What should I research before using I-102 for an arrival-departure document?
I-102 is associated with a new or replacement nonimmigrant I-94 or I-95 arrival-departure document. Start by identifying the record and the agency history. Replacement, online retrieval and correction are different tasks; none should be treated as an automatic extension of status.
Sources: Form I-102: replacement arrival and departure records · Checked October 25, 2026
What this guide covers
- Identify the missing or disputed record
- Separate retrieval, replacement and correction
- Keep document replacement separate from status analysis
- Prepare a focused records file
- Preserve the difference between travel and issuance dates
At a glance
- Name the record as I-94, I-95 or another document.
- Describe loss, retrieval failure or alleged error separately.
- Gather existing agency and travel records privately.
Use the current official form
Government forms are free to access from their owner. Check edition, fees and filing instructions directly.
Open the official form pageIdentify the missing or disputed record
Write down whether the issue is a lost document, a record that cannot be retrieved, or information believed to be incorrect. Those descriptions are not interchangeable. A visa foil, a passport entry stamp and an arrival-departure record serve different purposes, even when they relate to the same journey.
Preserve available travel records and the complete agency notices connected to the document. Record what is actually shown rather than reconstructing an admission date or classification from memory. An uncertainty in the file is a question to resolve, not permission to substitute a convenient answer.
Separate retrieval, replacement and correction
A person trying to obtain an existing electronic record may have a different task from someone seeking a replacement document through USCIS. An asserted error may involve the agency that created the relevant record. The current I-102 instructions and official agency resources should be read before selecting a route.
Keep document replacement separate from status analysis
A replacement request is not a general request to extend a stay, change classification or restore an expired permission. The meaning of an admission record can depend on the complete history and later actions. Do not treat a saved application copy as evidence that the underlying status issue has been resolved.
Prepare a focused records file
Index the passport, prior arrival-departure evidence, notices and a plain description of the problem. Distinguish event dates from document issue dates. This free organizer can help a reader ask a precise question of the agency or qualified adviser without submitting personal travel history to this site.
Preserve the difference between travel and issuance dates
The date a document was issued can differ from the journey or agency action it records. Put each date in its own field and attach the source. Where a scanned copy is incomplete, identify that limitation rather than inferring the missing information from another trip. A qualified reviewer can then distinguish a document-access problem from a question about the underlying admission history.
| Item | What it establishes | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Retrieval | Access to an existing record | Is the record available through its official system? |
| Replacement | A document request | Do I-102 instructions fit this situation? |
| Status question | Meaning of the complete immigration history | What later events or notices matter? |
Prepare your next questions
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Download the designed PDF checklist to mark on screen or print. Your selections on this page stay here.
Version: October 25, 2026.
Go to the source
Sources & verification
Follow the institution that owns the requirement and check its current instructions.
Common questions
Is I-102 the same as replacing a visa?
No. Its stated purpose concerns arrival-departure documentation, not issuing a visa foil.
Sources: Form I-102: replacement arrival and departure records
Does a replacement request extend my stay?
Do not assume so. Document replacement and permission to remain are separate issues.
Sources: Form I-102: replacement arrival and departure records
Should an incorrect record always be handled as a lost record?
No. Describe the problem accurately and research the appropriate agency correction or replacement instructions.
Sources: Form I-102: replacement arrival and departure records
Can the free checklist determine my admission period?
No. It organizes existing records and questions without interpreting an individual status history.
About this guide
By Immigrant Insider editorial desk. Updated .
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