May 23 2008

Customs and Border Protection Issued Misnumbered I-94 Cards at Ports of Entry in 2008

Customs and Border Protection (CBP), early this year, apparently received roughly 1 million I-94 Arrival-Departure cards that were missing the first digit. These misnumbered cards were used by CBP and issued to individuals arriving through various ports of entry into the U.S. The misprints on these cards have led to the Social Security Administration’s refusal or delay of issuance of social security numbers to applicants who would have otherwise been eligible to receive these numbers. CBP has publicly noted that the misnumbered cards have been recalled and replaced. According to CBP, the cards were issued by Canada’s Calgary Airport; however additional cards may have been issued at other ports of entry.

Individuals who have misnumbered I-94 cards can request a new card directly from CBP either through a Deferred Inspection Site or at a port of entry. If you received an I-94 card from a port of entry in 2008, we recommend you verify that your card is printed with an 11-digit number (and not a 10-digit misprinted number). The card should display 9 digits, followed by a dash and then two additional numbers.