This article was prepared with the assistance of ABIL, the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers, of which Loan Huynh, Fredrikson Immigration Department Chair, is a member.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has engaged in a series of business transformation initiatives aimed at modernizing their processes, enhancing security, optimizing existing resources, reducing operating costs and creating a welcoming environment for all arriving travelers. These business transformation initiatives include the automation of forms, implementation of mobile technology, utilization of facial matching and optimization of limited resources.
In December 2021, CBP implemented a pilot of the elimination of the routine use of the admission stamp during primary processing. Eliminating use of the admission stamp reduced primary processing times, minimized security vulnerabilities associated with the admission stamp and reduced operating costs during a challenging time. Travelers retrieved evidence of their admission, authorized length of stay and 5 years of arrival data by accessing the CBP I-94 website or CBP OneTM mobile application. CBP will also publish a Federal Register Notice with details regarding the elimination prior to nationwide implementation.
The pilot was implemented at the below locations:
- Atlanta International Airport
- Boston Logan international Airport
- Chicago International Airport
- Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport
- Honolulu International Airport
- Houston Intercontinental Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- New York-Newark International Airport
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
- San Francisco International Airport
- Washington, DC - Dulles International Airport
- Calgary, Canada Preclearance
- Montreal, Canada Preclearance
- Toronto, Canada Preclearance
- Vancouver, Canada Preclearance
- Dublin, Ireland Preclearance
Land border crossings in the below field offices:
- Buffalo
- Detroit
- El Paso
- Laredo
- San Diego
- Seattle
- Tucson
The admission stamp may still be utilized during secondary processing, when appropriate, and in limited circumstances in primary such as processing immigrant visas or upon the specific request of a traveler. If a traveler experiences difficulties in retrieving their I-94 form as proof of admission through the CBP I-94 website or CBP OneTM mobile application, they can contact their local CBP port of entry for assistance.
