The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operate separate correction processes depending on which agency issued your document and what kind of error appears on it.
If USCIS issued a document with a clear typographical error—such as a misspelled name or incorrect date on an employment authorization document—you can submit a correction request through USCIS's Typographic Error e-Request service with no filing fee. If CBP issued your I-94 arrival-departure record with errors at the time of entry, you'll need to visit a deferred inspection site in person instead. The correction path you take depends on three factors: which agency issued the document, what type of document it is, and whether the error is a simple typographical mistake or a more complex data discrepancy. Understanding these distinctions will help you submit your correction to the right place and avoid delays.
Table of Contents
- USCIS Typographic Error Requests for Simple Mistakes
- Correcting I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Errors
- Correcting Errors Made by CBP at Entry
- Correcting Travel Document Errors
- When You Don't Pay a Filing Fee
- Frequently Asked Questions
USCIS Typographic Error Requests for Simple Mistakes
The fastest way to correct a clear typographical error on a USCIS-issued document is through the USCIS e-Request Typographic Error service. This online system handles errors like misspelled names, transposed digits in dates, or other obvious clerical mistakes made by USCIS during document issuance. According to USCIS, clear typographical errors submitted via e-Request require no supporting evidence and will be processed in approximately 30 days from the date your card reaches USCIS.
The 30-day timeline begins when your original document arrives at USCIS, so you'll need to mail or deliver the incorrect card to the agency as part of your request. Because USCIS made the error, no filing fee is required to correct it.
Correcting I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Errors
If your Form I-94, I-94W, or I-95 arrival-departure record contains errors, the process is different from a simple typographical correction. You will need to file Form I-102 with your original document, a signed and dated statement identifying the specific error, and supporting evidence that demonstrates the error.
USCIS will review all of this material to determine whether the error actually occurred and whether to issue a corrected document. However, an important distinction applies here: if U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), not USCIS, issued your I-94 with errors, do not file Form I-102. CBP issued your I-94 at the port of entry when you arrived in the United States, and CBP handles corrections through its own process.
Correcting Errors Made by CBP at Entry
If CBP issued your arrival-departure record with an error at the time of entry, you have two options. You can visit the nearest CBP port of entry or deferred inspection site in person to have the information corrected. CBP maintains over 70 deferred inspection sites across the United States and territories specifically for this purpose, and these sites will correct errors that occurred at the time of entry.
Alternatively, you can submit an Information Correction Form through CBP's own channels. The key rule to remember: USCIS cannot correct errors made by CBP at entry ports—the responsible agency must process the correction.
Correcting Travel Document Errors
If the error appears on a Form I-131 reentry permit or refugee travel document, a different process applies. Instead of submitting a correction request, you will need to file a new I-131 application and include an explanation of what information is incorrect, along with copies of corrective documentation. This differs from the I-94 Form I-102 process because travel documents are handled through the standard I-131 application pathway rather than through a dedicated error-correction form.
When You Don't Pay a Filing Fee
No filing fee is required when correcting a document if the error was caused by USCIS or the U.S. Postal Service, not by you. This applies to all replacement documents due to USCIS-made mistakes. If you caused the error or if the document is lost or damaged through no fault of USCIS, a standard filing fee will apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to correct a typographical error?
Clear typographical errors submitted via USCIS e-Request take approximately 30 days from the date your card reaches USCIS.
Do I have to pay to correct an error USCIS made?
What if I'm not sure whether USCIS or CBP issued my document?
Your I-94 was issued by CBP at your port of entry when you arrived. Most other USCIS documents (employment authorization cards, green cards, travel permits) were issued by USCIS and should be corrected through their e-Request system.
Can I correct an I-94 error by mail?
If USCIS issued the error, file Form I-102 with your original document and supporting evidence. If CBP issued the error at entry, visit a deferred inspection site in person.