The fact that the information contained in the I-94 Card is entered into a central government database to verify your identity for Social Security Number – SSN and Driver’s License Applications make its process of completing very important. Normally, the flight attendant will distribute U.S. Customs and Border Protection forms to all of you that are on board of that flight prior to your landing and this form must be completed carefully because any error on the form can cause you many months of delay in the application.
Even though form I-94 card is said to be difficult to fill out, you can still fill out the form without making mistakes. Identified below are some tips on how you can fill out form I-94 card without committing errors that can cause you many months of delay before your application can be approved.
1. With a letter in each of the space provided, print neatly and clearly in CAPITAL letters.
2. Avoid the use of hyphens when filling out your I-94 card. E.g. write Jim-Smith as Jim Smith
3. Write exactly what is on your F-1/J-1 visa stamp in the passport and follow the precise current letter order of your multiple names or names, even if it will require you leaving out the remaining letters. Be aware that it may not be possible to write all names completely, especially if you have a very long name or multiple first or family names with the limited spaces per name category on the I-94 Departure/Arrival Card. See how you can abbreviate names to fit I-94 space limit below:
For Long Single Names
Family Name: Johnsmithjonathandivine
First Name: Aravindanatamtab
I-94 Card image
Match your multiple name order to what is on your F-1 visa stamp
Family Name: Rodriguest Pentagon Martinez
First Name: Alexander John
I-94 Card image
How to Fill out I-94 Card with First Name Unknown (FNU)
Both a family name as well as first name is required to generate a U.S. visa stamp by the U.S. Embassies and Consulates. A number of students will be given First Name Unknown in the first name field with their entire name in the family name field. The two categories of these students are:
1. Students with one name only without family name
If you are in this category of people, fill out your I-94 Departure/Arrival Card just as it is shown on the U.S. visa stamp including the use of FNU for first name and follow the same letter order of the names even if there are others left unwritten at the end.
Example: Family Name: AlendanderSantos First Name: FNU
2. Person with a Family Name but don’t have family name on their original passport page on a separate page line at the time of visa application.
All you need to do if you fall into this category is to complete your I-94 Card with your actual first name and your actual family name on the two separate lines provided on the form. Do not enter FNU for your first name. It is equally suggested that you update and amend your passport page as soon as possible so that it will reflect separate first and family names.
