Refer to the following sections for policy and instructions on accepting the I-94 as evidence of an SSN applicant’s lawful alien status:

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  RM 10211.135, descriptions and exhibits of I-94s currently accepted;

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  RM 10211.050, when a citizen of a Compact of Free Association (CFA) nation submits an I-94;

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  RM 10211.055, when a citizen of a CFA nation enlists in the US armed forces;

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  RM 10211.185, when a refugee submits an I-94;

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  RM 10211.195, when a parolee submits an I-94;

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  RM 10211.207, when an asylee submits an I-94;

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  RM 10211.240, when an F1 student submits an I-94;

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  RM 10211.340, when a J1 or J2 visitor submits an I-94;

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  RM 10211.420, when the I-94 is evidence of work authorization;

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  RM 10211.075, when the I-94 has been impounded.

(Note:) Effective May 1, 2019, the eleven digit I-94 number will allow for an alpha character as the tenth digit. A sample alphanumeric I-94 number would look loke this: 000468151A1.

IMPORTANT: This subsection is solely for historical purposes.

In the 1990s through the early 2000s, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) pre-screened aliens who frequently traveled to the U.S. and issued INSPASS (INS Passenger Accelerated Service System) cards to those who could obtain a computer-generated I-94 upon arriving at designated U.S. airports. The alien went to an INSPASS machine rather than an immigration official. The alien would insert the INSPASS card in the machine, enter arrival and departure data from their airline ticket, and place their hand on the machine’s hand reader. The machine used the data on the INSPASS card along with verified airline data and the biometrics of the individual's hand to issue a computer-generated I-94.

The INSPASS I-94:

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  Was issued to frequent B-1, D-1, E-1, E-2, L-1, TC, TN, and WB travelers to facilitate their entry into the U.S.

  NOTE: The alien classification code is shown after the word “ADMITTED” on the right hand side of the form.

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  Did not have an admission stamp.

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  Had the admission/departure number in the upper left hand portion of the form.

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  Was issued only to citizens of Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

  NOTE: DHS may have designated additional countries as appropriate.

IMPORTANT: This subsection is solely for historical purposes. INS (now DHS) stopped issuing the onionskin I-94 and all previously issued I-94s are expired.

The thin, onionskin I-94 is the manifold copy of immigration Form I-213. The form:

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  Is issued to deportable aliens to keep until they leave the U.S.

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  May have stamped, typed, or written the notation: “UNDER DOCKET CONTROL”.

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  Has no admission number or alien classification shown.