Pt 2: Updating your I-94 (with Global Entry for Indian Citizens)

Sruthi Samraj
3 min readMar 11, 2020

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This post is an account of my experience only. Please visit the official CBP and USCIS sites to take you through the actual processes.

This is a follow-up to my previous post on Global Entry & TSA for Indian Citizens, and a pre-cursor to the renewal process (in 2024).

Photo by Hanson Lu on Unsplash

There’s nothing more satisfying than being the first to hop off an international flight and breeze through immigration. In the 13 months that I have been enrolled in the Global Entry program, that pleasure has been even more immense, and saved me a few hours in total at various U.S. ports of entry — Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Miami (MIA), Seattle (SEA) and, even Toronto (YYZ).

In this time, my I-94, i.e. my Arrival/Departure record with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (learn more about it here) has always reflected the end-date of my most current U.S. visa of August 2020.

This month, February 2020, I had a new U.S. visa stamped, which extends my allowed stay in the U.S. on a valid visa until June 2022. This is, however, only reflected on my visa and NOT on my departure/arrival record. Here I describe my experience, and the process, of getting your I-94 record updated with your visa’s end-date.

How to get a new/updated I-94 through Global Entry after a visa stamping?

The fundamental thing to remember is that, getting your I-94 updated with new visa information is very similar to the Global Entry interview.

Documents required

  • Current passport
  • I-797 (approval notice): the most recent one which enabled you to get a new visa stamped
  • Stamped visa (in your passport)
  • Global Entry card OR Global Entry member ID

The Process

  1. On your flight to the US

Fill out a Customs/Immigration card handed to you on the flight

  • Normally, when you have active Global Entry, you will not need to do this, however, since you’re trying to get a new document updated, you will require an immigration card.
  • If you forget, no problem! The agent you meet with at the airport will give you a card to fill out.

2. On arrival at your U.S. Port of Entry

Go directly to a Customs/Border security agent in the Global Entry line

  • Skip the kiosks, but go to the line that leads Global Entry members towards a border security agent.
  • This is probably the same line (depends on the airport) that people with an X on their Global Entry slip are led to.

3. The Agent

Let the agent know that you just have a new visa stamped, and require to have your I-94 updated.

  • Tell them your Global Entry Member ID
  • Hand over documents as asked for
  • You will be fingerprinted, your customs form stamped, and your I-94 updated

And you’re free to proceed!

It’s a really really easy, and straightforward process that you will have to follow every time you get a new visa stamped.

Enjoy your Global Entry benefits!

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Sruthi Samraj

City-dweller, swimmer, logophile, expeditioner, metal/classical music junkie, tea snob & career-technologist