I-94s and US INS
 

I'm a Cdn citizen, studying under F-1 visa in US, came back from weekend trip to PEI, and INS agent says don't worry about filling out a new I-94 (had been removed on departure from US), because Canadians don't need one.

Just wondering if anyone else has ever had any trouble surrounding the I-94 card, and if anyone else has ever been told that they aren't necessary (for any class of visa)?

Anyone know if they are tracked or used at all? I've had very hit-and-miss experiences as far as having them collected at exit from the US (and fine print says shouldn't be for short trips even so???)

Canadian citizens do not need to fill one out. This is a Hit and Miss, I was told to fill one in last year, and yes I am a Cdn citizen with no criminal background. I tried to surrender it to the AA check in staff in LGA upon departure and she said she doesn' want it. I then gave it to Cdn Immigration when I landed here in YYZ.

Way back in the '80s and '90s when I was down on a F-1, H-1B and TN1, you had to have a I-94 which you kept until you departed permanently. I guess things may have changed.

As late as May 2004, I-94 was still stapled into ones passport, when firist entering on a new TN-1 NAFTA permit. I know, because I am looking at one in my passport right now.

My situation is very similar to yours. I'm on a F-1 visa going to school in the U.S. and have been dealing with this issue for the past 6 years. What you get told by the customs agents is going to vary remarkably depending on which agent you deal with at which border crossing and what the phase of the moon is and whether or not it is in alignment with Mercury. From what I've been able to figure out by reading the instructions on my F-1 form and the I-94, if your trip out of the U.S. is short (approximately less than a month) I don't think that you need to fill out a new I-94. However don't be surprised if a customs agent does make you fill out a new one.

I have an H1-B and was worried about this when I first used it (and this applies with other visaa also). You get an initial I-94 to go along with your visa when you enter the country.

I have found that if you leave the US to Canada, they will not remove the I-94, and it is ok to re-enter the USA with this one. INS should not hassle you over this.

If you leave via an airport to an international destination (e.g. Paris France), the airline should collect your I94 card at the last point prior to USA departure. When you re-enter the country from an international destination, you will need to fill out the I-94 card to be placed into your passport.

There is one technicality, if you leave the US-Canada-other destination, they will not take your I-94, though you are supposed to surrender it. Usually they do not have a problem if you retain it.

Also, I had to do a new I-94, get fingerprinted and photogaphed entering from the Pacific to LA. I do not think this is normal, but a painless procedure overall.

The datails of I-94 are here:

http://www.amcits.com/i-94.asp

Note:

The purpose of the I-94 is only to show that you did depart the U.S. within the time allowed. If your I-94 is for A, G, H, F or J visa status, the airlines will often advise you to retain the I-94 and re-use it after your brief stay abroad. This is not a cause for concern and it is fairly common for persons in those categories to be advised to retain their original I-94's.

I was on a Q-1 visa last year, and I needed an I94. Sometimes they would replace it, sometimes not. When I re-entered the states in June 2004 they made me replace it with a new one. Some customs officials didn't know what to do.

This is not entirely true. Canadian citizens entering the US as a visitor are not required to fill out an I-94. Canadian citizens entering under various study and working visas ARE required to fill out an I-94. I am currently in the US on an L-1B visa. I am required to have an I-94, and surrender it when I leave the US permanently.

My overall experience is similar to what neuron describes and the confusion associated with it similar to BTR_CDN's experiences...what you get varies widely depending on the agent. The general rule of thumb that I have gathered from US Immigration is that when you travel to Canada for short periods of time, you can keep your I-94 and not have to fill out another one. Traveling internationally, you are required to surrender the I-94 at your last US departure point, and fill out another upon re-entry to the US, regardless if you transited Canada.

I have been travelling on a TN for 6 years ... never had to fill out a form ... the luck of the visa (permit) draw I guess :D

--

PB

Perhaps the I-94 requirement is tied to the type of visa or permit...they always do one for me for each new renewal. As you mention (and what appears to be a common theme in this thread)...it's a crapshoot!

Well having read your post I was confused by my own answer :)

Of course I have an I-94 -- it is in my passport and I get "one" every time I renew my TN ... ( My error :( ) ... it was the little white forms that I do not have to fill out on each trip to the excited states :D

--

PB

Sorry for delay in responding (finally done all graduate classes - now its just research and a little thing called a thesis :D...)

I think the "crapshoot" comment sums it up the best. I've had numerous experiences on leaving the US (as many of you also described) as far as whether the I-94 gets collected or not.

Specific issue here was actually on the arrival end, e.g. coming back into the States. My I-94 had been removed on departure, and upon re-entering the US there were no English language blank forms to fill out and the immigration agent said it wasn't necessary for Canadians. Schools int'l students office seemed to think this was a big deal ("I've never heard of that in 16 years..." ;)) but upon checking that my passport said I was admited in the right status, they seem to think life will go on, or at least there won't be any late night knocks on the door dragging me back out of the country....

Anyways, thanks for the comments!
J

Did AC staff at LGA forget to pick up my I-94 departure card?
 

Hi All,
Sorry for picking up this old thread but this is the most relevant I found when using the search function. I have a (potential) problem:

I am a EU citizen and visited NYC 6 days in early January. On my way home i flew LGA-Montreal-LHR-ARN. When I checked in at LGA the (biz) check-in staff didn't take my green I-94 departure card. Should I be worried?
I have tried to go through most US governmental sites but I wouldn't write here if they were clear and/or open for questions.

PLEASE - anyone with experience - should I do something?

Thanks for understanding my worries.

I don't think it's such a big deal now we are in the ESTA era, but even so you should definitely do something about it. This DHS webpage should help.