In addition to the Form I-94 standard requirements, the Form I-94W includes specific questions related to inadmissibility issues. If the applicant answers “yes” to any of the questions on the reverse side of the Form I-94W, the applicant should contact the United States Embassy/Consulate in his/her country to obtain a visa prior to travel. The applicant must sign and date the Form I-94W, which indicates agreement to waive his/her right to a hearing before an immigration judge, if found inadmissible.

After the successful completion of processing the applicant, a CBP officer stamps the applicant’s arrival and departure portions of the completed Form I-94W, the passport and the CBP Declaration, Form 6509B. The CBP officer retains the arrival portion of the Form I-94W and returns the departure portion of the Form I-94W and passport to the applicant.

The departure portion of the Form I-94W and passport is to be in the applicant’s possession at all times until the applicant departs the United States. If an applicant boards a commercial conveyance to depart the United States, the transportation carriers are:

• To remove the departure portion of the Form I-94W from the applicant's passport.
• Annotate the reverse of the departure portion of the Form I-94W with the facts of the applicant’s departure from the United States.
• Return the departure portion of the Form I-94W to the nearest CBP office.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your I-94/I-94W is turned in to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the end of your visit to the United States.

• If you are departing by air, please turn the I-94/I-94W into the airline prior to departure.
• If you are departing by sea, please turn the I-94/I-94W into the shipping line prior to departure.
• If you are departing by land and you will not be returning to the United States within 30 days, please turn the I-94/I-94W into the Canadian or Mexican authorities upon departure from the United States.

In general, if you have been admitted to the United States under most visa classifications if you take a short trip (30 days or less) to Canada or Mexico, you may retain your I-94/I-94W, so that when you resume your visit to the United States you are readmitted for the balance of the time remaining on your I-94/I-94W.

For those admitted as academic students or exchange visitors (F or J classifications), if you take a short trip (30 days or less) to Canada, Mexico, or the Adjacent Islands, you may retain your I-94 and your SEVIS form I-20 or SEVIS Form DS-2019, so when you resume your visit to the United States you are readmitted for the balance of the time required for you to complete your program.

Both 8 CFR 214.1 and 22 CFR 41.112 contain legal guidance on the procedures for the readmission of a traveler and automatic revalidation of a visa that has expired.

However, because each traveler’s individual circumstances may vary (such as your current status in the United States, foreign destination, and the nationality of the traveler); it is recommended that you contact CBP at the port of your departure and prior to your departure if you have any questions regarding these issues.