How to Request Your CBP Travel History and TECS Records (I-94 vs FOIA)

Two ways to see what US Customs and Border Protection holds about your travel: the free I-94 travel history lookup and a FOIA/Privacy Act request for TECS records. Steps, timelines and what comes back.

Short answer: for a quick list of your US entries and exits, use CBP's free I-94 website, which shows up to about ten years of travel history for non-citizens. For the fuller record, including TECS entries, secondary inspection notes and border encounters, file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with CBP through the DHS online FOIA portal. Expect a wait of months and some redactions.

Option 1: the I-94 travel history lookup

CBP's I-94 site lets you enter your passport details and see your most recent I-94 and a travel history of arrivals and departures. It is designed mainly for visitors and green card holders. US citizens often find their own history is incomplete there. It is useful for visa and naturalisation paperwork but does not show inspection notes.

Option 2: FOIA request for TECS records

TECS is the CBP system that records border crossings, lookouts and inspection information. CBP describes it in a published System of Records Notice. US citizens and permanent residents can request their own records under FOIA and the Privacy Act.

Go to the DHS FOIA portal (SecureRelease) and choose U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Describe the records: "All TECS records, including border crossing records, secondary inspection records and any notes, concerning me from [year] to present."
Give your full name, date of birth, passport numbers (current and past), and the ports of entry and approximate dates you remember.
Verify identity. A signed statement under penalty of perjury (DHS Form 590 or equivalent) is commonly required for Privacy Act access; check the current form on the portal.
Request a fee waiver or agree to a fee cap. Most individuals requesting their own records pay little or nothing.
Keep the tracking number and check status.

What you might get back

A list of crossings with dates, ports and inspecting officer codes.
Records of secondary inspection and the reason category, sometimes redacted.
Notes about device searches, if recorded.
Redactions citing FOIA law-enforcement exemptions, especially around watchlist or lookout information.

Timelines

CBP has historically had large FOIA backlogs. Simple requests can take weeks; complex ones can take many months. If CBP misses statutory deadlines, you can file an administrative appeal or contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) for mediation.

If you keep getting pulled into secondary

A FOIA request shows what is recorded but will not fix it. For repeated screening problems, file a DHS TRIP inquiry; our guide on how to find out if you are on a watchlist explains the redress number process.

Travel often between the US and Jamaica? Keeping your documents in order helps too: HowJamaica's document concierge handles Jamaican birth certificates, TRN and related paperwork for people overseas.

Related records requests

CBP is one piece. See also how to request your own FBI file and our COINTELPRO documents guide.

Sources

CBP I-94 website: i94.cbp.dhs.gov
CBP FOIA page: cbp.gov
DHS TECS System of Records Notice: dhs.gov
Office of Government Information Services: archives.gov/ogis

Frequently asked questions

How do I get my travel history from CBP?

Use the free I-94 website for a basic arrival and departure history, or file a FOIA request with CBP for full TECS records.

Can US citizens see their travel history on the I-94 site?

The site is designed for non-citizens and citizens' histories are often incomplete. A FOIA request is the better route for citizens.

How long does a CBP FOIA request take?

It varies from weeks to many months depending on complexity and backlog.

Does a CBP FOIA cost money?

Individuals requesting their own records usually pay little or nothing, and you can request a fee waiver or set a fee cap.