Quick I-94 Question

alpha2zulu

Hi all,
I'm travelling to the U.S at the end of the month for the 1st time and was doing a bit of research into the Visa waiver program as were only going to New York for 4 days.

At what point on the return journey do you hand in the depature record section of the I 94 card? Is it taken at check-in or collected mid flight back to Dublin. Were flying DUB-JFK with Aer Lingus.

Just wanted to make sure, as I know there are consequences for future travel if the card is not handed back and the Homeland Security website isent very clear on the matter.

silja

They normally take it at the gate when you actually walk on the plane (well, just before that. They used to take it at checkin but not recently- at least not in my experience- I guess too many people ended up not taking their flight/ not leaving the US?

If for some reason your departure recod isn't taken, as happened to me once, you can send it, together with your boarding pass and a short letter xplaining things, to the US embassy when you get back.

watna

Moved from Abroad as it doesn't concern living/emigrating abroad.

BuffyBot

It should be collected by the checkin agent at JFK, so always make sure that they take it.

helimachoptor

BuffyBot wrote: »

It should be collected by the checkin agent at JFK, so always make sure that they take it.

I've been to the states quite a bit an often they don't take the slip on my return journey and I've never had a problem, I'm going to presume that when your passport is swiped your registered as leaving the country??

BuffyBot

No, not nessecarily.

There is a whole procedure (that's been discussed in other threads about this) that's long and drawn out. While you *may* not encounter a problem, you really don't want to risk it.

It only takes me a second to check every time

Third_Echelon

helimachoptor wrote: »

I've been to the states quite a bit an often they don't take the slip on my return journey and I've never had a problem, I'm going to presume that when your passport is swiped your registered as leaving the country??

No, this is not the case. Your departure is only recorded when you return the I-94 slip. You may have problems in the future.

As for the OP's question. Check-in staff will either take it at Check-in or at the departure gate. Depends on the airline.

lord lucan

silja wrote: »

If for some reason your departure recod isn't taken, as happened to me once, you can send it, together with your boarding pass and a short letter xplaining things, to the US embassy when you get back.

happened to me last august. left with delta via terminal 3 at jfk but no-one ever took our I-94W's back. you have to write a letter to the immigration and border control people,not the embassy. i got the info from a thread on here a while back. wrote a covering letter and returned the I-94W's along with a bank statement showing that we were back in the country.

i wasn't willing to take the chance that they stop me and refuse entry because a non-returned form. the only thing is that they don't tell if you your record has been corrected,guess i'll find out in 2 weeks;)

alpha2zulu

Thanks for the replies everybody, i'll be making sure i get rid of it at some point! I'm sure Aer Lingus know what there doing:D

orchidsrpretty

What happens if they don't take the I-94 and you don't send it back to them? I was in the states a couple of years ago and I will be going back in a few weeks. I never handed it back and they didn't ask. Am I likley to be refused entry on this basis?
Thanks,

BuffyBot

It's possible. It's possible you'll be fine.