Please remember that the new registration requirement for certain foreign nationals staying in the U.S. for 30 days or more comes into effect tomorrow, April 11, 2025. 

We are recommending that all visitors and nonimmigrants entering the U.S. apply for a provisional I-94 online at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) website before each trip if entering by land. This can be accomplished by going to the CBP website and selecting “Apply Now” from the dashboard options at the top of the page. Once you have confirmed your understanding that pre-paying for a provisional I-94 does not guarantee admission into the United States, you will be able to enter the required “Traveler Application” information and “Document Information” required, and pay a US$6 fee. This should ensure that you are issued an I-94 Arrival/Departure record in CBP’s online I-94 system, even when entering as a visitor. A valid I-94 showing an unexpired “Admit Until” date satisfies the Alien Registration Requirement, and can be provided as proof of status if requested while you are in the U.S. No further "registration" is required, in this case.

 

Although USCBP is supposed to issue an I-94 Arrival/Departure record to all visitors regardless of where or how they enter, this has not been occurring consistently, for many years. With the new registration requirement, it is imperative that all visitors be able to show proof of status at all times while in the U.S. 

 

 

Every nonimmigrant in the U.S. must check their I-94 Arrival/Departure record following entry, to ensure that they have been admitted in the correct status and know their “admit until” date, to remain compliant with U.S. immigration requirements pertaining to their status. If there is an error in your record, you will need to contact your nearest CBP Deferred Inspection site and call or email them per the instructions on the linked webpage to request a correction to your I-94. If the port where you entered has a Deferred Inspection site, please reach out to that location; if not, or if the port where you entered is not responding, please reach out to the Deferred Inspection site closest to where you live or are traveling to in the U.S. 

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to a qualified U.S. immigration professional. Our Immigration Practice Team at Lippes Mathias LLP stands ready to assist. Please contact Elizabeth M. Klarin (eklarin@lippes.com) or Eileen M. Martin (emartin@lippes.com) with any questions.