On January 5, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) kicked off two new “traveler compliance initiatives” aimed at assisting those travelers to the US on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

These newly added features to the I-94 website (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home) under the “View Compliance” tab, allows travelers to check the status of their admission to the United States. This check alerts travelers of the number of days remaining in their lawful period of admission or the number of days they have remained beyond that period.

In addition, CBP says it will now send an email notification to VWP travelers who are still in the United States 10 days before the expiration of their lawful admission period, aimed at preventing VWP travelers from overstaying.  Traveler compliance emails will be received from: Staycompliance-donotreply@cbp.dhs.gov.  CBP advised that if travelers receive any similar notification from any other address, to be aware of any “phishing scam or other fraudulent email.”

To check their admission dates, travelers will enter their biographic and passport information under the “View Compliance” tab on the I-94 website.  The date calculations will be made using the authorized period of admission date designated by a CBP officer when a traveler arrives in the country.  CBP also noted that the Form I-94 provides nonimmigrant visitors with evidence that they have been lawfully admitted to the United States, which is used to verify alien registration, immigration status, and benefits, such as employment authorization.

Cozen O’Connor continues to advise its clients traveling on the VWP to plan ahead in order to safeguard against any issues and for a timely and uneventful process when entering the US.