Entering the U.S. and Your I-94

Who this is for: People with a Chinese passport entering the U.S. for the first time or again on a B1/B2 (tourism, family visits), F1/J1 (study, visiting scholar), H-1B or other nonimmigrant visa, and children arranging visits for their parents. Green card holders may also find the "phone searches" and "entry/exit photos" sections useful.

The short version: a visa only lets you ask to enter at a port of entry; whether you get in and how long you can stay are decided on the spot by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). After entering, always check your I-94 on the CBP website: your lawful stay ends on the Admit Until Date shown there, not on your visa's expiration date. Since October 2026, CBP no longer routinely stamps passports at entry, so the electronic I-94 is your main proof of admission.

1. Overview and timeline

Flow: Before leaving, check your passport, visa, EVUS, I-20 and so on → at check-in the airline checks your visa and EVUS → on arrival, primary inspection (photo, possibly fingerprints, brief questions; a few people are sent to secondary inspection) → collect your bags and go through customs → within 24–48 hours of entry, check your record on the I-94 website → leave by the Admit Until Date or apply for an extension before it

Rough timing:

• Primary inspection usually takes a few minutes; the line depends on the airport and flight peaks.
• Being sent to secondary inspection (nicknamed the "little black room") usually adds an hour or two, occasionally longer (see section 8).
• The electronic I-94 is usually on the website soon after entry.

2. Before you leave: what to bring

Everyone needs:

1. A valid passport (ideally valid for your whole stay with a cushion).
2. A valid U.S. visa (the visa can be in an old passport; carry both).
3. Chinese passport + 10-year B1/B2 visa: a valid EVUS enrollment, or the airline won't issue a boarding pass. EVUS is generally valid for 2 years or until your passport or visa expires, whichever is first, and you must re-enroll with a new passport. ⚠️ EVUS fee: charged since 2025-09-30, $30.75 from 2026-01-01, and $31.75 from 2026-10-16 per the Federal Register notice of 2026-10-01. See EVUS enrollment.

Carry with you (not in checked bags), by visa type:

In September 2025 the Chinese Consulate General in New York described a typical case: a student who went home for the holidays and forgot to update the I-20 was refused entry on return.

Items and cash:

• All agricultural items (meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, plants, soil and so on) must be declared. Declared items that aren't allowed can be surrendered on the spot; undeclared items found are seized and you may be fined. Instant-noodle seasoning packets containing meat and braised meat snacks are the most common items Chinese travelers get caught with.
• You must declare cash or monetary instruments totaling more than $10,000 (FinCEN 105). For a family traveling together, the combined amount counts, not $10,000 each.
• Don't carry items of unknown origin for others; check the rules in advance for biological research samples and medicines.

3. Primary inspection: what you'll be asked

1. The usual process

At the primary inspection booth you show your passport, the officer photographs you to verify identity (see the biometric rule in section 5), may take fingerprints, and asks a few questions. Most people are admitted in a few minutes. Since October 2026 officers generally no longer stamp passports; your admission is recorded in the electronic I-94.

2. Common questions (answer truthfully in simple English)

• What's the purpose of your visit?
• How long will you stay?
• Where will you stay?
• Who are you visiting? What does your son/daughter do?
• Do you have a return ticket?
• How much cash are you carrying?
• F1: Which school? What's your major? Who pays for your tuition?
• Returning students/workers: Where did you travel? What do you do?
• Parents on repeat visits: When was your last visit and how long did you stay?

Principles:

• Truthful, brief, consistent with your family members and your visa application (DS-160).
• If you don't understand, say "Sorry, could you repeat that?" or ask for an interpreter ("I need a Mandarin interpreter"). Don't guess.
• Don't make things up or hide anything. A false statement to CBP has far worse consequences than "saying the wrong thing" (it can be treated as fraud and lead to a permanent visa bar).

4. Will they search my phone or laptop?

The official rules (CBP Directive 3340-049B, January 2026 edition):

• Everyone and everything entering or leaving the U.S. (including phones, laptops, cameras and USB drives) can be inspected by CBP, without suspicion.
• There are two kinds of search:
  • Basic search: an officer looks through the device's content by hand and may record information related to immigration, customs or law enforcement;
  • Advanced search: connecting external equipment to copy or analyze content, which requires "reasonable suspicion" or a national security concern and approval by a senior manager.
• Before searching, the officer will ask you to turn off networking (airplane mode) or do it themselves; only content stored on the device is searched, and the officer cannot use your device to access data stored only in the cloud.
• Passwords: travelers must present devices in a condition that allows inspection. Devices that can't be searched because of passwords or encryption may be detained; for foreign nationals, refusing to cooperate can be considered in deciding admission.
• Information related to violations of law or to immigration and customs matters may be retained, generally for up to 15 years.
• CBP gives you a written tear sheet before the search.

Numbers (⚠️ will change): CBP reported processing more than 419 million travelers in fiscal year 2025 and searching the electronic devices of 55,318 international travelers (less than 0.01%), about 92% of them basic searches. But quarterly numbers are rising: 16,083, 16,266 and 19,732 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2026, up from about 11,000–12,000 per quarter in fiscal 2024.

Things Chinese travelers should know (from Chinese embassy/consulate warnings and public reports):

• In August 2025 the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. warned students to be careful about entering through Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, saying several Chinese students there were questioned for long periods, had electronic devices searched, and were sent back.
• In cases described by the Consulate General in New York, some students were refused entry because content on their devices didn't match their visa purpose (for example, an F1 student showing intent to work or immigrate); others were refused after arguing with officers or losing their temper.
• In public reports, other reasons for refusal included chat records showing paying an agent to write assignments (academic misconduct), an I-20 already terminated by the school, and a past loss of status followed by overstaying.

Our advice: don't delete or fake content to get in (that itself may be seen as dishonest), but before you travel make sure your status is in order (valid I-20, no unauthorized work, school emails dealt with). If searched, stay calm and cooperate truthfully; read anything you're asked to sign carefully, and you can ask for a copy.

5. Entry rules in 2025–2026 (follow official sources)

1. Photos at entry and exit: the biometric entry-exit final rule (effective 2025-12-26)

DHS published a final rule on October 27, 2025, effective December 26, 2025: CBP can require all non-U.S. citizens to be photographed on entry and exit, and photos are no longer exempt by age (previously under 14 and over 79 were exempt; age exemptions remain for fingerprints and other biometrics). It covers airports, land ports and seaports and removes exemptions for diplomats and most Canadians. The rule text mentions that some DHS records may be kept for up to 75 years; photos of U.S. citizens are deleted within 12 hours of verification. In practice: facial comparison replaces manual passport checks at entry booths and some boarding gates.

2. Alien registration (effective 2025-04-11, final rule 2026-06-29)

• The law: foreign nationals age 14 or older who stay in the U.S. 30 days or more and haven't registered must register and be fingerprinted (through the new online Form G-325R).
• Good news for most readers: people who entered on a visa and received an I-94 are already registered and don't need to file G-325R. Green card holders and people with an EAD are also already registered.
• But anyone 18 or older must carry proof of registration. You can carry a printed I-94 or open a page showing your I-94 on your phone. Violations can bring a fine of up to $5,000 or 30 days in jail.
• Registered people must report a new address to USCIS within 10 days of moving (AR-11, or change it in your online account). Students and workers living in the U.S. long term should make this a habit.

3. No more routine entry stamps (CBP announcement of 2026-10-01)

CBP announced on October 1, 2026 that entry stamps will no longer be routinely used at primary inspection. Stamps are used "where appropriate" only in secondary inspection, for immigrant visa entries, or when a traveler specifically asks. So:

• Check your I-94 after every entry and keep a PDF;
• From now on, banks, schools, driver's licenses and immigration applications will rely on the I-94 as proof of entry.

4. $30 I-94 fee at land borders (from 2025-09-30)

For entries from Canada or Mexico by land that require an I-94, the fee rose from $6 to $30 (unchanged in fiscal 2027). There is no separate I-94 fee when arriving by air or sea.

5. F1/J1 "D/S" replaced by fixed periods: currently on hold

DHS published a final rule on July 17, 2026 that would have stopped giving "D/S" to F and J entrants from September 15, 2026, replacing it with fixed dates (up to 4 years). But on September 14, 2026 a federal court in Massachusetts stayed the rule, and USCIS confirmed it will follow the previous rules until the court orders otherwise. As of 2026-10-14, F1/J1 entrants still receive D/S. DHS says it disagrees with the order and will implement the rule once the order is lifted. ⚠️ This could change at any time; see Maintaining F1 status.

6. The I-94: how to check it and how long you can stay

1. How to check

• Website: i94.cbp.dhs.gov → "Get Most Recent I-94." Enter your pinyin name as in the machine-readable zone at the bottom of your passport, date of birth, passport number and country (CHN); you can also scan your passport with CBP's official mobile app (CBP Link).
• "View Travel History" shows recent entries and exits (the I-94 FAQ says up to 10 years).
• If you can't find it: check the name spelling (enter all given names), the passport number (0 vs O, 1 vs I), and whether you used the passport you entered with; if still missing, submit a request through the CBP Information Center (help.cbp.gov).

2. How to read it

3. Rules on length of stay

• B1/B2: regulations limit each admission to at most 1 year; B-2 visitors are generally admitted for at least 6 months (exceptions need individual approval). In practice most B2 visitors get 6 months; forums have reports of officers saying "only one month" while the I-94 showed 6 months. The I-94 is what counts.
• To stay longer, file Form I-539 with USCIS before your I-94 expires; USCIS recommends filing at least 45 days ahead. Visitors who entered under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) cannot extend.
• Consequences of overstaying (official): staying past your I-94 date by even one day automatically voids your visa by law (INA 222(g)), and you'll need to apply again next time; unlawful presence of more than 180 days but less than 1 year bars a new visa for 3 years after you leave; 1 year or more, 10 years.
• Tip (official FAQ): with a valid I-94, a trip of 30 days or less to Canada or Mexico (and for F/J, adjacent islands) and back generally doesn't create a new I-94 and doesn't extend the original Admit Until Date.

4. If your I-94 is wrong

Misspelled name, wrong category, an obviously wrong date (for example F1 without D/S, or an H-1B date shorter than the approval): within 30 days, contact the nearest CBP Deferred Inspection office or submit through CBP's "Ask a Question" platform. Many offices accept corrections by email. I-94s issued by USCIS (attached to an I-797) must be corrected through USCIS.

5. Departure records

Airlines report air departures automatically; you don't hand in a form, and you can verify it later in Travel History. Land departures to Mexico may not be recorded; you can report them in CBP's official app and keep boarding passes and passport stamps as proof.

7. What Chinese travelers should know

1. EVUS is specific to Chinese passports with 10-year B visas; confirm it's valid before every trip (it expires after 2 years, and a new passport requires re-enrolling).
2. Choosing an airport: the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. issued warnings about Washington Dulles in 2024 and Houston in 2025. These are Chinese government safety warnings, not U.S. rules; use them for reference.
3. Electronic devices and social media: the U.S. has expanded social media vetting at the visa stage, and you may be asked about it at entry; make sure it's consistent with your DS-160 and interview.
4. The Chinese Embassy suggests that if you run into trouble at entry, you can try asking the officer to let you withdraw your application for admission; if allowed, this avoids a record of refused entry and removal. In public reports, Chinese students who were expeditiously removed were mostly told they could not return for 5 years.
5. Make your parents a bilingual card: write who they are visiting, the child's address and phone number, how long they'll stay, and "I need a Mandarin interpreter." Older parents who don't speak English can show it at entry and save a lot of trouble.
6. Visiting parents cannot work in the U.S., including paid babysitting or housework for others. B2 status covers family visits, tourism and medical treatment only.
7. Mooncakes, pork floss, sausages and braised meats are the foods most often caught. Anything containing meat or egg yolk generally can't be brought in; if unsure, declare it.
8. If you're treated unfairly: note the officer's information, keep copies of documents, file a complaint on the CBP website afterward, and contact the Chinese Embassy or consulates (consular protection numbers are in the official links).

8. What travelers report (since 2025)

Summaries of individual experiences from forums and public reports, not guarantees.

• Most people have no trouble. Parents on B2 family visits are most often asked "why are you here, how long, where are you staying"; with answers matching the itinerary and the child's address handy, they're usually through in a few minutes.
• "Pendulum" long stays are where problems start. Several 2025 posts reported parents who stayed five or six months each time, went home for a month or two and came back, being warned at entry or given shorter stays. Lawyers and experienced posters generally advise spending less time in the U.S. than in China.
• A common reason F1 students are sent to secondary is a SEVIS record problem (for example, separate SEVIS IDs from high school and college making the system show "terminated"), and most are admitted after verification (April 2026 post).
• The August 2025 back-to-school season was when the most Chinese students were reported refused entry, at Houston, Los Angeles and other airports; in reports, those refused were mostly asked questions unrelated to their studies and had their phones and group chats searched.
• H-1B holders returning may also have phones searched. A February 2026 post described a phone search during a connection in Detroit and being asked whether they had voted in the U.S. Registering or voting in federal elections as a non-citizen is a serious crime and can lead to refused entry or even removal; many new immigrants don't realize this.
• Green card holders repeatedly sent to secondary: some applied to DHS TRIP (the Traveler Redress Inquiry Program), got a redress number, entered it when booking, and found entry much smoother (March 2026 post).
• Check your I-94 the day you arrive. Many people only discover a mistake when opening a bank account, extending or filing taxes, when it's much harder to fix.

9. FAQ

1. If my visa is valid, am I guaranteed entry? No. A visa only lets you ask to enter; the CBP officer decides.

2. My visa is valid for 10 years. Can I stay until it expires? No. Each stay is limited to the Admit Until Date on your I-94. Your visa may expire while you're in the U.S.; as long as your I-94 is valid and you're in status, you're not unlawfully present, but you need a valid visa to come back after leaving.

3. There's no entry stamp in my passport after October 2026. Is that normal? Yes. CBP has stopped routine stamping; your proof of entry is the electronic I-94, which you can print from the website when needed.

4. The officer said I'd get one month, but my I-94 says 6 months. Which counts? The I-94. But if the officer warned you that you stay too long, plan shorter trips next time.

5. Do my visiting parents need to file G-325R alien registration? Generally no. People who entered on a visa with an I-94 are considered registered. Those 18 and older must carry proof of registration (a printed I-94 or the I-94 page on a phone).

6. Can I refuse to unlock my phone? You can refuse, but the device may be detained, and for foreign travelers this can be considered in deciding admission. U.S. citizens can't be refused entry for this, but their devices may also be detained.

7. How much cash do I need to declare? Over $10,000 combined (for the whole family). Declaring is not illegal; not declaring is the problem.

8. I can't find my I-94 online. What do I do? First check that your name, passport number and country match the passport you entered with exactly; if it's still missing, submit a request through the CBP Information Center or contact a Deferred Inspection office.

9. Do F1 students still get D/S on the I-94? Yes. The fixed-period rule was stayed by the court (2026-09-14), so D/S still applies; ⚠️ the appeal could change this, so watch your international student office's notices.

10. How long are entry/exit photos kept? The biometric rule text says some DHS records may be kept for up to 75 years; photos of U.S. citizens are deleted within 12 hours of verification.

Official links

• CBP: I-94 website (lookup, travel history, FAQ): https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/help
• CBP: Arrival/Departure Forms: I-94: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94
• CBP: ending routine entry stamps (2026-10-01): https://www.cbp.gov/document/bulletins/us-admission-stamp-elimination-during-primary-processing
• CBP: border search of electronic devices: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/cbp-search-authority/border-search-electronic-devices
• CBP Directive 3340-049B: https://www.cbp.gov/document/directives/cbp-directive-no-3340-049b-border-search-electronic-devices
• CBP: biometric entry/exit final rule news release: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/dhs-announces-final-rule-advance-biometric-entry/exit-program
• Federal Register: biometric entry/exit final rule (2025-10-27): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/27/2025-19655/collection-of-biometric-data-from-aliens-upon-entry-to-and-departure-from-the-united-states
• Federal Register: FY2027 I-94/ESTA/EVUS fee adjustments (2026-10-01): https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-10-01/html/2026-20185.htm
• CBP: EVUS FAQ: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/electronic-visa-update-system-evus/frequently-asked-questions
• CBP: declaring money: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/money-monetary-instruments
• CBP: bringing food and agricultural items: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/agricultural-items
• USCIS: alien registration requirement: https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration
• USCIS: I-539 extension/change of status (with the D/S stay notice): https://www.uscis.gov/i-539
• USAGov: I-94 explained: https://www.usa.gov/arrival-departure-record
• State Department: visa denials (including 3-year/10-year unlawful presence bars): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visa-denials.html
• Study in the States: the D/S fixed-period rule (stayed by the court; see the USCIS I-539 page): https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/2026/07/dhs-publishes-final-rule-establishing-a-fixed-time-period-of-admission-and-an-extension-of
• Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: caution about entering through Washington Dulles (2024-01-29): https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/lsxz/lstx/202401/t20240129_11234795.htm
• Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: caution about entering through Houston (2025-08-24): https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsfw/lsxz/lstx/202508/t20250824_11695037.htm
• Chinese Consulate General in New York: typical entry cases (2025-09-15): https://newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn/tzgg/202509/t20250916_11709001.htm

Related guides: B1/B2 step by step · EVUS enrollment · F1 student visa · Maintaining F1 status · 221(g) administrative processing · Glossary

Disclaimer: This guide is based on public information from CBP, USCIS, DHS, the State Department, the Federal Register and Chinese diplomatic missions in the U.S., and on public forum experiences. It is for reference only and is not legal advice. Admission is decided case by case by CBP officers, and policies, fees and court rulings can change at any time; follow the latest official information. If you are refused entry or have a status problem, talk to a qualified immigration attorney.