CBP Announces Rule Implementing Paperless Form I-94

New system will streamline admission process but may lead to confusion for companies.

On March 21, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that a rule to automate the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record and eliminate the paper version of the form has been sent to the Federal Register for publication.¹ The new rule is expected to be published later this week and will go into effect 30 days following publication. Once the rule goes into effect, foreign nationals in a nonimmigrant status who need evidence of lawful admission or evidence of work authorization will need to obtain a hard copy of their Form I-94 here.²

According to the CBP, automation of Form I-94 "will increase efficiency and streamline the admission process." The new "paperless" form, however, may also lead to confusion for U.S. companies that employ foreign workers. The recently updated I-9 employment eligibility verification form and instructions do not address paperless Forms I-94, and