An I-94 is a record of arrival and departure issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when non-immigrants enter the United States with a valid visa. It confirms that the individual is legally entering the U.S. for a specific period and under a specific visa status.
Electronic I-94 Record
If the foreigner traveled to the United States by air or sea, they can usually access their I-94 Arrival/Departure Record electronically through the CBP I-94 website. If they are unable to find the electronic record, they should check their passport for a stamp. In certain cases, CBP may issue a physical I-94 stamp instead of an electronic record.
Paper I-94 Record
If the foreigner entered the US via land border ports of entry, they will likely receive a paper I-94 record from CBP. For those who arrived before May 2013 via air or sea, they may also have a paper I-94. The I-94 is a physical card, and the I-94 number, which is also known as the departure number, is usually located in the upper-left corner and consists of 11 digits.
If your relative is a Canadian visitor who entered the United States at a land border crossing, they may not have received an I-94 record. However, this is considered a lawful entry as long as they had a valid visa or parole at the time of entry, including under the Visa Waiver Program. If this is the case for your relative, you should provide all other information except for the I-94 number.