I-130 Beneficiary’s Entry Information (Part 4, Items 45–46.d): I-94 and Class of Admission (2026)

A simple Yes or No about the immigrant spouse's whole life, not just this trip. "Yes" if they have ever set foot in the U.S., even a vacation a decade ago. The form directs you to fill in Items 46.a through 46.d only if the spouse is in the United States right now.

The category the spouse was admitted under, shown as a short code on their most recent I-94, such as B-2 (tourism), F-1 (student), or H-1B (specialty worker). Read it from the "Class of Admission" line of the I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov. For a Visa Waiver / ESTA entry it is WT or WB.

The 11-character number that identifies this specific entry (the form gives 11 boxes for it). It sits at the top of the I-94 printout as the "Admission (I-94) Record Number." The instructions note it is also called the Departure Number on some versions of the record.

The date of the spouse's most recent admission, listed as "Most Recent Date of Entry" on the I-94. Use the latest entry if they have come and gone more than once.

The "Admit Until Date" from the I-94: a calendar date for most visitors and workers, or the letters "D/S" (Duration of Status) for categories like F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors whose stay runs as long as they keep their status rather than to a fixed date.

Your spouse lives outside the United States

If the immigrant spouse lives outside the United States and is not here now, Item 45 is still answered honestly ("Yes" if they have ever visited, "No" if they never have), but Items 46.a through 46.d do not apply, because the form only asks for entry details "if the beneficiary is currently in the United States." The convention for a question that does not apply is "N/A." A spouse abroad who is going through consular processing (getting the immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy) is the most common version of this case.

You cannot locate the I-94

If the spouse was admitted but you cannot find the I-94, do not guess the number. The record is downloadable at i94.cbp.dhs.gov for entries by air or sea after 2013. Per the instructions, if you cannot obtain it from the CBP website, you can request one by filing Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Record. Land-border entries and older trips sometimes only have a paper I-94 stapled in the passport.

What do I put in Items 46.a-46.d if my spouse lives abroad?

Enter "N/A" in all four. The form asks for the class of admission, I-94 number, arrival date, and expiration of stay only "if the beneficiary is currently in the United States." A spouse who is outside the country does not complete them. Item 45 is still answered honestly: "Yes" if they have ever visited the U.S., "No" if they never have.

Where do I find my spouse's I-94 number and class of admission?

For entries by air or sea after 2013, download the most recent I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov using the spouse's passport details. The printout shows the 11-character I-94 number (the "Admission Record Number"), the class of admission, the most recent entry date, and the admit-until date, which map directly to Items 46.b, 46.a, 46.c, and 46.d. If it is not there, the instructions point to filing Form I-102 to obtain one.

My spouse entered on ESTA / the Visa Waiver Program. What is the class of admission?

WT for a tourism visit or WB for a business visit. A Visa Waiver Program entry still creates an I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov showing the WT or WB code. For Item 46.d, use the fixed admit-until date from that I-94, usually about 90 days after entry, not "D/S." Older visa waiver trips used a paper Form I-94W, and the number and dates transfer the same way.

When do I write "D/S" in Item 46.d?

Only when the I-94 shows "D/S" (Duration of Status), which is mainly for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and their dependents. Those categories are admitted for as long as they maintain status rather than to a set date, so Item 46.d says to type or print "D/S." Visitors and workers with a specific admit-until date use that date instead.

Does answering these questions affect whether the I-130 is approved?

On its own, the I-130 decides one thing: whether the marriage is real and qualifies. The entry block is factual and lets USCIS match the petition to its records. Questions about status and admissibility are weighed later, on the green card application (Form I-485) or at the consular interview, not on the I-130 itself. If the spouse overstayed, is out of status, or entered without inspection, have an immigration attorney review the case before you file.

My spouse entered the U.S. without being inspected and has no I-94. What do I write?

This page does not answer that. If the spouse was never inspected and admitted by an officer, there is no I-94 to copy, and how these fields are handled is a legal judgment with consequences that are hard to undo. Do not invent an I-94 number or entry date. Consult an immigration attorney before completing this block.