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Your travel history is important, and keeping track of it is useful in many ways. Sometimes, there can be some trouble in recovering this information on account of errors from the website’s end. Through this post, let us explore the importance of travel history, understand about I-94 and figure out what to do if you are having trouble locating your travel history on the CBP Website. 

What is I-94?

The I-94 is a form that is issued by the U.S. government to keep a meticulous track of all the international visitors arriving and departing from the country. This includes those who plan to extend their stay, students seeking additional permits, among others who wish to alter their visa status. All non-immigrant entrants into the U.S. usually have this form attached to their passports upon arrival, but these days it is automated. 

There will be a date issued in this form which indicates the maximum limit of the stay duration permissible to the entrant depending on their cause of the visit. In other words, the visitor must exit the U.S. before the date prescribed on the I-94. These forms are presented to visitors who arrive at the airports as well as the seaports. 

They have presented these days digitally, and the entire system is automated. The Customs and Border Protection offers printed copies of the I-94 for those seeking to alter their status- i.e., seek immigration status or for employment authorization. This form is used to re-validate expired visas and generally accelerates the passenger procession. 

By visiting this link, you can retrieve your I-94 number: www.cbp.gov/I94

Why is travel history important?

The I-94 travel history is important because it is the ultimate proof that you have entered the country legally and that you will be exiting, keeping in mind the deadlines issued to you by the government. 

Every move in and out of the country can be tracked using your travel history, and it is a testimonial to the fact that you are abiding by the laws of the country. Your travel history matters the most if you are seeking immigration status into the U.S. 

It is important to note that maintaining a clean travel record is important to display that you have not extended your permitted stay illegally, which can affect immigration processes. Your travel history will sometimes be demanded by the DMV in case you are looking for employment opportunities.

Why does the CBP website say ‘No Record Found for Traveler’?

Sometimes, you might face an error when you are trying to access your I-94 records through the CBP Website. You will probably see the message that says, “No Record Found for Traveller’ or “No Records Found.” 

It is not very uncommon, and you do not need to panic if you see such a message. To understand why such a message is being displayed, you need to take a step-by-step approach. Firstly, recheck all the information that you have entered, including your full name, date of birth, passport number, country of issue, etc. 

If you have multiple passports following renewal, make sure that you have entered the details from the current one instead of the oldest. Sometimes, the reason could be a glitch on the part of the CBP website, in which case, you could just wait for a bit and try again. If you are still unable to access your travel records, refer to the solutions mentioned below. 

What to do when you see ‘No record found for traveler’ or ‘Not Found’ on the CBP website?

Oftentimes, you need to understand that the problem could be just with the website, and by no means is this the only official record of your travel history. 

The authorities use their database, and it has often been the case that even though this information is not visible on your website, they will be able to access it with no problem. 

You could have previously visited the website many times and have viewed the information, but now suddenly, it has become inaccessible. There is no need to panic about this. Sometimes people see their most recent I-94 while not being able to see the past. Probably, the case is that the information that is displayed is based on the old passport.

Since you are viewing the information on the website, you cannot overlook technical glitches. 

Firstly, ensure that all the information entered from your part is accurate and without any error. Avoid using symbols and hyphens. If entering both your middle name and your first name is not yielding results, try using either. 

Make sure that you have spelled everything right. If you are sure that you have input the latest information and there is no error on your part, the next step is to consider an error on the system. 

If the name on your passport does not work, try using the name as mentioned in the DS-160. Enter both your first and middle name in the first name section using a space to separate them. 

If your middle name is not mentioned in the passport or DS-160, do not enter it. Alternatively, you can also try using your last name as your first name and vice versa.

If you have multiple first or last names, enter them without a space in the respective fields. 

Check out your passport number and see if it is the same as mentioned in the visa. If they are different, use the number mentioned on the visa. Check if the passport number has the year of issuance in the beginning, and make sure that you do not enter that. 

Verify whether your classification designation is the same on your visa and your passport admission stamp. If you feel that they are different, try both.

As a next step, try logging in using a different browser and see if you can access the details. Also, try accessing the website using a different system altogether, and this might just do the trick. 

If you are accessing the website through a mobile browser, this might not entirely be reliable, and it is best to use a computer.

If you are not able to access your travel history despite trying all of these, reach out to the CBPs Traveler Communications Center through the official website, and you can hope to receive a response within 2-3 days. 

How do you get your complete travel history?

The most optimal way to get your complete travel history (international) would be to refer to the information present within your passport (old and new). You will find the date stamps along with the location on your passport. 

It is also possible for you to reconstruct your travel history using your travel records. Some important documents to aid you with this include credit card statements, online ticket booking history, etc. 

For those who are unable to access their records and do not have their passport on them for some reason, you can always contact the CBP and submit a Freedom of Information Act request, and you will be provided with the information free of cost and can provide you access to your travel history dated up-to five years back. 

How do you check your travel history?

Since everything is digitalized now, checking your travel history is not cause for worry. Using the I-94 records online, checking your international travel history is very easy. Usually, you will be able to find verifiable, accurate information in the records, and any discrepancy can be corrected by contacting the authorities. 

How do you get your old I-94?

If you are applying for visa or immigration status, your entire record of travel history becomes important and not just the latest information. For this reason, if you do not find the information on the website, you can request to obtain the records from the CBP. 

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be able to provide you with the information that you need. But this depends on when you entered the country. If it was before 2013, you would have to submit Form I-102 and pay the fee of $445 for filing. 

If you have entered the U.S. and you need information after 2013, this is easier, and you just have to request the CBP, and they can give you information dating five years back at no cost. 

FAQS

Does immigration know your travel history?

Yes, immigration is fully aware of your travel history, and the official records are noted down every time you enter and exit the country. Your travel history is also evident from your passport, which will be used to verify the information. Separate records such as the I-94 are also maintained by the government for accuracy.

What happens if I-94 is not updated?

If you are applying for immigration status, this can be a problem because all of the information needs to be up-to-date and accurate. The problem could be just a glitch on the website end, which might not show you the latest records. Contact the CBP directly by reaching out to them at i94chi@cbp.dhs.gov and send them a scanned copy of your visa and passport. Ensure that your most recent stamp is clearly seen.

How long does CBP keep records?

You can expect the CBP to hold onto records for up to five years, and this information can be collected from them for free. The PNR will be actively maintained for up to five years, following which it will be present in a dormant status for ten years, and you will require approval for access. 

How long can I stay in the U.S. after my I-94 expires? 

You are not permitted to stay beyond the expiration date mentioned on your I-94, and overextension without permission can lead to immediate deportation. Moreover, even if you are eligible to do so, you will not be able to procure a green card or change your status.

What does admit until date d/s mean?

The duration of status or d/s is the period of validity for your permission to stay in the U.S. Beyond this unless you have extended your stay officially or procured a different status, you are not permitted by law to stay in the country. This is commonly applied to students and exchange visitors and is valid for as long as they hold that particular status.

Does everyone get an I-94?

Unless you are a U.S. citizen, or someone holding an immigrant status or a Canadian citizen, or a returning resident to the country, you will be issued with I-94 when entering the U.S. 

Accessing your travel records is quite easy, and it is always good to keep track of these things to ensure smooth processes for your visa needs.