Distinguish the I-94 from other documents
An I-94 is not the same as a passport visa page, a school I-20, a SEVIS record or a course confirmation. It records a particular admission. Possessing one document does not mean that the others, or the conditions of stay, are automatically settled.
Retrieve it through the CBP official entry point after arrival
Use the U.S. Customs and Border Protection I-94 website and the passport details to retrieve the record. Check name spelling, date of birth, passport number and issuing country before entering them. If the result clearly conflicts with the passport, arrival date or course arrangement, do not alter a screenshot; follow CBP’s official correction guidance.
Verify the fields and keep a private copy
Check name, passport details, latest admission date, class of admission and the displayed expiry information against your own circumstances. Save an encrypted PDF or printout and record the retrieval date in a personal arrival checklist. Do not send a page containing passport data to public group chats.
Reconfirm boundaries when plans or school change
A course extension, school transfer, departure and re-entry, or a status change cannot be decided from an old I-94 alone. Confirm current documentation and procedures separately with the school’s designated official and the relevant government channel, and retain the record of communication. This guide does not predict an individual admission or stay decision.