Date Stamps

When you arrive in the U.S., your immigration-related documents should be date-stamped by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in three places before you leave the entry area at the airport:

• In your passport
• On your Form DS-2019
• On your I-94 card

Here is an example of what the stamp will look like:

Please make sure you have the appropriate stamps before leaving the entry area; if the CBP officer does not stamp all three places, please kindly request them to do so. Also, below the date stamps the CBP officer should write "J-1" and "D/S." "D/S" stands for duration of status and refers to the dates on your current DS-2019.

Useful Information

• What to expect during arrival and what documents to have with you:
  http://www.ice.gov/sevis/factsheet/100104ent_exchng_fs.htm 
• More information on the I-94 card, including how to complete the card appropriately: 
  http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/filling_out_i94.xml 
  http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/arrival_departure_record.xml