TN Visa I-94 for Mexicans: Validity and Common Errors

As a Mexican TN worker in the U.S., the I-94 record is more than an entry record. It determines your authorized period of stay in the U.S.

There are often errors in the processing of an I-94 record, such as an incorrect date or status information. And even a small error can affect employment, travel, and future immigration applications. 

This TN visa I-94 guide will explain everything you need to know about the TN I-94 record, including what it is, how long it is valid, common I-94 errors for Mexican TN professionals, and how to fix them.

What Is Form I-94 for a Mexican TN Worker?

The I-94 form TN visa record is an arrival-departure record issued by the U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) to a Mexican TN professional at a port of entry when entering the United States.

The record includes information like the “Class of Admission” and an “Admit Until Date”. The “Class of Admission” would be “TN” for a Mexican TN worker.It serves as the official evidence that the individual is legally authorized to stay and work in the United States under the USMCA TN category. The “Admit Until Date” specifies the expiration of the individual’s authorized stay in the U.S.

An I-94 record used to be a paper document that the CBP officer would staple to your passport. Now, it is an electronic record you have to access and retrieve through the official CBP website.

TN Visa Stamp vs. I-94: Which Expiration Date Matters?

The I-94 TN visa record is different from the TN visa stamp that was placed in your passport at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in Mexico.

The TN visa stamp allows you to travel to the U.S. and request entry into the country, while the I-94 determines how long you are authorized to remain in the country when admitted.

The expiration date on the visa stamp is often different from the expiration date on the I-94 record. However, both expiration dates matter. One governs when you can enter the U.S., while the other governs how long you can stay.

• Visa stamp expiration date: You cannot seek entry into the U.S. after this date.
• I-94 expiration date: Once admitted into the U.S., you should not remain in the country after this date.

TN Visa Expired but I-94 Valid

When your TN visa expiration date comes before your I-94 expiration date, it can create a “TN visa expired, I-94 valid” scenario. This means your TN visa stamp has expired, but your I-94 is still valid.

Once you have been admitted into the U.S., your I-94 expiration, not your visa stamp expiration, governs how long you are authorized to stay in the country. As long as your I-94 record remains valid, you may continue to live and work in the U.S. even when your TN visa stamp has expired.

However, a “TN visa expired, I-94 valid” situation generally does not allow you to leave the U.S. and re-enter with the valid I-94. If you leave the U.S., you will generally need a valid visa stamp to re-enter, unless you qualify for the automatic visa revalidation exception.

Also read: Can You Travel on a TN visa: Travel Restrictions

I-94 Expires Before the TN Visa Stamp

You generally should not remain in the U.S. beyond the expiration of your I-94, even if your visa stamp is still valid. A valid visa stamp does not extend the expired period of authorized stay. Staying beyond I-94 expiration may accrue “unlawful presence,” which could lead to being barred from the U.S. for 3 – 10 years. A 3-year ban generally applies after more than 180 days of unlawful presence, while a 10-year ban generally applies after one year of unlawful presence.

However, if you timely filed Form I-129 with USCIS requesting an extension of stay before your I-94 expires, you may be allowed to remain in the U.S. to continue working for the same employer for up to 240 days while your extension application is pending. 

For this reason, it’s important to track the I-94 expiration date separately from your visa stamp expiration date and take action before it expires.

How TN I-94 Validity Is Determined

While the maximum possible period for TN status is three years, not every applicant receives that. A CBP officer may issue an I-94 with a shorter period of stay based on your application and supporting documentation.

Factors that affect their decisions include:

• The duration of your employment offer
• Your passport validity
• Any issues identified during the adjudication

I-94 Issued After Entry or Re-Entry

The CBP creates a new I-94 record every time a Mexican TN worker is admitted to the United States after travelling abroad.

The new record may have a different expiration date, so the record should be checked after every admission into the U.S.

I-94 Issued After a USCIS Extension

When the USCIS approves a TN visa extension filed from inside the U.S., it issues an approval notice (Form I-797A) with a new I-94 record attached. This new record replaces the previous I-94 for the approved period.

How to Find and Review a TN Visa I-94

To check your TN visa I-94 form, do this:

• Visit the official CBP I-94 website
• Click the “Get Most Recent I-94/I-95” tab
• Click “I Acknowledge and Agree” on the Terms of Service pop-up
• Enter traveler info (first name, last name, date of birth, country of citizenship, and passport number)
• Review your I-94 details

Since a new I-94 record is issued after each entry, Mexican TN workers should check their I-94 record after each entry to ensure that there are no errors. 

Here are important fields to check and why:

I-94 Field	What to Check	Why It Matters
Family Name and First (Given) Name	Confirm that your first name and family name in the record match your passport and other immigration documents.	Any error in your name can create issues when verifying your immigration record or applying for future benefits.
Passport Details	Check that your passport number and country of issuance are accurate	Since one’s I-94 is linked to their passport, incorrect details may cause problems during travel or future entries.
Class of Admission	Confirm that your classification is listed as TN.	This confirms that you are authorized to work under the TN classification
Date of Entry	Verify that the recorded entry date matches your latest arrival in the United States.	This helps confirm that your current I-94 corresponds to your most recent admission and travel history.
Admit Until Date	Check that your expiration date matches the period of stay you were granted.	This date determines how long you are authorized to remain and work in the U.S.

Common TN Visa I-94 Errors for Mexican Citizens

Errors may occur when CBP creates a new record or when information is transferred between travel and immigration systems.

Some of the most common TN visa I-94 errors for Mexican citizens are:

• Incorrect expiration date. The I-94’s expiration date is earlier than expected, shortening your authorized stay. 
• Admission limited to the visa stamp expiration date. The I-94’s expiration date matches the visa stamp expiration date even when your supporting documents justify a longer period of admission. This also shortens your period of admission.
• Incorrect class of admission. Your I-94 does not have “TN” as your class of admission. An incorrect classification can affect employment authorization and future renewals.
• Misspelled name or incorrect passport number. The name and passport number on your I-94 are not exactly as they are in your passport. This error can create problems when verifying your immigration records or applying for immigration benefits in the future.  
• Missing or inaccessible electronic record. Your I-94 record does not appear on the CBP website after entry. Without access to your I-94 TN visa record, it will be difficult to prove lawful admission and authorized stay.
• Different expiration dates for TN and TD family members. The expiration date on your I-94 record is different from the expiration date on the I-94 of your TD dependents. This error can make your family member lose lawful status before you.
• An old record appearing instead of the latest admission. The “Date of Entry” on your I-94 shows a previous admission date instead of your most recent one. This can create problems when completing employment verification.

How to Correct an Incorrect TN Visa I-94

How to correct an incorrect TN visa I-94 record depends on whether the I-94 was issued by CBP or USCIS. In either case, you may need the following documents: passport, visa stamp, employer letter, current I-94, approval notice, and entry records.

Correcting an I-94 Issued by CBP

If your I-94 was issued by CBP at a port of entry, you can correct errors in the record at a CBP Deferred Inspection Site. Visit the office as soon as possible with supporting documents. CBP officers will review your case. If they determine that an error was made during your admission, they may update the I-94 record without requiring you to file an application with USCIS.

Note: Deferred Inspection is for correcting CBP errors, not for extending your stay. If your I-94 is about to expire, Deferred Inspection cannot extend it.

Also, leaving the U.S. and re-entering is not a guaranteed way to correct I-94 errors. Since a new I-94 record is issued upon re-entry, there is no guarantee that  CBP will issue the I-94 you expect.

Correcting an I-94 Issued by USCIS

The 2002 memo from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) clarified the work activities When the I-94 was issued by the USCIS (such as if your TN visa was extended when inside the U.S.), you can correct errors in the record through the USCIS. Visit the USCIS customer service channel, provide evidence of the error, and request that USCIS correct the I-94 record. 

If the USCIS confirms the error, it may issue a corrected approval notice with an updated I-94.

I-94 Errors Affecting TD Dependents

Each dependent of a TN visa holder (called a TD dependent) is issued a separate I-94 record. This record should be reviewed after entry to ensure it is error-free.

TD status generally cannot be granted beyond the period given to the principal TN holder. Once the dependent relationship and the principal worker’s current TN status are established, CBP or USCIS should issue TD dependents with an I-94 with an authorized stay period that matches the principal TN holder’s I-94.

Documents that may help establish a dependent relationship and the principal worker’s current TN status include:

Proof of a dependent relationship	Proof of principal worker’s TN status
Original marriage certificate (for a spouse)Original birth certificates showing both parents’ names (for children)	Copy of TN holder’s I-94 recordTN worker’s employment confirmation letter or copies of recent pay stubs

However, there are often cases where a TD dependent receives a shorter period than the principal TN worker. This can make a TD-dependent lose status while their principal TN holder still has lawful status. 

For this reason, I-94 errors affecting TD dependents should be corrected immediately (via CBP Deferred Inspection site or a USCIS customer service channel).

What Can Happen If an I-94 Error Is Not Corrected?

An incorrect I-94 record that is not corrected can lead to problems that include:

• Premature expiration of authorized stay
• Loss of status for TD dependents
• Employment verification problems
• Unintentional overstay
• Complications during future travel or visa applications

What to Do Before the I-94 Expires

Because the I-94 determines how long you can live and work in the United States, you should consider the following steps before your I-94 expires.

• heck the current “Admit Until Date”: To know the exact date your authorized stay ends.
• Compare it with employment and passport dates: To confirm that your authorized stay period aligns with your employment duration and passport validity. And to identify potential issues early. 
• Correct any errors promptly: So that the incorrect I-94 does not affect your employment authorization, lawful status, or future immigration applications.
• Discuss an extension or departure before expiration: Before your I-94 expires, take steps to renew your TN status or plan to leave the U.S. to avoid losing your authorized status and accruing unlawful presence.
• Save copies of the current record and supporting documents: This gives you proof of your legal admission and TN status for employment verification and future immigration processes.

Need TN extension because your I-94 is expiring? Being guided by experienced immigration professionals, like TN Visa Expert, can increase your chances of success.

Frequently Asked Questions