Does a U.S. citizen have any access to DHS records of entry?
I am a citizen of USA. I have returned to the country at least seven times in four years. When I enter from Mexico (or Peru via Mexico), no one has asked me for an I94. All other entries, I have been given one before arrival and asked for it after arrival. Once I lost it and was required to obtain and fill out another.
But their search pages claim there is no record of me.
Do they just throw them away? Where/how do they record our ins and outs? How do we obtain/view that? As I understand it, we have a legal right to view information kept about us. If that's true, access to it would be convenient if some other country accuses us of overstay.
Best Answer
As a US citizen, you do not have an I-94; those are only for non-citizens. You fill out a customs declaration form 6059B (or a simplified electronic equivalent if you use the APC kiosks, Global Entry, or Mobile Passport Control) when entering by air.
You can request various records that CBP has for on you by filing a Privacy Act request. Here's a news article detailing the types of information you'll get back.
EDIT: Couple of follow-ups to the article cited:
Pictures about "Does a U.S. citizen have any access to DHS records of entry?"
Can US citizens get travel history?
Apply for or Retrieve Form I-94, Request Travel History and Check Travel Compliance. International travelers visiting the United States can apply for or retrieve their I-94 admission number/record (which is proof of legal visitor status) as well as retrieve a limited travel history of their U.S. arrivals and departures ...Are immigration applications confidential?
Scope of ConfidentialityUSCIS cannot release any information relating to a protected person until the identity of the requestor of information is verified and that person's authorization to know or receive the protected information is verified.What information does Uscis have access to?
The service can even bring up photographs, biometrics, background check results, and "encounter information" from border agencies databases. USCIS is currently using the PCQS, according to an agency spokesman.How can I check my citizenship status?
How to Check U.S. Citizenship Application Status OnlineFive Mistakes NOT to Make at your Immigration Interview
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Ketut Subiyanto, Ketut Subiyanto, Uriel Mont, Karolina Grabowska