Your I-94 number: what it is and where to find it
Your I-94 number, also called the admission number or I-94 record number, is the 11-character ID CBP gives each admission. Forms from USCIS and employers ask for it. It is also easy to confuse with the “document number” CBP asks for when you search, which is something else — and with your A-number, which identifies you rather than an admission.
Checked against CBP and USCIS guidance on September 25, 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this page.
5 steps · Checklist
Find your I-94 number
The full list is at the end of the article.
Free · tick steps off on the web or in the app
What an I-94 number looks like
CBP gives two formats, both 11 characters long:
| Issued | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Before May 2019 | 11 digits, numbers only | 01234567890 |
| From May 2019 | Nine digits, one letter, one digit | 012345678A1 |
Where to find your I-94 number
- On the printout from Get Most Recent I-94 on CBP’s I-94 website or the CBP Link app, labelled as the admission (I-94) record number.
- On an older paper I-94 card, printed on the card itself.
- If USCIS extended or changed your status, on the I-94 attached to the approval notice. That record replaces the one from your arrival, and it won’t appear in your CBP travel history.
What is the “document number” on the I-94 search?
This is the single most common point of confusion. When CBP’s I-94 search asks for a document number, it wants the number of the travel document you entered with, which is usually your passport number. It is not your I-94 number, your visa number or your A-number.
CBP’s exceptions: if you entered with a Border Crossing Card (Mexican citizens only), enter the card number. If you entered without a passport and were given an A-number, enter the A-number as the document number.
Use the passport you entered with, even if it has since expired or been replaced. CBP says the search must use the passport number linked to the I-94.
Where you’ll be asked for it
Most immigration and employment forms for people in the U.S. on temporary status ask for the I-94 number, including Form I-539 (extend or change status), Form I-765 (work permit) and Form I-485 (green card). Employers use the I-94 with your passport for Form I-9. Copy it exactly, including the letter in the newer format.
5 steps · Checklist
Find your I-94 number
Retrieve your record with “Get Most Recent I-94” on CBP’s website
Enter your passport number in the “document number” box
Use the passport you entered with, even if it has expired.
Copy the 11-character admission (I-94) record number
Newer ones are nine digits, a letter, then a digit.
If USCIS extended your stay, use the I-94 on the approval notice
It replaces the one from your arrival.
Copy it exactly onto your form, including the letter
I-539, I-765, I-485 and Form I-9 ask for it.
Free, and yours to edit — tick items off on the web or in the MyCheck app.
Frequently asked questions
What is the travel document number?
It is the number of the document you travelled on, which for most people is the passport number. CBP’s I-94 search asks for it as the “document number”. Two exceptions: a Mexican citizen who entered on a Border Crossing Card enters the card number, and someone admitted without a passport who was given an A-number enters that.
Is my visa number the same as my I-94 number?
No. The visa foil in your passport carries its own number, issued by the U.S. Department of State when the visa was printed. It is not your I-94 number, and it is not the document number CBP’s I-94 search asks for — that is your passport number.
Which number does the I-94 search want: passport, visa or A-number?
The passport number, in almost every case. It does not want the visa number. It wants an A-number only if you were admitted without a passport and were given one.
What is the document number in the I-94 search?
It is the number of the travel document you used to enter the U.S., which for most people is their passport number. It is not the I-94 number. Mexican citizens who entered with a Border Crossing Card use the card number, and people who entered without a passport use their A-number.
Is the I-94 number the same as the admission number?
Yes. CBP’s printout calls it the admission (I-94) record number. They are the same 11-character number.
How many digits is an I-94 number?
Eleven characters. Numbers issued before May 2019 are all digits. Since May 2019 they are nine digits, then a letter, then a digit, for example 012345678A1.
Is the I-94 number on my passport or visa?
No. Your visa has its own number (the red number on the visa foil), and your passport number is different again. The I-94 number is on the I-94 record you retrieve from CBP.
Does my I-94 number change every time I enter the U.S.?
Each admission creates a new I-94 record with its own number. CBP’s website shows only the most recent one that matches your details, so always use the latest record on a new form.
Where is the I-94 number on an I-797 approval notice?
When USCIS approves an extension or change of status, the notice usually has a replacement I-94 attached at the bottom, with its own I-94 number. That number, not the one from your arrival, is your current record.
More I-94 guides
Sources
General information from CBP and USCIS guidance, not legal advice. MyCheck is not affiliated with CBP, USCIS or any government agency. Get your official I-94 only from CBP’s I-94 website or the CBP Link app. If your stay, status or a deadline is at risk, talk to an immigration attorney.
