US CBP's 10-day warning emails: What foreign visitors need to know about their stay

Foreign visitors in the US may receive an email from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when they have 10 days or less remaining on their authorised stay. The notification is part of CBP’s Traveler Compliance Check system and is linked to the traveller’s I-94 record.

The reminder is meant to help visitors keep track of their permitted stay and leave the US before their authorised period ends. Travellers can also check their admission details and compliance information through the official I-94 website.

What the CBP 10-day warning means

The electronic I-94 record shows the date until which a foreign visitor is allowed to remain in the US. When the traveller reaches the final 10 days of that authorised period, CBP may send an email reminder.


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The current CBP guidance says travellers may receive an email indicating that they have 10 days or less remaining in their authorised period of admission. The notification is part of CBP’s compliance system.

Travellers can check their information online through the I-94 system and use the Traveler Compliance Check to review their status.

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The email should be treated as a reminder to check the authorised stay, rather than as an extension of the permitted period.

I-94 date is important for US visitors

Visitors should check the “admit until” date on their I-94 record after entering the US. This date shows how long CBP has allowed them to stay during that particular visit.

The date is different from the visa expiry date. A visa allows a foreign national to travel to a US port of entry and request admission, while CBP determines the authorised period of stay after entry.

This means a traveller with a visa that remains valid for several years still needs to leave the US by the date recorded on their I-94 for that visit.

What if the traveller has already left the US?

A traveller may sometimes receive a compliance notification even after leaving the country if their departure has not been correctly reflected in the I-94 system.

In such cases, travellers should check their I-94 travel history and keep documents that show when they left the US. These may include boarding passes and other travel records.

Travellers should not ignore an email suggesting that they have overstayed if they know they have already left the US. They should first check their I-94 record and take steps to correct any inaccurate information.

Why travellers should check their I-94

The 10-day notification is intended to make it easier for visitors to keep track of their authorised stay. CBP has made the compliance information available online so travellers can check their status rather than rely only on a reminder email.

People visiting US should therefore check their I-94 after arrival, note the authorised departure date and make sure they leave within the permitted period.

The CBP Traveler Compliance Check is part of the agency’s wider use of digital systems to help foreign visitors understand how much time they have remaining in the US.