What Is an I-94 Record and Why Does My Work Visa Status Depend on It?
TL;DR: Your I-94 is the official CBP record of your arrival, admission class (like H-1B or F-1), and — critically — the date your authorized stay expires. It's not your visa; it's the document that actually controls how long you can legally stay and work in the US. Since 2013, most I-94s are issued electronically and must be retrieved from i94.cbp.dhs.gov rather than stamped in your passport.
Claim
Work-visa holders sometimes assume their visa stamp's expiration date is what matters — but for status and Form I-9 employment verification purposes, it's the I-94 admission record, not the visa stamp, that controls how long you're authorized to stay and work.
Evidence
CBP's I-94 website explains that the electronic I-94 is generated at admission and reflects the traveler's class of admission and "admit until" date — the actual authorized period of stay set at the port of entry, which is not always identical to the visa's own expiration date (a visa is simply a travel document allowing you to request entry; the I-94 is what CBP grants at the border). Employers use the I-94 admission record, alongside the visa or approval notice, to complete Form I-9 employment eligibility verification and to determine reverification deadlines.
Comparison Table: Visa Stamp vs I-94 Record
| Visa stamp | I-94 record | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | US consulate/embassy abroad | CBP at the port of entry |
| Purpose | Permission to travel to the US and request entry | Official record of admission and authorized period of stay |
| Controls how long you can stay/work? | No | Yes |
| Can be longer/shorter than the visa validity? | N/A | Yes — I-94 "admit until" date often differs from visa expiration |
| Where to check it | In your passport | i94.cbp.dhs.gov (electronic record) |
Step-by-Step: Checking and Using Your I-94
- Retrieve your electronic I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov using your passport information after each US entry.
- Confirm your class of admission matches your visa category (e.g., H-1B, F-1, L-1).
- Note your "admit until" date — this, not your visa expiration, is what governs your authorized stay and work authorization for most categories.
- Provide your I-94 to your employer for Form I-9 purposes, along with your visa/approval notice, especially at reverification checkpoints for time-limited work authorization.
- Print or save a copy after every reentry, since a new I-94 is generated each time you're admitted, and old records don't automatically update.
FAQ
Is my I-94 the same as my visa? No. The visa is issued abroad and lets you request entry; the I-94 is issued by CBP at the border and is the actual record of your authorized admission and stay.
What if my visa expires while I'm still in the US on a valid I-94? That's generally fine for maintaining status inside the US — a visa only needs to be valid to enter the country; your status while inside the US is governed by your I-94 and any approved extensions.
How do I get a new I-94 if I never leave the US? When USCIS approves an extension or change of status while you're in the US, it issues a new I-94 portion on your approval notice (Form I-797A) rather than through CBP.
By Pinal Dave
Last updated: 2026-08-06