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I-94 Extension or Update at Port of Entry Process USA

How to get I-94 Extension in US – 6 Options, 18 Experiences – Complete Guide

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Depending on the type of US visa you get at the US Consulate, you may get it issued beyond your passport validity.  But, when you enter the US at a Port of entry, your current passport expiry date is used by the CBP officer to issue your I-94 Expiration date. If your passport is expiring before the US Visa expiry, then you will get I-94 validity until the end of your passport expiry. You may read  I-94, Sample, how to fill, if you are not familiar with I-94 

Now, when you renew your Passport in the US, you need to make sure you update your I-94 expiration as well to be in valid legal status in the US. Just having a valid visa in an old passport is not sufficient. In this article, we will review all the options to get the I-94 updated, when you renew or re-issue your passport and also share User Experiences.

Article Contents hide
1. Overview of all options to get I-94 Extended
2. Option 1: Extend I-94 by Crossing US Border by Land
3. Option 2: Fly out of the US to Mexico or Canada and return
4. Option 3: Extend I-94 by Visiting Nearest SENTRI Enrollment Centre
5. Option 4: Visit any US Port of Entry CBP office at Airport
6. Option 5: Attorney to file Extension with USCIS to extend I-94
7. Option 6: Call CBP Deferred Inspection Sites, Email
8. Documents Checklist for I-94 Extension in USA
9. I-94 Extension in US – 18 Experiences by Users
10. Common FAQs for I-94 Extension in the US

Before you understand options, it is important for you to have all your documents ready. Below is check checklist

Overview of all options to get I-94 Extended

There are about 5 options to extend your I-94 in the US when you renew or re-issue your passport. While there are mixed opinions on some of these options, we will try to give all of those so that you can choose what works for you. Below are the all different options.

  1. Cross the US Border by land and return
  2. Fly out of the US to Mexico or Canada and return
  3. Visit the nearest SENTRI enrollment center
  4. Visit any CBP office at a US Port of Entry
  5. As your attorney to file an extension application with USCIS
  6. Call CBP Deferred Inspection Sites, send an email, and get updated.

Let’s look at each of these options in detail.

Option 1: Extend I-94 by Crossing US Border by Land

The option to exit and re-enter the US at a border checkpoint is probably the most straightforward one and seems to work most of the time. It is also confirmed by many of our readers. The process is simple as described below.

  1. You go to any US Port of entry border crossing, where you can walk or drive from the US to Mexico like Otay Mesa, Laredo, etc.
  2. Cross the US border by land
  3. Get an immigration stamp on your passport from the country you are entering such as Mexico or Canada by telling the reason for your travel, which is to update your I-94. Sometimes they do not stamp as well, so not very consistent.
  4. Re-enter the US at the port of entry border crossing by land.
  5. Once you re-enter US, you will fill out respective paperwork for new I-94. The duration of I-94 is updated during this process.

If you have a vacation planned for another country or you live close by the state to the port of entry border crossings, this works well. The goal is to exit the US and re-enter.

There are some occasions, where some users are turned back by the CBP Officers saying one of the below reasons

  • They have too much time left on the I-94 before the extension. For example, if your I-94 is expiring in December 2022, you show up at the border to extend I-94 in October 2022 or earlier.
  • Sometimes, the CBP officers say that they cannot extend the I-94 as they say that it is not a “meaningful departure”. Usually, some say that a meaningful departure is when you exit the country and get a stamp in the arriving country with a purpose. It could be anything like staying for a day to visit a place or anything.

If you cannot get I-94 extended based on this option in the first try, you can go back to the port of entry again the next day or a few days later. If not, you can try option 2 below or other options.

Also, you can join I-94 Extension Community Telegram Group to share, exchange

Option 2: Fly out of the US to Mexico or Canada and return

If you cannot get I-94 extended at the US border crossing, one of the best options that seem to work most of the time is taking a flight out of the US to either Mexico or Canada. The good part is, you do not need a valid US Visa if you are traveling for less than 30 days.

You can leverage the Automatic Revalidation option if you have a valid I-94 issued by USCIS/DHS. The only catch is you cannot apply for US Visa when you use Automatic Revalidation

Usually, one of the suggested options is to stay for a day or two in Mexico or Canada and then take a flight back. The main reason for it is to make your exit a ‘meaningful exit or departure’. When you take the flight back, at the airport you land and enter the US at the port of entry, you can show your I-797 approval notice that has longer validity and have the CBP officer issue you I-94 until that date.

Option 3: Extend I-94 by Visiting Nearest SENTRI Enrollment Centre

SENTRI stands for Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection. SENTRI enrollment centers do a variety of things related to US-Mexico border CBP processes. You may be also able to update or extend I-94 at a SENTRI enrollment center. This totally depends on the center. Some had successes and some could not update I-94 due to closures or the officer not allowing it. So, it depends on the officer and your luck.

If you use this option, you do not really need to cross the border, but you can get your I-94 update done on the US side itself at any of the designated SENTRI Enrollment Centers. The only catch is that SENTRI enrolment centers are only in the states of  Arizona, Texas, and California and you probably need to drive or fly to the nearest one. You can check for the nearest SENTRI Enrollment Centers list on CBP Website.

Process to extend I-94 at SENTRI Enrollment Center :

  1. First, before you go to any center, call them beforehand and verify, if they are allowing I-94 extensions or updates.
  2. If they allow it, it is very straightforward. You need to walk into the enrollment center and go to the Permits section. But, before that, you can pay $6 USD at the cashier (carry cash ).
  3. Depending on the line, your name will be called by the officer and he may ask questions about your status. You need to tell that you need to extend your I-94 as you got a new Passport.
  4. They will ask for the documents, you show them and answer basic questions they ask and your I-94 should be updated. Many users shared their experiences in the past updating I-94 positively at “SENTRI / Global Entry – Otay Mesa Enrollment Centre, 2500 Paseo Internacional, San Diego, CA 92154 “

Option 4: Visit any US Port of Entry CBP office at Airport

This is probably the best option to extend an I-94, if it works out. But, this option has mixed opinions, few have got success, and many have not got success. When you call the airport CBP office, sometimes they say, they cannot update I-94. While some have reported that I-94 was updated when they visited in person. It all varies by state and location.  

How to get your I-94 updated at Airports

  1. First, call the CBP office at International Airport closer to you and verify, if they do I-94 update or extensions.
  2. If they say yes, try to go there and try out your luck. If you have time, you can directly visit them as well and try your luck.
  3. You can look up for a Port of Entry on CBP website that is nearest to where you live and go to their office and get the I-94 update.
  4. As I said, there are mixed opinions here and most of the times, you may get a No from them.

Option 5: Attorney to file Extension with USCIS to extend I-94

If your approval notice from USCIS is about to expire (i-797 Approval Notice) within 6 months for certain visas like H1B or L1 then you can ask your employer and work with your Immigration attorney to file the relevant extension petition for the same. Also, if you plan to move to another status by change of status(COS) or plan to apply for an extension on your own, you can try this as well.

If your petition is not close to expiration, your employer may or may not file an extension. Also, if you are on visas like F1, H4, or L2 visas, the processing times for the extensions are really long like 8 to 10 months for some centers and you need to wait…This can be a risky option to wait with an expired I-94 as your status is unclear at that time. Read what is US Visa vs. Status for more info.

You need to speak to your Immigration attorney for this option and make a call.

Option 6: Call CBP Deferred Inspection Sites, Email

This option had little success, only a few users reported they had success. One of our readers had an expired US Visa, so they could not travel out of the country. They called a few CBP Deferred inspection site phone numbers and eventually they had success with San Diego CBP office. Phone: (619) 491-2680 or (619) 491-2625.

  • The officer gave the user an email id and asked them to send an I-94 correction request to that email id. 
  • There is an automated response to that email that has a form attached that you needed to fill and send along with the old/new passport info page, US visa, I-797, and last US entry stamp in the passport.
  • After some time, you get an automated response that the I-94 is updated. You can check online on I-94 website to see the update.

Some users were able to directly email the CBP Deferred inspection site and get it corrected…worth trying it.

Documents Checklist for I-94 Extension in USA

  • Passports: Both old and new passports(including the one that has US Visa Stamp)
  • Approval Notices of your Visa Status: USCIS approval forms are tied to your visa status. E.g. I-797 Approval Forms, if on H1B, H4, L1, L2 approval notices
  • Address Proof: Your current proof of address in the US, where you reside like Rental Agreement, Utilities Bills, etc.
  • I-94 Card: Your Current I-94 Card/ Info printed from I-94 Online System
  • Supporting Documents based on Visa Status: Depending on your status in the US, you need to carry additional supporting documents.
    • If you are on H1B Visa: Current H1B LCA that is tied to your petition.
    • If you are on H1B, L1, or other work visas:
      • Employment Verification letter from the Employer
      •  3 to 6 most recent Pay Slips / Stubs showing your proof of employment in the US
      • (optional ) Copy of I-129 from your employer
      • (optional ) Your Resume
    • If you are on H4 or L2 and working on EAD :
      • Employment Letter
      • Most recent 3 to 6 pay stubs.
  • Cash: $6 USD Cash to pay for the I-94 update. You may pay online ahead of time, but need to carry that printout and confirmation.

I-94 Extension in US – 18 Experiences by Users

Few of our users have been kind enough to share their experiences updating I-94. Below are their experiences.

Common FAQs for I-94 Extension in the US

Let’s look at some common questions about I-94 update or extension in the US.

I-94 Extension / Correction Fee Option – Cash or Online Payment ? 

You can pay for I-94 using Cash or pay Online on the CBP website. The only catch is that you need to visit within 7 days from the day you do this online and you need to carry a printout of the same. If you do not visit within 7 days, there are no refunds. You can pay online for I-94 at the CBP’s DHS.Gov Website. In terms of which is better, sometimes the line for Payment at Counters can be long…so, it is a better idea to pay online and carry a copy of the printout of the confirmation.

What are I94 Extension Interview Questions by CBP officer?

For the I94 extension or update, you will meet the CBP officer and the interview is the same as the one you have at a US Port of Entry process when you enter the US either by Flight, Ship, or Road.  You need to be prepared to answer questions about your employment, working, living in the US, etc.

Do you get a Physical I94 Card? Online system get updated too?

Yes, you will get a paper I-94 printed and given when you do an I-94 extension or update by crossing the border. Check Sample I-94 Cards given at the US Port of Entry.  Yes, the online system is updated as well. Usually, they staple the new I-94 card with your passport, you will need to show that when entering back into the US at border, so keep it careful. You can check online after you come back in the online system too regarding your I-94 for the recent entry, it is updated in real-time.

For I-94 Update, should I cross the Border or will be done without it?

Well, this all depends on the immigration officer and the process at the Land Port of Entry. Sometimes, you get lucky and you may not be asked to cross the border and everything is done at the port of entry office in the US….you may be asked to cross the border and re-enter.  Many users have shared that they ended up crossing Mexico Border and re-entering when they did this at Laredo, Texas or  San Diego, CA.

Is the I-94 update process different for H4 vs H1B Holders?  L1, L2, etc.?

The process to update/ extend I94 is the same for everyone as described above. You can use any of the three options. If does not matter, if you are on H4 or H1B visa…You will need to carry all your relevant documents and supporting documents.

What has been your experience updating I-94? Share your thoughts? Anything I missed ?

   

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371 Comments

  2. Thank you Kumar!
    I was admitted under B1 for 6 months instead of TN for three years after my vacation and this post helped a lot.
    I went to the CBP Global Entry office in Austin Bergstrom Airport and they corrected my I-94

    Reply

  3. Hi,

    (Do we need CANADA visa to request I-94 update at any CBP border office?)

    Recently my L1B and my Wife’s along with Kid’s L2 extension was approved by USCIS on Feb 1st but my Wife’s I-797A was not delivered (missing till date) even after Service Inquiry request was raised after 15 days of non-delivery.
    I tried reaching out to CBP by email and also called Port Of Entry CBP office (Detroit-Windsor tunnel) by explaining the situation but both denied the request to update I-94.

    I called USCIS couple of times but they always said you will get a callback which is not yet received. They said no other way than waiting as they dont have anything to expedite.

    My Wife is about to loose her job on April 2nd if I94 does not get approved.
    We DO NOT HAVE a CANADA visa to try Re-Entry to US side.

    Please suggest some way if its still possible to do it at Port of Entry and it all depends on the officer on duty or what.

    Thanks,
    Sandip

    Reply

  5. In the passport details section of “Apply For New I-94 For Land Border Crossings Only” (I-94 online payment) should I enter my current passport details or new passport details?

    Reply

  6. I-94 Renewal at CBP office near Canada Border (Without crossing the border)
    I want to share my experience with I-94 renewal for me and my family (Wife + 2 kids – 14 & 11)
    I came to US in Nov 2021. Passport was valid till Dec 2022, all of us got the I-94 till Dec 2022. So had to renew my passport and I-94 for all.
    I got my passport renewed – Passport Services | vfsglobal
    With new passport, drove down to CBP office at Blaine(near Canada border) – US Customs and Border Protection · 9901 Pacific Hwy, Blaine, WA 98230
    I parked my vehicle at US Customs and Border Protection Visitor Parking Lot · 989 10th St, Blaine, WA 98230 and walked in directly. The officer was nice, understood my situation and collected all the passports. Just like at the airport, he took our photo and fingerprints.
    He updated my I-94 till my L1 validity on old passport and for others till their passport expiration, as it was earlier than L1 validity. He also updated the dependent visa type for my wife to L2S so she wouldn’t need EAD to work.
    I paid the renewal fees to the cashier using credit card ($6/person). Officer gave me a yellow slip to be given at the gate while leaving.
    Imp Things to note:
    Carry both old & new passports along with I-129S/I797
    Remember the name of the officer you work with.
    Check the passport stamps for accuracy –
    The office did the mistake of reading passport expiration date as MMDDYYYY instead of DDMMYYYY. Got this to his notice and he corrected it.
    Check all the renewed I-94 online – I94 – Official Website (dhs.gov) for any mismatches or error. You can get it corrected there itself.
    I had not checked mine and found that my Visa type was incorrect. I called the Blaine CBP office – (360 332 5771) next day and I asked for the same officer who then issued a new I-94 with correction.
    Ask for the YELLOW slip as a gate pass.

    Reply

    • Hello, Sundip

      I’m in the same board. I had an old passport, when I landed at SF airport, My passport was expiring on Aug 14 2022 so I got the I-94 validity till that date. Now I got the new passport. I am planning to visit CBP office at Otay Mesa next week. I will take all the documents with me. I hope It will get extend.

      For the payment part, Do we have an option to pay there or this’s something we can pay online prior to go there ?. Thanks.

      Reply

      • Hi Anjum,
        I am in San Jose and in a similar situation. My PP will expire in first week of Sept. I have received my new PP. Please let me know if your visit was successful. My number is 408 668-5356.
        Thanks

        Reply

    • Hi Sundip,

      Can I contact you about this please. I need to go there as well and could use some more details, possibly by a phone call. Thanks.

      Reply

    • Hello Sundip,
      Am on H4 (no separate I797 for me), got my VISA stamped along with my Husband. My VISA is valid until 03/2024, but my PP was expiring so renewed it and now I need to renew my I94 using my existing VISA. My husband recently changed his employer, but yet to process my extension, since I still have a valid H4 VISA stamped, we thought to do it later. We are planning to go to Laredo, TX land border for renewing my I-94.
      Do you think we cannot get this done without a valid I797 for H4? or Can I still go with my valid visa stamping and my husband’s new H1B I797?

      Reply

    • Hi Sandip,
      Did you visit Canada side or US side?
      Also please confirm if you had a CANADA visa to visit CBP office as I have heard that CBP office where I-94 gets updated are on the Entry point to US for which we have to Exit US first.

      Your response is highly appreciated.

      Thanks,
      Sandip

      Reply

    • HI Sundip, thanks for sharing your experience. May I know if you cross the Canada border, or directly went to the parking lot of CBPB OFFICE? I am in Oregon and in same situation as yours. Any help would be much appreciated.

      Reply

  7. Hi, I’m a h4 holder and my visa is expiring soon and I have no plans to cross the country in near future. Can I use option 3 to get a valid i94? If so what should be the reason that I should be mentioning the CBP officer?

    Reply

      • I am a Canadian resident with US Visitor visa. My i-94 expires in August this year. Do I need a new I-94 to enter the US? I am planning to stay for 3 days. The last time I entered the US is via Air and now I will enter via land border

        Reply

  8. Is it safe to cross the border and re-enter with a month left on the visa? I’ve heard cases where people have entered a day before the actual date of expiry with no issues, but could the limited validity be held against us to deny entry?

    Reply

  9. Thanks team. My daughter i94 expired along with her passport. Though we renewed the passport we did not see the i94 expiry and totally missed it. Saw that only after few months. Tried to extend at cbp location but did not work out so traveled to Canada border and I was able to fix it there

    Reply

    • Hi Kartikeyan
      We are in same situation as u told..right now my daughter is in 5 th grade and we saw her passport and I-94 both are expired …we are applying for the passport renewal …is there any problem we face and how u resolve this problem …ease share with me.
      Thank you Jaya

      Reply

  10. Hi

    I got my H1B renewed. The USCIS prints I-94 data on H1B approval document at the bottom.

    I renewed my passport. After reading this blog/information it seemed like one need to renew I-94 number if the passport is renewed. I called CBP office at Newark. I was told that there is no need to update the I-94 if the passport is renewed. CBP does not require one to update I-94, if the passport is renewed.

    The CBP office at Philadelphia also gave similar information that USCIS extends the I-94 as reported on H1B document.

    So it appears that, as long as one has valid H1B, the I-94 is valid for the duration mentioned on the H1B document. There is no need to update, or in other words, as per CBP Newark office, they do not update I-94 number.

    Please, anyone could let me know if the information that I got as above is correct? Just to be double sure.

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Hi Atul,
      Here is the catch, When H1B get approved, while inside in the U.S (i.e received I-797A ), I-94 update automatically till the approved date as per the latest H1B . However if H1B get approved while outside of US and received I-797B , and received I-94 shorter than than I-797B valid date due to passport expiry, I-94 wont update automatically, need to travel outside of US, to get new I-94 as per new passport.

      Reply

      • Hi Paul,

        I received my i-797B which is valid till 02/2024. I entered the states with i-797B and the old H1B visa stamp, which is valid till 08/28/2022, with an electronic i-94 valid up to 09/07/2022.

        Can I get an updated i-94 traveling to Mexico OR do I have to travel to my home country to get a new visa stamp? OR is there any other alternative to extend my legal stay?

        Reply

    • Hi Atul,

      So if you are in USA and applied for extension and approved(where you have -194 at the bottom, after that if passport renewed no need to go for i-94 extension.

      Thanks,
      Venkat

      Reply

  11. I am so glad that I read RedBus2us.com suggestions. Option “6. Option 5 : Call CBP Deferred Inspection Sites, Email” worked so well for me!

    My last stamped H1B visa was from a previous employer which expires within 1 month.

    I had changed job 1 year ago and didn’t have new employer H1B visa stamped in my passport. New I797A is now valid for another 2 years from now.

    When I last visited travelled outside and re-entered USA around 4 months ago, USCBP officers at airport gave I-94 valid till my stamped visa only (which is valid till just 1 month from now) and rudely rejected my request to consider as per the new I797A.

    Like RedBus suggested in option 6, I did the following:

    1. Wrote an email to i.94.correction.xxxxxxx@cbp.dhs.gov
    2. Attached latest I797/Passport/H1B visa/Latest I-94
    3. Went to the “Deferred Inspection Site” office the next day without appointment and explained my problem

    The officer there must be in his 50’s. He was quite helpful and rectified my I-94 both in my passport (with new stamp/seal) and corrected it online as well. Now I have a valid I-94 for another 2 years 🙂

    The crisp and prompt help of RedBus is soooo appreciable… Else I had to leave the country, break house lease & cease employment in US since my I-94 would be invalid.

    Also, due to Covid-19, embassies in my home country are not giving any appointments at all!

    A BIG THANKS TO REDBUS TO SAVE ME FROM FROM SUCH A HASSLE AND TO GUIDE ME SO WELL!

    Best Regards,

    Reply

  12. Thank you , I was able to update my I-94 by crossing the border at Laredo TX POE. No restrictions because of Land border closure till Jul21st 2021.

    Reply

    • Hi Raju

      Could you please let me know the process via a quick phone call?, and i can call you on your direct line?. abhishek4dasari@gmail.com is my email address please share your number there or reply here with your email i may share my contact number.

      Reply

  13. Hi,

    I came to US on F1 and recently got my H1b. I did not go for stamping after getting my H1b and on my I-797A my I-94 validity is till 2023. Now I have renewed my passport as it about to expire. Should I get my I94 extended in this case?

    Reply

    • Hi Div,
      You don’t need to get your i94 updated as you got your passport renewed. Along with your H1B copy you will have an i94 copy on the bottom which is valid till the end of H1b.
      At any given point of time there can be only one i94 that exists and latest issued on is the valid. You can cross check your i94 status online just to be sure.

      But I am sure you don’t have to get your i94 updated.

      Reply

  14. Hello,

    I changed employers last year and got my H1-B transferred to new employer 2 weeks back. However, my attorney realized that I have been given I-797B(valid through 04/21/2023) with no I-94 number instead of I-797A when he received the approval notice. My previous visa and I-94 is valid through 03/14/2022. So, my lawyer recommended me to cross the border and re-enter just like the posts above.

    Should I be worried that I would need consular processing or an interview to re-enter? What if the CBP officer asks why I was not approved for change of status(I-797A) or if something is wrong in my petition ?. (There was some confusion regarding my starting date and pay stubs for which I had provided sufficient proof)
    Is my H1-B transfer extension in the future at risk or is there a chance of my H1-B being denied at consular processing when I leave the country and come back?

    Thanks,
    Rohan

    Reply

    • Hi Rohan,

      As long as you have the US Visa, you should be good to re-enter using the petition. I recently travelled to MExico(Cancun) for one day, as I got the consular approved petition due to error with my I-797 and seems to be work. You may be questioned, why you traveled, but after verifying they will let you in with the updated I-94. Travelling to Mexico is easy and no questions asked. Just make sure to give Covid test before leaving to have a negative test which is valid within 72 hours of boarding the flight.

      Reply

      • Thanks Naveen. I was able to update my I-94 by crossing the border at San Ysidro POE. You are correct, they didn’t ask any questions and I got my I-94 updated to the new dates. Since, I traveled by land and was fully vaccinated, they didn’t ask for a negative covid test.

        Thanks,
        Rohan

        Reply

        • Hello Rohan

          Can you share your complete experience at San Ysidro POE? I am in same boat with my extension approved with i797B and had to get my i94 updated.
          My i94 is valid till August 16 and I am vaccinated too. Is there anything in specific I need to take care before reaching the POR?

          Thanks,
          Aditya

          Reply

    • Hi Rohan,

      I received my i-797B which is valid till 02/2024. I entered the states with i-797B and the old H1B visa stamp, which is valid till 08/28/2022, with an electronic i-94 valid up to 09/07/2022.

      Can I get an updated i-94 traveling to Mexico OR do I have to travel to my home country to get a new visa stamp? OR is there any other alternative to extend my legal stay?

      Reply

  16. Hi,
    I’m on H4 visa and my i94 expiring next month due to passport expiration. I’ve received my new passport now i’m exploring ways to extend my i94. My spouse employer okay to file for my h4 extension. Should i go ahead with that as presently its not feasible to do above mentioned approach as my education is going. Would it be an issue if try to do above mentioned approaches after filing H4 as we don’t want to wait for a year.
    1) If we go to SENTRI enrollment center or
    2) Cross US border by land/fly
    And when asked we tell we travelled to get i94 updated. Would they cross question why do we did that if we already had application filled for extension.
    Does these questions vary depending upon which approach we take 1 or 2. Also how to handle these questions.
    Kindly let us know at your earliest. And thanks for the great post.
    Regards,
    Veer

    Reply

    • Veer,
      Things would change with H4 as there is no biometrics now, you can get it faster than before.
      You dont have to cross, if you file it online. You can only try the border approach before the I-94 expires.
      Questions are very subjective, hard to say.

      Reply

  17. Hi All,

    My H1-B visa expires in Sept, 2022 but my passport expires in Nov, 2021. I tried calling the Deferred Inspection Unit at Newark and Washington DC but I had no luck (Will call one at NY on Monday). They say I either need to file an extension or travel outside the country.

    1) Should I wait for the travel ban to be lifted?
    2) Should I just going to one of the SENTRI offices to try my luck? Have anyone been there in May, 2021? Do they still perform I94 extension? Are they open? Do u need appointments? What is the situation with COVID like?

    Thanks All!

    Reply

  18. I went to otay mesa CBP office first and they told me that I should have come 1 week or max 2 week earlier to renew my I 94.
    Anyway I went to pad east facility and decided to cross the border and come back.. Mexico immigration officer asked me reason for visit and i replied that I came for i94 renewal…then I walk around 1/2 km and reached on the road then took a u turn and entered usa CBP office. As soon as you will enter the gate you will find a yellow building on your right…enter there..that’s where your I 94 will be renewed…it is very easy to ignore this yellow building..do not enter blue building before your i94 removal.
    ALL THE BEST!

    Reply

  19. Hi Admin,

    I’m on H1B visa working for a software firm in Charlotte, NC. I have my Current I-797 and US visa valid till 25DEC2021. However, my daughter- who entered US in April 2019 based on the H4 US visa (valid till 25DEC2021) was given I94 admission until 24May2021 (based on her Indian passport expiry date). Now, we got her Indian passport renewed. However, I’m looking for options for her to extend her i94. I’ve called the Charlotte CBP office but they said they wouldn’t do any i94 extensions. What option do I have for extending her i94 alone? my i94 is valid till my H1B document date. Please help.

    Reply

    • Naveen,
      As the article says, you have 5 options. Try to call or email few of the CBP officers. If nothing works, then you may have to cross the border or go to border CBP and cross the bridge and come back.

      Reply

  20. Hi, My H4 visa is stamped till October 2022. My passport expired in February(in which visa is stamped) and i have my new passport which came in before expiry. my I-94 expiry date in the online system is October 2021 whereas during Port of entry CBP stamped and dated the I-94 validity till my visa expiry date (October 2022).
    Now i don’t foresee a planned travel to India in the near future so getting the i-94 aligned during a travel may not be an option. my EAD expires in October 2021 (same as my i-94). i am not sure whether i will be eligible for an I-94 correction as CBP stamped till 2022. but what should i be doing now so that i don’t end up in status issue. I need i-94 extended to renew my EAD and Driver’s license. Suggestions welcome- Thank you!

    Visa expiry – October 2022
    i-94 expiry (CBP stamped in passport) October 2022
    i-94 expiry (online system) – October 2021
    EAD expiry- October 2021

    Reply

    • STG,
      What you see in the online system for I-94 is the one that you should look at. So, technically you should get that fixed. It could have been a manual mistake done by CBP officer…So, plan to get it extended.

      Reply

    • Did you find a way to fix you i94 issue? My wife has the exact same problem. Kindly advise if have any solution.

      Thank you

      Reply

  21. I have i94 validity based on my old passport till october this year although my visa is valid till Nov 2022. I got my passport renewed recently.

    This forum really helps me. I have two questions:-

    Option 1:

    How is it extending the I94 by filing i530 form. When I checked with my attorney he mentioned it is similar to H1B extension by submitting all the documents. Are there any chances of rejection here.

    Option 2:

    I am from Tennessee. . I would like to renew my I 94 [along with my dependent’s] preferably in Canada Port of entry as I want to take my family to Niagara. Has anyone recently renewed their I94 in Canada Port of Entry? Please advice if my approach is correct or should I not hesitate and go to Texas mexico border and complete it.

    Reply

    • Athman,
      Did you mean I-539? Yes, you can extend your status by filing I-539 too. But, the issue is with biometrics and delays.
      There are few who have done in mid of last year. check the experiences to get an idea.

      Reply

  22. Hi Admin

    My passport is expiring on 10/2022 and I have a valid I-797a till 09/2023( not h1b stamped in passport)
    If I renew my passport in 2022.Do i need to take care of anything else.

    -people say I need to update my I 94 when I renew my passport inside u.s

    Reply

    • Rakesh,
      It depends on how long they have given you I-94. If that is valid till 9/2023, then no need. If not, you need to get I-94 extended.

      Reply

  23. Hi Guys,

    due to my passport expiration date, CBP gave my I94 expiry date as 10/20/2020. I have renewed my passport and then I have transferred my H1B to another employer.
    In New I797-A, I94 expiry mentioned as 2023. But, In CBP site, I94 with old passport it is still showing expiry date as 10/20/2020. and search with new passport number it is showing “no records found”.

    what should I do now? Do I need to renewal my I94 or is my new I94 good with I797A after H1B transfer.

    Please help me here, I have only 3 days left to renew my I94. Appreciate your help!.

    Thank you
    Uday

    Reply

  24. Friends,

    It’s time to update information from my end.. Just like others, I too tried multiple options and finally ended up in flying to San diago/otay Mesa to extended i94 of mine and my spouse (due to passport renewal).

    Smooth process it was for us.
    1. Landed in San Diego airport,
    2. Uber to Otay Mesa CBP (first bank addres)
    3. Went inside CBP office & stood near the permit room for 10 mins (officers went for lunch)
    4. Then a friendly officer came to seat & asked us to come inside
    5. We went inside & I explained about i94 extension & gave him payment receipt & i797 . Then he asked for Address details, I gave him our state IDs
    6. Then some general chit chat with officer & gave our finger prints and photo was taken
    7. He asked my occupation & that’s it .
    8. I94 was extended for both of us & said bye bye.
    9. Came out of the building & checked it is already updated in online. All Done ! Back to airport on the same day..

    Reply

    • Hi All,

      Just want to check if anyone has faced this issue. I extended my & my spouse i94 at San diego (as mentioned above). I checked i94 & travel history online and it was displaying correctly.

      Now (after 3 months) if i check i94 travel history online, it says ‘No travel info found’. same issue with my wife travel info page too. Anybody has faced this issue ?. (online i94 still shows correctly but travel history disappeared)

      Reply

      • Mania,
        Should be fine, sometimes the system may miss some records. Always, your I-94 is the key thing. You can write to CBP office to get details on why it is not working.

        Reply

  25. How can I join the group? New to the telegram, but installed the App now and I see no option to join from this link https://t.me/i94extension

    Reply

    • Hey Luke,
      If you dont mind, can you please copy paste the mail that you sent to this address. That would help a lot of us.

      Reply

    • Hi Luke,

      Could you please explain the entire process along with the timeline (by when you got the reply, how did you pay the I-94 fees). It would help us a lot.

      Tanmoy

      Reply

    • Hi Luke,

      I am also struggling to extend i94 for my kids(on H4) after passport renewal. Can you please help me to understand the process including email/timelines?

      Appreciate your help to the community

      Reply

    • I have sent an email to above address and received below reply

      To Whom It May Concern,

      You should go through the nearest Deferred Office. As the Boston Deferred Inspections Office only handles those residing in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

      https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/deferred-inspection-sites

      Thank you.

      CBP.BOSTON.I94

      I have also called nearby CBP offices(Charlotte, Raleigh and Atlanta) and all offices said the same thing that i94 with new passport can be renewed only with two ways:

      1) Re-enter USA
      2) Apply extension to USCIS

      Reply

      • Mohit,
        Thanks for sharing. Yes, most of the times the options given by them are the one that work always.
        Some CBP officers are nice enough to do it, but is purely luck…

        Reply

        • Hi Kumar,
          I recently got my Indian passport renewed in USA, I am on F1 visa. My I-94 has D/S as the end date, but the issue is that I-94 is connected to old Passport number. Wondering, if I am required to get I-94 updated with the new passport number.
          Also, what are my options, since I am currently in USA, completing my Summer semester at school.
          Thank you!

          Reply

          • Osmi,
            This is an interesting situation. I have not seen any F1 students do I-94 extension as there is no time limit and you can continue to stay as long as you are maintaining status. I suggest you check with your DSO or CBP office to be sure. Also, do update here.

    • Hi Luke,
      I have same case like you,Can you please let me know whether you are residing in Massachusetts or New Hampshire state,as I got reply from above email is that they handle cases residing in those states.

      Reply

    • Hello Luke,

      I am also struggling to extend I-94, if you don’t mind, can you please copy-paste the email that you sent to this address?

      And, could you please explain the entire process along with the timeline (by when you got the reply, how did you pay the I-94 fees). It would help us a lot.

      Reply

  30. Is it possible to go to Loredo,TX and get a new I-94 for valid B1/B2 visa.

    Visa Exipre:2028
    I-94 expire: July 27,2020

    Reply

    • There is a group on whatsapp on I94 and one of the user messaged as denied for B1/B2 visitor visa at laredo last week.

      Reply

    • Ash,
      B1/B2 visas are not generally eligible for I-94 extension as they are tourist visas, you need to work with USCIS. Most of the times, user exit and re-enter the country by crossing the border. You may or may not be allowed immediately as B2 visa is not meant to be used like that. So, discuss with an attorney.
      The best thing to do is to apply for B2 extension and leave the country when flights open, unless you have an extreme situation to stay back.

      Reply

  32. i am on H1B and have valid visa and I94 till sep 2022.
    My 2 minor children had I94 till 16June2020 because of their indian passport validity. They had valid visa stamped as H4 till september 2022. I went to texas laredo CBP office today.
    The process was like 5 mins and done. No questions asked and only address was asked while officer entered manually in computer and asked me to pay at cashier and all done.

    Reply

    • Hi there

      I am on the same boat here but its about my kid (H4 visa). His I-94 is expiring in Oct 2020 due to passport expiry, but he has a valid visa till Nov 2021. After reading all these comments we are also planning to go to CBP office at Laredo, Texas. I tried to contact them in the phone before planning our trip but no one is picking up. As we live in NC, its risky to travel without confirmation. Would anyone please share the contact number or email ID of CBP office in Laredo.
      Thanks in advance.

      Reply

  33. I just got my i94 updated on OTAY MESA crossing. I went to the permits section directly as suggestd by someone. The officer there consulted her supervisor and told me i just need to make a meaningful departure. I crossed the bridge on foot and within 3 mins i was at mexico immigration. There was a very friendly guy who asked me the reason to come. i told him i want my i94 updated. He filled the mexico permit card in a hardly readable hand writing and asked for 30 dollars. I gave him at that time without thinking. Now i am confised whether it was a legit fee or a rip off. then i immediately left the office came to the road and crossed it immediately and entered US immigration. there was a line but i got my turn in 15 mins. The overall process hardly took an hour.

    As long as you have a valid work visa or dependent visa which was valid / issued before the proclamation came out, there is no need to file an i29. Just go to san diego and get it done in an hour for $6.

    Reply

    • More details: I parked my car at “Tellos parking lot” which is 5 mins walk from the cbp center and starting point of the pedestrian bridge. I went from Fremont CA which is 500 miles away. To save a day, i left at 4.30 am in the morning and reached the border at 12.20. I was back to my car at 1.30. On my return journey i got a lot of evening traffic while passing through Los Angeles. In the end i was extremely tired because of lack of sleep a night earlier due to anxiety of getting this done. I reached home at 10.30 in the night. very tired. i wont recomment anyone going from bay area to do it in one day. its very tiring.

      The other comments that i read. it looks likecrossing border at otay mesa is lesser walk as compared to san ysidro. The staff was very cooperative and friendly there. I was shit scared and all but there is nothing to be worried about. They are friendly and good people. as long as you have a proper visa and no ambiguity in your record you are good. I kept every single document i had just in case. But they did not even ask for the i797 notice. I only needed my two passports both old and new. But i still suggest to keep all the documents just in case.

      Let me know in the comments if you need any more details.

      Reply

      • Zeeshan Ashraf,
        Thank you for sharing your experience. If you had valid US visa, then it seems to me that the 30 USD was rip off unfortunately…
        In any case, you got it done and all good now !

        Reply

        • thanks Ashraf and Kumar. I was just worried about EO and how CBP interprets that while issuing i94 updates. But now I feel more confident on my Otay mesa trip. Thanks to Redbus2us for such an informative platform as this one. It helps out many individuals in so many different situations.
          I will sure share my detailed experience once I get it done soon at Otay Mesa CA.

          Reply

        • Even if you don’t have the visa, you don’t need to pay $30.
          Its needed if your visa gets rejected and you have to fly to your home county and want to use their airports.

          Reply

          • min,
            Interesting…Is there any official link or info for this on their consulate website or airports site ?

      • Kumar/Zeeshan,

        Are the otay mesa and san ysidro centers open on weekends? If so, what are the timings?

        Also, what are the timings on weekdays?

        Thanks,
        Jithendran

        Reply

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