US I-94 and I-94W Departure Cards
Oct 17, 2004, 2:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: I'm out of here.
Posts: 281
US I-94 and I-94W Departure Cards
Has anyone here ever had a problem with airline officials forgetting to remove your I-94 or I-94W? A check in agent forgot to remove mine, and when I went to the US again through land, I was given a horrible suprise, I was told I overstayed my visit last time, and that this was the last time I could enter under the Visa Waiver Program. I was told never to go to the US again or apply for a US visa. Applying for a US visa was a long process, waiting for the interview took 5 weeks, and cost US$100. Has anyone ever experienced problems if someone forgets to remove that little slip of paper?
Oct 17, 2004, 4:37 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: RST
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Posts: 4,840
Originally Posted by hongkongtraveller
Has anyone here ever had a problem with airline officials forgetting to remove your I-94 or I-94W? A check in agent forgot to remove mine, and when I went to the US again through land, I was given a horrible suprise, I was told I overstayed my visit last time, and that this was the last time I could enter under the Visa Waiver Program.
Oct 17, 2004, 5:23 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: I'm out of here.
Posts: 281
I agree now it is my fault, however, I did hear you can correct the record as long as you can prove you didn't overstay, but I couldn't do it, applying for a visa was quicker. Every time now I make sure the I-94 is removed.
Oct 17, 2004, 5:31 pm
#4
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,424
Last year I had a minor hassle due to non-collection of green form.
Was transiting US at LAX T2, but had already checked in for onward leg. So went straight to lounge after clearing immigration and from there onto flight. No one obvious to give the form to.
On the way back I was questioned for a few minutes why I still had the old form when I was trying to re-enter US (with new form). The officer handled it very well and soon let me on my way.
Was transiting US at LAX T2, but had already checked in for onward leg. So went straight to lounge after clearing immigration and from there onto flight. No one obvious to give the form to.
On the way back I was questioned for a few minutes why I still had the old form when I was trying to re-enter US (with new form). The officer handled it very well and soon let me on my way.
Oct 17, 2004, 6:59 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: RST
Programs: Delta Diamond; Hilton Diamond; Accor Gold
Posts: 4,840
Originally Posted by davem4
I still have my green card 
I was in teh US 3 years ago.
I was in teh US 3 years ago.
Oct 17, 2004, 8:56 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, HH Gold, dirt loads of places.
Posts: 1,657
I've had this happen three times.
Fortunately, I never have more than a few weeks between trips to the US, so the overstay thing has never been possible.
The first time the INS agent said "No problem, I'll take care of it."
The second time it was more "OK, we'll let it go this time, but be aware: it's your responsibility to ensure that it's handed in."
The third time I looked up the rules and mailed it to BCIS in Texas, along with original boarding cards from intra Europe flights, credit card receipts from within Europe etc as proof I'd been out of the US before the 90 days was up. I also included a polite letter apologising for my error.
Since then I've made sure it gets collected, and have had to remind airline agents on several occasions.
The first time the INS agent said "No problem, I'll take care of it."
The second time it was more "OK, we'll let it go this time, but be aware: it's your responsibility to ensure that it's handed in."
The third time I looked up the rules and mailed it to BCIS in Texas, along with original boarding cards from intra Europe flights, credit card receipts from within Europe etc as proof I'd been out of the US before the 90 days was up. I also included a polite letter apologising for my error.
Since then I've made sure it gets collected, and have had to remind airline agents on several occasions.
Oct 18, 2004, 2:58 am
#9
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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Posts: 23,485
Originally Posted by chartreuse
Fortunately, I never have more than a few weeks between trips to the US, so the overstay thing has never been possible.
The first time the INS agent said "No problem, I'll take care of it."
The second time it was more "OK, we'll let it go this time, but be aware: it's your responsibility to ensure that it's handed in."
The third time I looked up the rules and mailed it to BCIS in Texas, along with original boarding cards from intra Europe flights, credit card receipts from within Europe etc as proof I'd been out of the US before the 90 days was up. I also included a polite letter apologising for my error.
Since then I've made sure it gets collected, and have had to remind airline agents on several occasions.
The first time the INS agent said "No problem, I'll take care of it."
The second time it was more "OK, we'll let it go this time, but be aware: it's your responsibility to ensure that it's handed in."
The third time I looked up the rules and mailed it to BCIS in Texas, along with original boarding cards from intra Europe flights, credit card receipts from within Europe etc as proof I'd been out of the US before the 90 days was up. I also included a polite letter apologising for my error.
Since then I've made sure it gets collected, and have had to remind airline agents on several occasions.
Yep. Sometimes it requires a little coaxing for them to accept it too!
Oct 19, 2004, 1:47 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: DCA
Posts: 1,413
Can echo that. Was once flying out to Canada on an express flight, and when I handed the (teenage-young, inexperienced) agent the I94 he looked at me like I was from outer space, and then put it somewhere in his podium.... I thought "that thing is never going to go to the BCIS". Luckily the flight was cancelled, and I re-booked myself on another carrier. So I go back to the podium, where now another teenager was working the crowd, asked for my I94 back (so I could give it to the other carrier), and more blank/confused/surprised/what-the? looks..... had to finally come around and point to it.
Oct 19, 2004, 7:19 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 660
Would also apply if you did not have I-94, i.e.lost
THere is a form at BCIS website for lost I-94 while in the US.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR TRAVELERS RETURNING FROM THE U.S.
Is there a green or white card stapled to your passport?
If you returned home with your Immigration and Naturalization Service
(INS) departure record Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) in
your passport, it means that your departure was not recorded
properly. It is your responsibility to correct this record. You must
provide the INS sufficient information so we can record your timely
departure from the United States. This will close out your earlier
record of arrival to this country.
If you do not validate a timely departure from the United States, or
if you cannot reasonably prove otherwise when you next apply for
admission to the United States, the INS may conclude you remained in
the United States beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, the
next time you apply to enter the United States, your visa may be
subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your
foreign point of origin.
In particular, visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the
United States under the Visa Waiver Program cannot reenter the United
States in the future without obtaining a visa from a United States
Consulate. If this occurs and you arrive at a United States port-of-
entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa,
United States immigration officers may order your immediate return to
a foreign point of origin.
To validate departure, the INS will consider a variety of
information, including, but not limited to:
a.. Original boarding passes you used to depart the United States
b.. Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport
indicating entry to another country after you departed the United
States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely
blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph.)
c.. Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you
worked in another country after you departed the United States
d.. Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in
another country after you left the United States
e.. School records showing attendance at a school outside the United
States to indicate you were in another country after you left the
United States
f.. Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit
card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United
States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the
United States
You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If
you send original materials, you should retain a copy. The INS cannot
return original materials after processing. To help us to understand
the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an
explanation letter in English. You must send your letter and enclosed
information only to the following address:
ACS - INS SBU
P.O. Box 7125
London, KY 40742-7125
USA
Do not mail your departure Form I-94 or supporting information to any
United States Consulate or Embassy, to any other INS office in the
United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at
this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to INS
records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future.
THere is a form at BCIS website for lost I-94 while in the US.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR TRAVELERS RETURNING FROM THE U.S.
Is there a green or white card stapled to your passport?
If you returned home with your Immigration and Naturalization Service
(INS) departure record Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) in
your passport, it means that your departure was not recorded
properly. It is your responsibility to correct this record. You must
provide the INS sufficient information so we can record your timely
departure from the United States. This will close out your earlier
record of arrival to this country.
If you do not validate a timely departure from the United States, or
if you cannot reasonably prove otherwise when you next apply for
admission to the United States, the INS may conclude you remained in
the United States beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, the
next time you apply to enter the United States, your visa may be
subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your
foreign point of origin.
In particular, visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the
United States under the Visa Waiver Program cannot reenter the United
States in the future without obtaining a visa from a United States
Consulate. If this occurs and you arrive at a United States port-of-
entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa,
United States immigration officers may order your immediate return to
a foreign point of origin.
To validate departure, the INS will consider a variety of
information, including, but not limited to:
a.. Original boarding passes you used to depart the United States
b.. Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport
indicating entry to another country after you departed the United
States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely
blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph.)
c.. Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you
worked in another country after you departed the United States
d.. Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in
another country after you left the United States
e.. School records showing attendance at a school outside the United
States to indicate you were in another country after you left the
United States
f.. Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit
card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United
States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the
United States
You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If
you send original materials, you should retain a copy. The INS cannot
return original materials after processing. To help us to understand
the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an
explanation letter in English. You must send your letter and enclosed
information only to the following address:
ACS - INS SBU
P.O. Box 7125
London, KY 40742-7125
USA
Do not mail your departure Form I-94 or supporting information to any
United States Consulate or Embassy, to any other INS office in the
United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at
this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to INS
records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future.