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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Website
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Statistics
Annual Caps for H-1B for Fiscal Years: 85,000 visas
- 65,000 visas
- 20,000 visas for the master’s cap*
The master’s cap – individuals with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions.
Topics
How to Correct an H-1B I-94 Error After Entry or Extension
Check the latest H-1B I-94, identify who issued it, and use the right process to correct an error in the admission class or end date.
After an H-1B entry or extension, check the Form I-94 rather than assuming the visa stamp or approval notice settled the period of stay. A wrong class of admission, name, or end date can cause problems with employment records and later filings. The correction route depends first on which agency issued the inaccurate I-94.
Act promptly if the “admit until” date has passed or is about to expire. A request to correct an I-94 does not by itself extend status or employment authorization. Ask a qualified immigration attorney to review the case immediately rather than waiting for the correction process to finish.
Check the Latest Record
Download your most recent electronic record from the official CBP I-94 website. Compare its name, passport number, class of admission, admission date, and “admit until” date with your passport and H-1B approval documents. If USCIS later approved an extension or change of status inside the United States, check the I-94 attached to the bottom of that Form I-797 approval as well.
An unexpired visa stamp is primarily a travel document; it does not, by itself, establish the current period of admission. Our H-1B travel guide explains why checking the I-94 after each entry matters.
Which Document Controls?
| Document | What it generally establishes |
|---|---|
| Visa stamp | Allows the traveler to request admission in the visa classification; it does not determine how long the person may remain in the United States |
| Form I-797 approval notice | Shows USCIS approval of the H-1B petition; a Form I-797A may include a new I-94 at the bottom when USCIS grants an extension or change of status |
| Form I-94 | Shows the class of admission and authorized period of stay, including the “admit until” date |
When CBP and USCIS have issued different I-94s, the sequence of events matters. A USCIS extension approved after the most recent entry may include an updated I-94, while later international travel may result in a newer CBP admission record. Do not simply rely on the document with the longest end date.
Find the Right Correction Path
| What happened? | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Wrong class, date, or personal detail on an I-94 issued at entry | Contact a CBP deferred inspection site |
| USCIS issued an incorrect I-94 with an extension or change-of-status approval | Use USCIS e-Request and select “Typographic Error”; also review Form I-102 |
| You cannot find an I-94 from your entry | Retry with the exact travel-document details, then follow CBP’s missing-record guidance and review Form I-102 |
| Your passport expired before the petition end date | Do not assume the shorter I-94 is a clerical error; review why CBP shortened the admission before choosing the next step |
If the CBP website returns “Not Found,” enter your name, date of birth, document number, and country of citizenship exactly as they appeared on the travel document used at entry. CBP also recommends trying the “Get Most Recent I-94” function in the CBP Link mobile application. If the record still cannot be retrieved, review CBP’s missing-record guidance, which may direct you to request the record through the Freedom of Information Act.
The Form I-102 instructions also explain how to request an I-94 that cannot be obtained from the CBP website. Contact deferred inspection when CBP did not issue a required record at admission or when the admission record itself appears incorrect.
Prepare a Correction Packet
Gather the records that show what happened and what the correct information should be:
- Passport identity and expiration pages
- H-1B visa stamp and entry stamp, if applicable
- Latest CBP I-94 and travel history
- Complete Form I-797A approval notice, including the I-94 at the bottom
- Evidence supporting the correct name, class of admission, or end date
- A short timeline listing the entry, petition approval, travel, and discovery of the error
- Copies of each submission and any agency confirmation or reference number
Keep the original documents unless the agency’s current instructions require them. Form I-102 may require the original incorrect I-94, so review its instructions before mailing a correction request.
If CBP Issued the Incorrect I-94
CBP’s I-94 fact sheet directs travelers with an incorrect admission record to a local deferred inspection site or port of entry. CBP says deferred inspection can review errors recorded at entry, including an improper nonimmigrant classification, inaccurate biographical information, or an incorrect period of admission.
Find a site and follow its current contact instructions. Use the correction packet listed above and add any documents the office requests. Procedures vary by location, so contact the office before traveling there and keep the original documents available if it asks to inspect them.
CBP deferred inspection addresses entry-record errors. It does not grant an H-1B extension or change your status as a substitute for a USCIS filing.
If the I-94 date is correct but the authorized stay is ending, review our H-1B extension and renewal guide instead of requesting a correction.
If USCIS Issued the Incorrect I-94
If USCIS caused a typographic error on the approval notice or attached I-94, open the USCIS e-Request page and choose “Typographic Error” under Service Request. If the online tool is unavailable or does not accept the request, contact the USCIS Contact Center. USCIS may provide instructions for returning the incorrect document or taking another correction step.
The Form I-102 instructions also describe how to request correction of inaccurate information on an I-94 issued by USCIS. They call for the I-94, a dated and signed statement identifying the error, and evidence supporting the requested correction. Form I-102 lists a USCIS-issued I-94 with incorrect information under Part 2, Item 1.f.
The current USCIS fee schedule lists a $0 fee for a replacement caused by DHS error, while the general Form I-102 filing fee is $560. Check the current Form I-102 page and fee schedule before filing because editions, fees, and instructions can change.
Common H-1B I-94 Scenarios
CBP admitted the traveler as H-4 instead of H-1B. Because CBP created the incorrect admission record at entry, contact a deferred inspection site and provide the H-1B approval notice and other admission documents.
USCIS placed the wrong end date on the I-94 attached to Form I-797A. Start with the USCIS error-correction route and review Form I-102 because USCIS, rather than CBP, issued that I-94.
The I-94 ends on the passport-expiration date instead of the petition end date. Do not assume this is a clerical error. CBP may have limited the admission based on passport validity, and obtaining a new passport does not automatically change an existing I-94. Resolve the issue before the I-94 expires.
While the Correction Is Pending
- Keep the submission confirmation, agency correspondence, and reference number.
- Continue checking the CBP record or USCIS response; do not assume the record is corrected until you receive an updated I-94 or written confirmation.
- Notify the employer’s immigration or Form I-9 team if the incorrect class or date may affect employment records or reverification.
- Do not make work, travel, or filing decisions based on an assumed correction if the disputed date has passed or will expire soon.
Before You Close the Issue
- Obtain and save the corrected record or written agency response.
- Compare it with the approval notice and your next filing deadline.
- Give the corrected copy to your employer’s immigration team if it affects employment verification or a future petition.
- Check the record again after the next international trip; re-entry creates a new admission record.
Can a wrong I-94 end date wait until the next trip? Treat a potentially wrong or near-expiring date as time-sensitive. A later trip may create a new record, but it is not a reliable correction plan for the current one.
Can I change my I-94 online myself? The retrieval website lets you view and print a CBP record. It does not let you edit the admission details.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Admission history, passport validity, and pending filings can change the right step; consult a qualified immigration attorney for a case-specific review.