Port of Entry (POE) + U.S. Customs & Border Protection Inspection
When you are admitted to the United States, the officer stamps your passport and either provides you with a paper I-94 card or generates an electronic I-94 completed with the electronic information on your passport or U.S. entry visa. The I-94 will show the date and place of admission, your status and a special 11 digit admission number.
Before you leave the official's window, if you are provided a paper I-94 make sure that your I-94 is correctly marked with the proper status by the entry officer. Also please check that any dependents traveling with you have their I-94 correctly marked. Occasionally, the visitor's I-94 and their family dependents' I-94 may be mis-marked. If this error is not corrected at entry, a correction will have to be made at the New Orleans CBP office after arrival at LSU HSC.
If your I-94 is electronically generated, you will be able to print a hard copy of the electronic I-94 by using the CBP website. You may wish to check that it was correctly marked before leaving the airport or inspection area. You may do this on an internet enabled smart phone or via computer. If your I-94 is not correctly marked, you may be able to request a correction before departing the port of entry. Corrections may also be made at the New Orleans CBP office after arrival at LSU HSC.
Ensure that you leave the CBP inspection area with all necessary documents, including your Passport (with entry visa), I-94, I-20, DS-2019 or I-797 as applicable for your status/situation.
If you are missing one or more of these items, you may be unable to begin your research, classes or employment as scheduled/planned.
Details and explanation about how an I-94 should be marked for the most frequently used non-immigrant categories at LSU HSC are below:
H1B workers should be admitted in H1B status with an I-94 expiration date that matches the end date on their I-797 Approval Notice. H-4 dependents should also be given an I-94 with an expiration that matches the end date on their I-797 approval notice.*
*If the individual's passport will expire prior to the date on the I-797, the period of admission may be limited to the passport expiration date, or for some countries, six months prior to passport expiration.
TN workers should be admitted in TN status with an I-94 expiration date that matches the end date on their I-797 Approval Notice/Duration of employment/3 year maximum*. TD dependents should also be given an I-94 with an expiration that matches the end date on the principal TN's I-94.
*If the individual's passport will expire prior to the date on the I-797, the period of admission may be limited to the passport expiration date, or for some countries, six months prior to passport expiration.
Disclaimer: The content on these pages is designed for use by LSUHSC-New Orleans sponsored students, exchange visitors and employees. It is not intended to constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for legal counsel.