What to do with Valid I-94 after getting citizenship???

[nsr]

Hello Folks,

So in the next few days I will be Canadian citizen, but I still have valid I-94 in my current passport.

What should I do to return it?

1. Return to US officer while going to US on canadian passport?

2. Return to Canadian officer while getting back to Canada on Canadian passport?

3. Make a trip to border to return it on my current passport before obtaining Canadian passport but after getting Canadian citizenship?? However India doesn’t allow dual citizenship so don’t know if I can even use that passport after becoming Canadian citizenship.

Which option is better? I am located 20 mins away from border.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers!!

 

[rajmalhotra7]

Hello Folks,

So in the next few days I will be Canadian citizen, but I still have valid I-94 in my current passport.

What should I do to return it?

1. Return to US officer while going to US on canadian passport?

2. Return to Canadian officer while getting back to Canada on Canadian passport?

3. Make a trip to border to return it on my current passport before obtaining Canadian passport but after getting Canadian citizenship?? However India doesn’t allow dual citizenship so don’t know if I can even use that passport after becoming Canadian citizenship.

Which option is better? I am located 20 mins away from border.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers!!

If I were you, I'd keep it simple. Just cross the border for few hours, before Oath ceremony, on Indian passport and while returning to Canada return I-94 to Canadian officials.

 

[nsr]

If I were you, I'd keep it simple. Just cross the border for day trip, before Oath ceremony, on Indian passport and while returning to Canada return I-94 to Canadian officials.

Hey Raj thanks for your input. Actually this was my plan, but due to long weekend in USA lines are crazy since yesterday. 2-3 hours wait at border.

Any other option would you recommend?

 

[rajmalhotra7]

Hey Raj thanks for your input. Actually this was my plan, but due to long weekend in USA lines are crazy since yesterday. 2-3 hours wait at border.

Any other option would you recommend?

I noticed in tracker that you live in Surrey and your Oath is on May 29. If you can exercise this option and border wait times is an issue, then go in odd hours at night or after midnight and back in couple of hours. If asked at US border on your intention to visit USA then you can mention the true story of returning I-94 while returning to Canada and you gonna be Canadian in a day. Otherwise, before the expiry of I-94, visit USA on Canadian passport and go for secondary inspection to get information from US officials on how to return I-94. Carry your Indian passport as well. They may take it right there or advise you the procedure on returning it.

 

[nsr]

Thanks. Really appropriate that!!

 

[Bs65]

So much simpler to read here without going to any border.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/752/~/i-still-have-my-i-94

 

[Quink]

Anecdotally, sometimes if you don't return it you can just give it back to them next time you enter (even if it's long expired) and it's not usually a problem. They'll probably just ask you when you last left, so be ready with the details. Might not hurt to have some printouts of bank statements showing transactions in Canada, or payslips showing you were working, just in case you get a US border officer who's having a bad day.

That said, this is NOT the correct procedure, so you should not take my comment as saying it'll be fine. However I've never done anything about returning my I-94 and it's never been an issue.

BUT... full disclosure... I'm a white male, and with the way the US seems to have gone these days, I can't be sure if that's a factor as to why I've had no trouble. Which is really sad that I even need to mention it, because it should make no difference.

 

[homecanada]

As such you do not have to go and return your I-94. When you travel after citizenship just see if you can carry documents illustrating you left US within the validity of your I-94 in case you are being asked.

 

[Seadog]

As such you do not have to go and return your I-94. When you travel after citizenship just see if you can carry documents illustrating you left US within the validity of your I-94 in case you are being asked.

If you failed to turn in your I-94 Departure Record, please send it, along with any documentation that proves you left the United States. As of November 1, 2014, the address is:

Coleman Data Solutions

Box 7965

Akron, OH 44306

Attn: NIDPS (I-94)

USA

(If using U.S. Postal Service)

OR

Coleman Data Solutions

3043 Sanitarium Road, Suite 2

Akron, OH 44312

Attn: NIDPS (I-94)

(If using FedEx or UPS)



Do not mail your Form I-94 Departure Record or supporting information to any U.S. Consulate or Embassy, to any other CBP Office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to CBP records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future. Coleman Data Solutions does not answer correspondence, so please do not ask for confirmation that your record has been updated.

 

[vanheartyvr]

I am on the same boat! My I-94 expires in August and I did not have time to head to the States before. I will simply mail it to address above with letter explaining that I no longer need it and copy of my Canadian Citizenship Certificate. I don’t dare not returning it especially because I am a nexus holder. And I have been given crap before for crossong with an expired one “you have to return it, bla bla bla”

 

[nsr]

Thanks everyone for your inputs!!!

 

[Optimist22222]

Thanks everyone for your inputs!!!

You can return it to your local CBSA office if you do not plan to visit USA. This was what US Border officials told me when they found an expired I-94 in my passport.

 

[xylene]

You can return it at Pearson T3 arrivals. CBSA office.

 

[xylene]

You can return it at Pearson T3 arrivals. CBSA office.

IE if you live in the GTA. But since you are closer to the border .crossing the border might be easier.

 

[BC2013]

If you live close to the border, the simplest way is to just drop it off at your closest border crossing: walk into the CBSA office, and you will be able to return the I-94 while still on the Canadian side, provided it is still valid.

If it has already expired, CBSA officers will not take it, it would have to be returned to CBP officers directly. You don't even have to enter the US: walk across the border to the US office, and return the slip there (after thoroughly apologizing for not having returned it in time, of course). You can walk back to the Canadian side usually the same way you came, and explain to the CBSA officers that this is all you did. Since they cross-check each others records, they know that you have not entered the US. To be on the safe side, still take your PR card.

And be careful: although there is a record of you exiting the US (at a US-CA land crossing), the US authorities still consider it an "overstay" if you don't return the I-94 record before its expiry. Therefore, I woud not go this route if it can be avoided.