Embassy of the United States Paris, France

What is an I-94 or I-94W?

Foreign visitors to the United States complete an I-94 (white in color), if they hold a valid visa. Please note that an I-94W (green in color) is no longer required if traveling without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The process is as follows:

• The card is received from the airline and must be given to an inspector of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of entry in the US when applying for admission.
• The inspector separates the bottom part of the card and attaches it to the passport.
• The part attached to the passport notes the date of entry to the United States and authorized time the visitor may stay in the country.
• When a visitor leaves the U.S., the airline representative, normally at the check-in counter, should remove the I-94 from the passport.

Sometimes, due to an error, the card is not removed and the passenger's departure from the United States is not registered with the CBP.  If this happens, the next time you apply to enter the U.S., your visa may be cancelled and/or you may be denied entry into the U.S. (Visitors who overstay their permitted time in the U.S. under the VWP cannot reenter the U.S. in the future without getting a visa.) If this happens and you arrive at a U.S. port of entry seeking admission under the VWP without a visa, U.S. immigration officials may deny you entry into the U.S. Therefore, visitors must be sure that they surrender the I-94 to the transport carrier before they leave the U.S.

I still have the I-94 in my possession; what should I do?

If you have left the U.S. and still have your I-94, you should forward it to the appropriate authorities so that your record is corrected and that you do not have any problems during future travel to the U.S.
The I-94 together with a letter of explanation and proof of your departure from the U.S. should be sent to:

DHS - CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road.
London, KY 40744 - USA

Do not mail the I-94 to the Embassy. We will not forward it to DHS - CBP SBU.

What evidence of my departure from the United States do you require?

The evidence can come from many sources, including:

• Original boarding passes you used to depart the U.S.;
• Entry or departure stamps in your passport to indicate you entered another country after you departed the U.S. (please copy all passport pages that are not completely blank and include the biographic page containing your photograph);
• Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate that you worked in another country after you departed the U.S.;
• Dated bank records showing transactions in your home;
• School records showing your attendance at a school outside the U.S.;
• Dated credit card receipts with the credit card number deleted for purchases you made after you departed the U.S.

Please send easily readable copies or the originals where possible. If you send originals please keep a copy for your records as the originals will not be returned to you. It will assist the CBP if you include an explanation letter.

I lost the card!

If you left the U.S. with the I-94 in your possession but no longer have the card, you should write to:

DHS-CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road.,
London, KY 40744 - USA

with the following information:

1. Name
2. Date and place of birth
3. Country of citizenship
4. Date of arrival in the US
5. Date of departure from the United States
6. Airline or carrier departed on
7. Flight number or name of vessel

If departure was via a land border port please enter "land" instead of carrier information.  You must also include evidence of your departure as noted above.

I am experiencing problems when I enter the U.S.

If you think that you are having problems entering the U.S. because of incorrect arrival and departure information, you can ask for a review of the information by writing to the following office:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Air Sea Passenger Operations
1300 Pennsylvania Ave, Room 5.4.D
Washington DC 20229 USA

It is necessary for you to send proof of your departure from the U.S. This can come from a variety of sources, as outlined above.