My I-94 has a mistake on it! How can I get it fixed?
How can I correct the mistake on my I-94?
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your I-94 record contains incorrect information? Don't panic! As crucial as the I-94 is for documenting your arrival and departure from the United States, errors can occur. Whether it's a misspelled name, an incorrect date of birth, or a wrongly recorded visa class, these mistakes can potentially cause headaches down the line with your immigration status. But there's good news: in most cases, these errors can be corrected. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of identifying and rectifying I-94 discrepancies, ensuring your record accurately reflects your entry into the U.S., and safeguarding your immigration journey.
Common reasons for mistakes on an I-94 from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) include:
Data entry errors: CBP officers may accidentally input incorrect information when processing arrivals.
System glitches: Technical issues with CBP's electronic systems can sometimes lead to errors in I-94 records.
Misinterpretation of passport data: Officers might misread or misinterpret information from passports, especially if handwriting is unclear.
Confusion with similar names: People with similar names may have their records mixed up.
Incorrect visa classification: The officer might assign the wrong visa category, especially for less common visa types.
Misunderstanding of travel history: Complex travel patterns or multiple entries can sometimes lead to confusion.
Language barriers: Miscommunication due to language differences can result in incorrect information being recorded.
Outdated information: If a traveler's status has changed but not updated in the system, it may lead to errors.
Scanning errors: Issues with passport or visa scanners can sometimes lead to incorrect data being captured.
Human error in processing: Simple mistakes can occur during busy periods at ports of entry.
Confusion about admission dates: There may be misunderstandings about the intended length of stay or the correct admission date.
Incomplete or incorrect forms: If a traveler provides incomplete or incorrect information on their customs declaration form, it can lead to errors on the I-94.
It's important for travelers to always check their I-94 record after entry and report any errors to CBP as soon as possible to avoid future immigration issues.
Question: My husband is applying for my Green Card, and I realized my I-94 is still showing an earlier entry into the US instead of my most recent entry. How can I fix this? Can I still apply for a Green Card?
An I-94 is the US Customs and Border Patrol's official record of a nonimmigrant's legal entry into the US. The I-94 is needed to show that the non-immigrant entered the US legally with a valid visa, and also whenever the non-immigrant applies to change their status either to another non-immigrant category or an immigrant category.
In order to fix your I-94, you have to call the Customs and Border Patrol's Deferred Inspection Office at the airport or port of entry through which you arrived in the United States.
When you call them, you can say the following:
"I arrived in the US on my ___ visa and I realized that my I-94 isn't showing the actual date that I arrived in the US."
The agent will ask for your passport number and your name as shown on your passport. Hopefully, they will find your record confirm that the date is incorrect, and then fix your I-94 in their system. The great thing is that once they update the info in their system, you can retrieve the accurate I-94 online.
Please visit CBP’s web page on deferred inspection sites to find the office you have to contact and their contact information. You may have to call a couple of times but they do pick up the phone. Remember that it never hurts to address the officer as “Officer,” “Sir,” or “Ma’am.”
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