is and why it matters
The I-94 is the Arrival/Departure Record. CBP creates it when you enter the United States. Most travelers never see a paper version, because CBP builds the record automatically from electronic travel data.
The record matters for two reasons:
- It shows the date by which you must leave. This is the admit-until date. Visa holders may see “D/S” (duration of status) instead.
- It proves your legal status. Employers, schools and government agencies may ask for it. CBP recommends the I-94 website or the CBP Link app if you need your I-94 number to verify your immigration status or employment authorization.
For more on what happens at the border, read arriving in the United States: border control and the I-94.
What to have ready
- The passport you used for your most recent entry into the United States.
- Your personal details exactly as they appear in that passport.
- Access to the official I-94 website (i94.cbp.dhs.gov) or the CBP Link mobile app.
- A printer or a way to save a PDF, if you need a copy for an employer, school or agency.
How to check your I-94 step by step
- Open the official I-94 website (i94.cbp.dhs.gov) or the CBP Link app.
- Select “Get Most Recent I-94”.
- Enter the details from the passport you used to enter the United States.
- Check the record. Look at the arrival date, the class of admission and the admit-until date, or “D/S”.
- Check the I-94 number. A number issued since May 2019 has 11 characters: 9 digits, then a letter, then a digit.
- Print or save the record. CBP allows you to print your own I-94 from the website.
How to read the dates
Admit-until date
This is the last day of your permitted stay. The officer enters it on the entry stamp or the paper I-94, and it also appears on the I-94 website. The Department of State calls this date the official record of how long you may stay in the United States.
D/S (duration of status)
Some visa holders get “D/S” instead of a date. In that case, the permitted stay depends on your status, not on a fixed calendar date.
Visa expiration date
The expiration date printed on a visa does not tell you how long you may stay. A visa can expire while you are lawfully in the United States, and a valid visa does not extend your stay beyond the I-94 date.
Older I-94 numbers
Before May 2019, I-94 numbers used an older numeric format. A valid I-94 in that format stays valid until the admit-until date on the paper form or the date on the I-94 website.
How your departure is recorded
| How you leave | How departure is recorded |
|---|---|
| By air | Electronically, from the carrier’s or CBP’s manifest |
| By sea | Electronically, from the carrier’s or CBP’s manifest |
| By land | Only if you re-enter the United States before the expiration date shown in your passport |
If your departure by land is not recorded, passport stamps, tickets, pay stubs or other receipts can serve as proof that you left.
Common mistakes
- Not checking the record after arrival. Check your I-94 online so you know your exact admit-until date.
- Asking for a paper I-94 without a reason. You can request one at the border, but CBP handles all such requests in secondary inspection.
- Waiting too long to extend. If you hold a nonimmigrant visa and want to stay longer, you must apply to USCIS before the stay on your I-94 runs out.
- Arriving at a land border without ESTA. Visa Waiver travelers must have an approved ESTA before they arrive at a US land border. See how to apply for ESTA step by step.
- Treating ESTA as a guarantee. An approved ESTA confirms that you are eligible to travel. It does not guarantee that the border officer will admit you.
- Not keeping proof of a land departure. Keep stamps, tickets or receipts until you are sure your departure is on record.
For details on the ESTA fee and how long an approval lasts, see ESTA cost and validity. To check whether you qualify, read ESTA requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my I-94 number?
On the official I-94 website or in the CBP Link app, under “Get Most Recent I-94”. CBP recommends these two options if you need the number to verify your status or employment authorization.
Does my visa expiration date show how long I can stay?
No. The admit-until date or “D/S” on your I-94 or entry stamp is the official record of your permitted stay. You cannot use the visa expiration date to work out how long you may stay.
Is my old numeric I-94 still valid?
Yes. A valid I-94 in the older numeric format stays valid until the admit-until date on the paper form or the date shown on the I-94 website.
Does an approved ESTA mean I will be admitted?
No. ESTA approval confirms that you are eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program. The officer at the border decides whether to admit you. More answers are on our ESTA questions and answers page.
Sources
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: I-94
- U.S. Department of State: Visa expiration date
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Visa Waiver Program
- ESTA: Frequently asked questions
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. US Visa Entry is an independent website and is not connected with the US government.