CBP I-94 Correction Guide
Find out what to do when CBP records the wrong admission class, expiration date, name, or other entry information on your I-94, and understand when to contact Deferred Inspection instead of USCIS.
Executive Summary & Core I-94 Principles
Upon entering the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) creates an electronic Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) documenting your authorized admission class and precise duration of stay. This document—not your visa stamp—legally governs how long you may remain in the United States.
Data-entry errors made at the port of entry (such as an incorrect visa classification, truncated Admit Until Date, or misspelled name) must be corrected directly through CBP Deferred Inspection. Deferred Inspection cannot extend your stay or change your status—actions reserved exclusively for USCIS—but has jurisdiction to correct qualifying admission record errors.
Why the I-94 Matters
When a nonimmigrant is admitted to the United States, CBP records the admission and the terms of the authorized stay. For most air and sea arrivals, the I-94 is electronic and can be retrieved through the CBP I-94 website.
The electronic record can show the date of entry, class of admission, and the Admit Until Date. In some classifications, the appropriate entry may be 'D/S' (Duration of Status) rather than a specific expiration date.
The U.S. Department of State emphasizes that the expiration date of a visa is not the same as the authorized length of stay in the United States. CBP determines the period of admission at the port of entry, and the admission record is therefore critical to understanding how long the person may remain.
Visa vs I-94 vs Petition Approval
| Document | What It Generally Does | What It Does Not Mean |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Visa | Allows a traveler to seek admission at a U.S. port of entry for the purpose associated with the visa, subject to applicable rules. | Does not by itself determine the length of the particular stay. |
| Form I-94 / Admission Record | Records the admission classification and authorized period of stay, including an Admit Until Date or D/S where applicable. | Does not itself create a new immigration classification or extend status beyond the terms authorized by DHS/USCIS. |
| Form I-797 Approval Notice | Shows USCIS action on a petition or application and can support the basis for an admission. | Does not eliminate the need to check the actual CBP admission record following entry. |
What Counts as an I-94 Error?
CBP's current Deferred Inspection guidance specifically identifies errors such as improper nonimmigrant classification, inaccurate biographical information, and incorrect periods of admission as issues that a Deferred Inspection office may review and correct when appropriate.
The problem can therefore involve more than a wrong expiration date. A traveler should compare the electronic I-94 with the passport, visa, admission documentation, and—where relevant—the approved petition or school/exchange documents.
- H-1B recorded instead of H-1B1 or another classification
- F-1 or J-1 information incorrectly recorded as B-2 visitor
- Dependent classification entered incorrectly (e.g. H-4 recorded as H-1B)
- Expiration date entered earlier than authorized petition validity
- Wrong year entered due to typographical error
- Specific date entered instead of D/S for F-1 students or J-1 scholars
- Spelling of given name or surname transposed
- Incorrect date of birth or country of citizenship
- Passport number entered incorrectly
- Entry date recorded incorrectly or multiple inconsistent entries generated
- Admission class incompatible with presented Form I-797
Do Not Wait Until the Error Causes a Problem
CBP encourages travelers to review their I-94 information, and the current CBP system also provides a traveler-compliance feature that allows some travelers to view admission information and receive notifications about potential issues.
A traveler who discovers a wrong admission date should not wait until the apparent expiration date is approaching. An incorrect I-94 can affect immigration filings, employment documentation, driver's-license or benefit applications, and the assessment of whether the person remained within the authorized admission period.
The earlier the discrepancy is identified, the more time there is to assemble evidence and contact the appropriate CBP office.
How to Request a CBP I-94 Correction
11. Retrieve the Official I-94
Visit the official CBP portal (i94.cbp.dhs.gov) and download your most recent arrival record.
22. Identify the Exact Discrepancy
Note precisely what CBP entered incorrectly and document what the record should legally reflect.
33. Gather Underlying Supporting Evidence
Assemble your passport, visa stamp, Form I-797 approval notice, Form I-20/DS-2019, and travel boarding passes.
44. Locate the Nearest Deferred Inspection Site
Consult CBP's official Deferred Inspection directory. Any designated site nationwide can process qualifying corrections.
55. Review Local Office Submission Procedures
Check whether the specific CBP office accepts email submissions, requires walk-ins, or mandates an appointment.
66. Submit the Correction Request
Provide a concise written explanation with supporting PDF copies or bring originals to an in-person appointment.
77. Verify the Updated Electronic Record
After CBP confirms the correction, pull your I-94 again online to confirm all fields reflect accurate data.
Documents to Prepare for Deferred Inspection
There is no universal nationwide checklist requiring exactly the same documents for every I-94 correction. The evidence should establish what CBP got wrong and what the admission should reflect.
The physical passport used for admission, including the biographical page, U.S. entry stamp, and visa foil.
A printed or saved PDF copy of the inaccurate electronic I-94 record.
Form I-797 approval notice for employment visas (H-1B, L-1, O-1), Form I-20 for F-1 students, or Form DS-2019 for J-1 exchange visitors.
Flight itineraries, boarding passes, or travel receipts confirming the exact date and port of entry.
A concise, factual letter detailing the error and specifying the requested correction.
Email vs In-Person Deferred Inspection Procedures
CBP does not use one universal submission process for every Deferred Inspection location. Individual offices publish local instructions, and some offices currently provide email addresses for I-94 correction questions.
For example, CBP's Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago ports publish dedicated email contact information for I-94 and Deferred Inspection matters. These examples demonstrate why travelers should use the office-specific instructions rather than assuming all offices work the same way.
CBP's national Deferred Inspection guidance says mail-in procedures are generally not available and encourages travelers to contact sites not located within international airports to establish an appointment when necessary.
CBP Deferred Inspection vs USCIS: Which Agency Handles the Problem?
One of the most important distinctions is whether the problem arose from a CBP admission decision at the port of entry or from a later USCIS petition/status action.
CBP's current Deferred Inspection guidance states that Deferred Inspection handles review and possible correction of arrival-document errors made at entry. CBP separately tells travelers to contact USCIS for an extension of stay or a change of nonimmigrant status.
| Discrepancy / Scenario | Responsible Agency | Appropriate Action |
|---|---|---|
| CBP entered wrong nonimmigrant classification at entry | CBP / Deferred Inspection | Request review and correction of the admission record. |
| CBP entered incorrect period of admission | CBP / Deferred Inspection | Request correction of the CBP admission record. |
| Name or biographical information incorrectly recorded at entry | CBP / Deferred Inspection | Request review and correction with passport evidence. |
| Need to extend authorized stay beyond petition validity | USCIS | File appropriate USCIS extension petition (Form I-129 or I-539). |
| Need to change nonimmigrant status within the U.S. | USCIS | File appropriate USCIS change-of-status application. |
| I-94 attached to USCIS Form I-797 contains an error | USCIS | Follow USCIS service motion or contact USCIS Contact Center. |
You May Not Need to Return to Your Original Airport
CBP's current Deferred Inspection FAQ states that any designated Deferred Inspection location, or CBP office located within an international airport, should be able to assist with appropriate corrections regardless of where the original document was issued.
That means a traveler who has already left the arrival airport can often work with a suitable CBP office near their current location rather than automatically returning to the original port of entry.
Because local procedures can vary, travelers should contact the selected office first before appearing in person.
An I-94 Correction Is Not a 'Visa Extension'
Correcting a CBP data-entry or admission error is different from asking the government for additional immigration time. If CBP actually admitted a traveler until a certain date and that date was correctly entered, Deferred Inspection is not a mechanism for obtaining extra time simply because the traveler wants a longer stay.
Similarly, USCIS—not Deferred Inspection—is responsible for applications to extend a qualifying nonimmigrant stay or change nonimmigrant status inside the United States.
A traveler should therefore distinguish between 'CBP recorded my existing admission incorrectly' and 'I want the government to give me a longer period of stay.' Those are different requests.
CBP / Deferred Inspection correction
Appropriate USCIS extension procedure, if eligible
Appropriate USCIS change-of-status procedure, if eligible
Do Not Assume an Error Is Only a Typographical Problem
A wrong I-94 can reveal a deeper admission issue. For example, a traveler may discover that CBP admitted them in an unexpected category, used an unexpected date, or did not reflect a petition document presented at entry.
The correction request should therefore be factual and documentary. Do not alter, annotate, or digitally manipulate an I-94 printout to make it look corrected yourself.
Keep the original record, identify the discrepancy, and ask CBP to review the underlying admission record.
After CBP Corrects the Record
Once CBP confirms a correction, retrieve the electronic I-94 again and verify every field. Do not assume that only the field you complained about changed.
Compare the corrected record against your passport and other immigration documents and keep a copy in your personal immigration file.
CBP's Online Traveler Compliance Tools
CBP has added a traveler compliance check to the I-94/I-95 website and CBP Link Mobile Application. According to CBP, some travelers may receive email notifications about the amount of time remaining on their admission or a potential compliance issue.
The notification feature does not replace the traveler's responsibility to review their own admission record. CBP specifically states that policy and enforcement rules did not change merely because the notification system was introduced.
Complete I-94 Correction Checklist
1Immediately After Entry
Retrieve the official electronic I-94 and verify the admission class and authorized-stay information.
2If a Discrepancy Exists
Save the incorrect record and identify the exact discrepancy against your underlying petition.
3Build the Documentary Record
Collect passport, visa foil, I-797/I-20/DS-2019, and travel boarding passes supporting the correction.
4Contact Deferred Inspection
Use the official CBP Deferred Inspection directory and follow the local office's contact protocol.
5Resolve Before Critical Deadlines
Never wait until an incorrect I-94 expires if the error affects status, employment eligibility, or driver's licenses.
6Verify and Archive
Download the updated I-94 after correction and retain all CBP communications in your compliance records.
Common I-94 Myths
Incorrect. The Department of State states that the visa expiration date does not determine the length of the authorized stay. CBP determines the admission period at the port of entry.
No. CBP handles errors arising from CBP admission records. USCIS handles extensions and changes of nonimmigrant status and other USCIS-issued matters.
No. Deferred Inspection corrects qualifying admission errors; it is not a general stay-extension procedure.
Not necessarily. CBP states that designated Deferred Inspection locations can assist with qualifying corrections regardless of where the document was originally issued.
No. Some CBP offices publish email procedures, while others require in-person attendance or appointments.
No. CBP says mail-in procedures are generally unavailable for Deferred Inspection; travelers must follow the specific office's current instructions.
Not necessarily. The I-94 must always be verified after admission, as officer data-entry mistakes frequently occur.
Incorrect. The admission record governs authorized stay and status; an erroneous date can trigger unlawful presence accrual immediately upon passing.
Frequently Asked Questions (6)
Current CBP guidance explaining that Deferred Inspection reviews and corrects qualifying errors involving improper nonimmigrant classification, inaccurate biographical information, and incorrect periods of admission.
Official CBP material explaining electronic I-94 records and directing travelers with incorrect admissions to Deferred Inspection.
Official federal portal for retrieving electronic Form I-94 arrival/departure records and viewing travel history.
Explains the dates shown on the electronic I-94 and identifies the Admit Until Date as the legal expiration of nonimmigrant status.
CBP guidance on the traveler compliance feature within the I-94/I-95 website and CBP Link mobile application.
Official guidance distinguishing visa foil validity from the authorized period of stay determined by CBP at admission.
Confirms that CBP determines admission and duration of stay at the port of entry.
Port-specific page illustrating published local email submission procedures for I-94 corrections.
Port-specific page illustrating dedicated phone and email contacts for I-94 correction requests.
Comprehensive national directory of all CBP Deferred Inspection offices and contact coordinates.
Legal & Compliance Disclaimer
This guide provides general information about CBP Form I-94 records and Deferred Inspection procedures. It is not individualized immigration advice. CBP determines admission and admission terms at the port of entry, and the proper correction route depends on what caused the discrepancy. CBP Deferred Inspection generally corrects errors made at the time of admission; it is not a substitute for a USCIS application to extend stay or change immigration status. Always confirm the current CBP office's contact method and operating hours before traveling to a Deferred Inspection location.