USA I94 / Depature Cards

whatmichaelsays

Before I go ahead and book a return trip to the US, a thought has just come into my mind about their visa regulations.

We travelled to New York back in November, arriving at JFK on the 3rd and leaving on the 7th under the ESTA / visa waiver programme.

I have been reading about the I94 cards which, from what I gather, had to be handed in as proof of departure from the USA. The problem is that I cannot for the life of me remember handing in any card to this effect and I am almost certain that I don't have said card to hand now.

What is the situation for returning to the US now? Are we considered to be "overstayers" and as a result, likely to encounter problems with travelling? Is the fact that I checked in for my flight back to London relevant here?

Any advice appreciated.

ferf1223

Couple of things.

Assume you mean the I-94W and not I-94

Did you fill out a green form on the plane - would have looked like this?

[EMAIL="bookings@westcoastrailways.net"][/EMAIL]http://www.immihelp.com/visas/sample-i94w-form.pdf

If not, then you wouldn't have had anything to turn in. They have been phasing the use of the forms out for some time - I don't know when JFK stopped using the forms...but according to the ESTA website the I-94W has been completely phased out now.

If so, then they would have stapled the bottom part of it into your passport...and that part would have been collected by the airline on your return journey. Yes, sometimes the airline forgets to remove it...but just because you can't remember handing it in doesn't mean that there is an issue - they would have removed it for you...if it existed at all.

whatmichaelsays

To be honest, the only one that I can remember filling out was the customs declaration card and I have a funny feeling that we were given the white I94 cards - I don't remember getting a green one but I could easily be mistaken. That said, the Delta flight attendants didn't seem to be too clever with the various forms (a couple didn't know what ESTA was).

richardw

Did they staple the green bit into your passport?

whatmichaelsays

richardw wrote: »

Did they staple the green bit into your passport?

Not to my recollection.

richardw

We didn't have a green form when we went to NYC last month, my guess is when you leave the airline gives the passenger list to the ESTA people and an electronic reconciliation takes place.

dzug1

You will only get a green I94W form these days if you arrive by land from Canada or Mexico - they have been phased out for air arrivals. I think last September was when the phased withdrawal for air arrivals was completed - to coincide with the introduction of the charge.

If you'd filled in a white I94 card (and I'm not sure that they still exist either) that's for visa holders. The immigration officer would have chucked it in the bin if you were using ESTA. More likely it was a customs form

headpin

richardw wrote: »

Did they staple the green bit into your passport?

Even when they were still issuing them last year many places had stopped stapling them in the passport. They were just left loose. On my last trip to JFK last July they were still in use but as I said the Immigration Officer just put the I94W loose between the pages of my passport and siad they do not staple them anymore. On departrure the Check in Agent just took it out of my passport.

And, as also posted, they have stopped the use of the Green I94W completely now that the ETSA is fully operational (and paid for!!)

In any case I wouldn't worry as I have travelled back with it still stapled in my passport and never caused any problem Only time it did cause a small issue was when I returned again having left the I94W from previous trip still stapled in. The Immigrtaion Officer made some smart ar5se comment as he tore it out. So the next time it happened I just took it out myself and threw it away. Been back numerous times since and have never had any problem entering the US, either by air or across the land border from Canada.