The US government has published a new regulation that will eliminate paper I-94s arrival/departure records and instead move to a paperless, automated process beginning April 30, 2013. Customs and Border Patrol Officials (CBP) will gather arrival/departure information from visitors’ passport, visa stamp, and flight manifest and in most cases, foreign visitors will no longer complete the paper I-94 prior to being admitted by a CBP official. Officials will stamp the passport of the traveler indicating the date of admission, visa type, and authorized period of stay.

This change will have minimal impact on F and J students and scholars already in the US with a paper I-94 document (white card stapled in the passport). Travelers who have a paper I-94 card are advised to turn it in to the airline official when checking into or boarding an international flight as was customary. 

International visitors who enter the US after April 30, 2013 will be able to access their electronic record of entry at http://www.cbp.gov/I94 by entering their date of travel, visa type, port of entry, and passport biographical information. A paper “receipt” can then be printed to show any state or federal agency that may require paper evidence.

More information will be distributed by ISSS as it becomes available. Please see the following information from Customs and Border Patrol:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/i94_rollout.xml

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/travel/i94_factsheet.ctt/i94_factsheet.pdf