I-94 Document Number: What It Is and Where to Find It

You went through the airport, got your passport stamped, and now a form is asking for your “I-94 number,” and you may not know which number that is. You are not alone. The I-94 is one of the most-requested immigration records in the U.S., used by students, workers, and visitors, yet it is not printed in your passport. The number a form wants is an 11-character code that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) assigns each time you enter the country. 

This guide explains what the number is, where to find it, how it differs from your passport and visa numbers, and how to retrieve and fix your record online.

What is the I-94 document number?

The I-94 number is the 11-character code CBP assigns to your specific arrival in the United States, recorded on your Form I-94, officially the Arrival/Departure Record. You will also see it called the admission number, the Admission (I-94) Record Number, or simply the I-94 number, and they all point to the same identifier.

This is the number immigration forms, employers, and agencies mean when they ask for it.

One point is worth flagging now. When you pull up your record on the CBP I-94 website, you will see a separate field literally labeled “Document Number,” and that field shows your passport number, not the 11-character admission number. We untangle that difference below so you submit the right one.

Other names for the same number on your I-94

Different forms and websites use different labels for this one code, which adds to the confusion. When you see any of these terms, they refer to the same 11-character number on your record:

• Admission (I-94) record number: The full label CBP uses on the official printout.
• Departure number: A holdover from the old paper form, where one number tracked both arrival and departure.
• Admission record number: A shortened version you will see on some agency instructions and applications.

The I-94 numbers vs. your passport and visa numbers

This is where most people mix things up, because your record carries several numbers. The “Document Number” field on the printout is your passport, not your admission number. The table below shows how the four identifiers you will deal with compare.

So if a USCIS form or an I-9 asks for your I-94 number or admission number, give the 11-character admission number. The A-number from alien registration is a permanent file number that many nonimmigrants do not even have.

This is the heart of the I-94 document number passport mix-up: the printout’s “Document Number” line is your passport, while the number forms usually want sits at the top as the admission number.

The visa foil number is different again. Printed in red on the lower-right of your visa sticker, it identifies the visa itself and is not interchangeable with your admission number.

Where to find your I-94 number and what it looks like

Finding your I-94 number takes about thirty seconds once you accept that it is not in your passport. Your number lives in one of three places, depending on how and when you entered:

• On the electronic record from CBP: For nearly all air, sea, and land entries today, your number is in your online record at the official CBP I-94 website.
• On a paper I-94 card: If you crossed a land border from Canada or Mexico before electronic issuance, or received a paper card in limited circumstances, the number is printed on the card stapled into your passport.
• Not in your passport or visa stamp: The entry stamp shows your date and class of admission, but the 11-character number is on the I-94 form itself, never on the stamp.

Once you locate it, the number looks like this: 894468145A4. Since May 2019, it runs 11 characters in an alphanumeric format, with nine digits, then a letter in the 10th position, then a digit in the 11th. Older records used 11 digits with no letters, which is why people still call it an "11 digit" number.

Keep in mind that CBP generates a brand-new record with a new admission number every time you are admitted. Your old number does not carry over, and the online system shows only your most recent I-94, so download a copy after each trip.

How do you retrieve your I-94 online? 

The steps below show how to find I-94 number records online; the I-94 number lookup takes about two minutes:

1. Use the official CBP I-94 portal. Open the official CBP I-94 website, select “Get Most Recent I-94,” and consent to continue.
2. Enter your passport details exactly as CBP expects. Type your family name, first name, date of birth, passport number, and country of citizenship exactly as they appear on your current passport or U.S. visa.
3. Print or save a copy after each entry. Download the PDF or print it, and keep it with your passport as proof of lawful admission.

That printout is worth holding onto, since you'll likely need it for future filings, status checks, or anytime you have to prove how and when you last entered the country.

How to look up your I-94 with the CBP Link mobile app? 

If you would rather use your phone, the free CBP Link mobile app retrieves the same record. Download it from your app store, open the I-94 section, and enter the same passport details you would use on the website.

It is handy right after you land, when you want your number on file before you reach baggage claim. You can also save the record as a PDF in the app and email it to yourself or an employer, which helps when a school or HR team needs it the same day.

Key fields on your I-94 besides the document number

Your number is only one line on the record, and a few other fields matter just as much for keeping your immigration status valid:

• Class of admission: The code for the status you entered in, such as F-1 for a student or B-2 for a visitor.
• Date of entry: The most recent date a CBP officer admitted you to the United States.
• Admit until date and duration of status (D/S): Either a hard expiration date or “D/S,” meaning you may stay as long as you maintain your status.

Take a minute to confirm each of these matches what you expect, because catching an error now is far easier than untangling a status problem down the road.

Why does your admit-until date matter more than your visa expiration?

Your admit until date, not your visa expiration date, controls how long you can legally stay. A U.S. visa is only an entry permit; once you are inside the country, this date governs your authorized stay.

You can hold a valid visa and still fall out of status if you remain past that date, and an overstay can affect future entries. For example, a B-2 visitor admitted until December 1 must leave by then even if the visa in their passport is valid for another ten years. Check this field every time you retrieve your record.

What do you need the I-94 number for? 

You will reach for your I-94 number more often than you might expect, and you may even need your I-94 document number for visa renewals abroad. The most common uses are:

• USCIS forms and immigration applications: You list your number on the EAD application, adjustment of status, and extensions of stay. For an employment-based petition like the H-1B, the number goes on the filing, work that a service like Lighthouse handles end to end for tech employers and their hires.
• Form I-9 employment eligibility verification: New hires who hold a nonimmigrant visa can provide their admission number, instead of an A-number, to show employment authorization.
• DMV, school, and other status checks: A driver’s license, a Social Security number, or school enrollment often requires your record as proof of visitor status.

Knowing where your number lives and what it proves means you can pull it up the moment any of these situations comes up, without scrambling to find it.

Electronic I-94 vs. paper I-94

Whether your record is electronic or paper depends on how and when you entered. Since 2013, CBP creates an electronic record automatically for air and sea arrivals at the port of entry, and since 2022 it does the same for most land entries from Canada and Mexico.

If you cross a land border and request a paper card, CBP may issue one for a $6 fee, stapled into your passport. The agency’s fact sheet on I-94 versions spells out which one applies to you, and either way the electronic record online is the version most agencies accept.

One more note on who is covered: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and most Canadian citizens visiting from Canada are not issued an I-94 at all.

What should you verify on your I-94 after you retrieve it?

After you retrieve your record, take a minute to confirm the details, because errors are far easier to fix early:

• F-1 and J-1 students: Your admit-until date should read “D/S,” not a specific date. International students who see a hard date instead should follow up promptly.
• B and other statuses: Confirm the admit-until date matches what you expect and that your class of admission is right.
• Your identity fields: Check that your name, date of birth, and passport number on the I-94 form match your travel information exactly.

If anything looks wrong, contacting CBP or your school's international office right away gives you the best chance to correct it before it affects your status.

What if your I-94 does not show up online?

A “not found” result usually means the data was entered differently than you typed it, not that your record is missing. CBP reads your passport’s machine-readable zone at entry, so small mismatches are common. Try these fixes in order:

• Check name and passport number formats: Enter your name as it appears on your passport, then try the version on your visa or Form DS-160, and put your first and middle names together in the first-name field.
• Try alternate passport numbers: Use the number from your visa or DS-160, drop any leading year that some passports include, and try a recently expired passport.
• Wait and retry: Give the CBP system 24 to 48 hours after entry before assuming there is a problem.

If none of these turns up your record after a couple of days, reaching out to CBP through Deferred Inspection or a port of entry is the next step to get it sorted.

How do you correct errors on your I-94 record?

If a field is genuinely wrong, the fix depends on which agency issued the record. For a CBP-issued I-94, you can visit one of the more than 70 deferred inspection sites in person with your passport and travel documents, or contact the CBP Information Center online to request a correction.

Some offices resolve simple errors by phone or email without an in-person visit. For a USCIS-issued I-94, one tied to an approval notice or a status change, you contact USCIS instead. Either way, bring evidence of the correct information so the officer can update the record in a single visit.

How to replace a lost or damaged I-94? 

Losing your I-94 is rarely a problem. If it is electronic, simply re-download it at no cost, because the record lives online and there is nothing to replace.

The exception is a USCIS-issued I-94, such as one provided with an approval notice. To replace that, you file Form I-102, the Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document, and pay the associated fee.

How to view your U.S. travel history on CBP? 

CBP also lets you view your U.S. travel history, your arrivals into and departures from the USA over recent years, through the same I-94 website. It is useful for counting days of presence, but it has limits: it may not capture land departures accurately, it can miss older trips, and it shows only your most recent record.

The online tool typically reflects the past several years of entries and exits. If you need a verified history going back further, for a U.S. citizenship application, for instance, submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to CBP for your full file.

Make your I-94 the easy part of your case

Your I-94 document number is the 11-character admission number CBP assigns at entry, not the "Document Number" field that holds your passport number, and not anything printed in your passport itself. That distinction matters most when your record feeds an H-1B, extension, or other employment filing, where a transposed number or a missing admit-until date can trigger a Request for Evidence or stall the case. Retrieve and print your record after every trip, confirm your admit-until date, and keep a copy with your passport.

Lighthouse helps applicants navigate these requirements through expert case management and technology built for immigration workflows. Our team pulls the right admission number from your record, checks it against your filing, and prepares and manages your H-1B or other employment case from start to finish. Every case gets attorney review to ensure your filings meet USCIS standards, most evaluations turn around in under 3 weeks, and if a Request for Evidence does come up, we handle the response at no additional charge.

Start your free evaluation today.

Frequently asked questions on the I-94 number

What is the document number on I-94?

The document number on I-94 records is the 11-character admission number CBP assigns to your entry. Note that the printout also has a field labeled “Document Number” that shows your passport number, so check which one a form is actually asking for.

Is the I-94 number the same as the admission number?

Yes. In everyday use and on USCIS forms, the I-94 document number vs admission number question is moot: the document number, the admission number, and the Admission (I-94) Record Number are the same 11-character code. The confusion usually comes from the separate passport field on the printout.

Where is the I-94 number on my passport?

It is not there. Your passport has your passport number and an entry stamp, but the 11-character I-94 number lives only on your I-94 record, which you retrieve on the official CBP I-94 website.

How many digits is an I-94 number?

It is 11 characters. Since 2019 the format is alphanumeric, with nine digits, a letter, then a digit, so it is technically 11 characters rather than 11 digits, though many people still call it an 11-digit number.

Do I get a new I-94 number every time I enter the United States?

Yes. CBP issues a new record with a new admission number on each entry, and only your most recent I-94 is available online, so download a fresh copy after every trip.

What is the difference between my visa and my I-94?

Your visa is an entry permit issued by a U.S. embassy; your I-94 is the record of your actual admission and authorized stay. The visa expiration date controls when you can enter, while the admit-until date controls how long you can remain.

Can I find my I-94 number without going online?

If you have a paper I-94 card from a land border, the number is printed on it. Otherwise the electronic record is online only, though the CBP Link mobile app offers another way to retrieve it without a computer.