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INS TO REPLACE MEXICAN BORDER VISITOR'S PERMIT WITH ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE RECORD 
Effective April 1st, 1997, Mexican visitors to the US will use the Form I-94 Arrival and Departure Record (the form currently used by all nonimmigrant travelers who enter the US) instead of the current Form I-444 Mexican Border Visitor's Permit. Mexican visitors will now be able to remain in the US for up to six months and travel to any of the 50 states. Visitors will be able to use the form to re-enter the country at any point during the six-month period while the form is valid. The fee for each applicant for admission - including each member of a family traveling together - will now be $6 (an increase of $2 over the I-444). A brief interview with an inspecting officer is also required.
According to INS Commissioner Doris Meissner, "Eliminating the I-444 gives enhanced benefits to Mexicans wishing to visit our country. The ability of our Mexican neighbors to travel throughout the United States will be good for tourism and commerce. This will improve the service that we can provide for our visitors and reduce the amount of paperwork they must complete overall."
The INS states that the I-94 is better than the I-444 since I-94 data is tracked in the INS data tracking system. The I-444 is also easily altered and contains no information about the individual bearing it.
Since 1983, the I-444 has been used as an entry record along the US-Mexico border for Mexican nationals who hold the Nonresident Alien Border Crossing Card or nonimmigrant visas. The I-444 was needed for travel exceeding three days or for travel within California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico or Texas, beyond the 25-mile border area. In addition to the I-94, Mexicans must still present a Nonresident Alien Border Crossing Card or a valid unexpired passport with a valid non-immigrant visa to enter the US. Mexicans seeking to enter for less than three days or to travel within the 25-mile border area are not affected by the changes.
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