Checking Your Status Made Easier: CBP VWP Website Update

On January 5th U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the implementation of new initiatives that will help to ease the application process for travelers using the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The program, that allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for a period of up to 90 days, facilitates travel to the US without submitting a visa application. VWP qualified countries include South Korea, France, New Zealand, and many others. The new initiative will provide more transparency regarding authorized status for VWP travelers already in the US.

Change

To facilitate an easier travel experience for VWP applicants, CBP will now provide applicants with access to check their status for admission to the US. Found under the “View Compliance” tab on the I-94 website, the new status feature allows travels to stay informed during their stay. The site provides the number of days a traveler has remaining through their visa program or displays the number of days a traveler remains in the US past their “admitted until” date. CBP additionally announced a new measure to electronically notify VWP travelers regarding an approaching expiration date. CBP will now send an email to VWP travelers, notifying them 10 days before the end of their lawful admission period. The new measures will ensure that VWP travelers do not accidentally overstay in the US

How Do I Check My Status?

Once on the I-94 website, users must provide their biographic and passport information under the “View Compliance” tab. The dates provided to travelers should be consistent with the number of days since approved entry minus the maximum 90 days allocated for VWP travelers. However, the admission timeframe will vary depending on the class of admission or visa type. If you have any questions about your VWP status, please feel free to contact our office.