Inadvertent TN-1 Extension?

Hey all,

Have a curious situation that happened to me that I was wondering if anyone has had any similar experience. I am currently on a TN-1 working as a research associate in Wisconsin. As part of my research, I recently returned from our field site in Panama. I flew through Atlanta, and went through customs at the Atlanta airport.

My TN-1 visa is set to expire next month and I went through customs no problem returning from my trip. Here is where things get curious. The CBP agent stamped my passport with an entry stamp, and wrote that I was in TN status, but also that it was valid until April 20, 2010, even though my current TN-1 is set to expire next month. I have my HR people checking into it to see if maybe he had inadvertently extended my TN Visa (which would be great, saving a trip back to the border to get a new TN).

When I left, the agent then told me that he would "let it go this time", but that I would have to get a new I-94 the next time I come through customs.

Anyone have this happen to them, or know anything about the TN-1 passport stamp with the "valid until" date (maybe it's for travel)? This is the first time I've gotten a stamp with a validity date on it; normally I get a stamp with just the TN visa notation and the entry date.

It's the date on the I-94 that matters, what's in your passport isn't particularly relevant. In fact it's the date in your entry record that is the relevant one, but that should be the one on your I-94.