My departure record was not collected when I left the USA. Is this a problem?
I came to the USA on a B1/B2 visa and left as planned after three weeks. I tried to hand in the DHS Departure Record to the officer at the airport passport control but he was not interested. I still have it now. I heard that when people leave with a commercial airline, the departure is recorded automatically. Can I be sure of this and that I will not have problems with the immigration officials in the future?
Best Answer
Per the CBP website, short-term visitors (< 30 days) can retain their I-94 departure record for subsequent visits. As such, most countries are straying away from paper documents for their fallibility, and moving to electronic record keeping for border entry and exit - for visitors and citizens alike.
Further clarification from the website -
In general, if you have been admitted to the United States under most visa classifications if you take a short trip (30 days or less) to Canada or Mexico, you may retain your I-94/I-94W, so that when you resume your visit to the United States you are readmitted for the balance of the time remaining on your I-94/I-94W.
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How does US immigration know when you leave?
By Plane or Cruise ship they know when you left and when you arrived by the ship's manifest and electronic information from security checks on your passport and boarding pass. They know this on everyone including citizens.Can I check my international travel history?
To view your U.S. travel history, go to the CBP website and click on the \u201cView Travel History\u201d tab. In the next window, you will be required to read and accept terms of the website by clicking "Consent & Continue". You will need to provide: First (Given) Name \u2013 as it appears on the passport/visa.Why is my I-94 travel history not found?
If you can't find your I-94 record, you may be able to search for it on CBP's website or obtain it by filing Form I-102 or a FOIA request. If none of those options work, you can also try proving lawful entry through affidavits and other evidence such as plane tickets.How long does CBP keep records?
7. How long will CBP store my PNR data? PNR data derived from flights to, from, or through the United States will be kept by CBP for a period of five years in an active status.What should you do if your I-94 record is not showing up online?
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Answer 2
Same happened to me earlier this year. As far as i know this is a multi entry card, went to Mexico for a short trip and nobody at the border asked me for it.
Rest assured, they have your records on file and also know where and when you board a plane - even outside the US.
Answer 3
I am not sure how it works when you leave the US on a commercial airline, but to answer the general question: Yes, that could be a problem.
When leaving the U.S. for Mexico you may forget about the departure card. In Tijuana for example you just go through a revolving gate with no US or Mexican border officials anywhere in sight.
I was on my way to Argentina, so I had no intention to come back to the US anytime soon. After finding some Mexican officials to get my entry stamp I walked back over the freeway to the other side to the area where you enter the US from Mexico. I called a US border official to the fence and handed him my departure record. He asked whether I would come back to the US and then took it. I asked him what would have happened if I hadn't give it back to him.
He explained: As the US had no record of me leaving the country, after the 90 days I would have been considered an illegal alien living in the US. It would be on record and the next time I would enter the US I could be in trouble and could be refused entry.
Later one in Mexico I met several people who also crossed over from the US and did not give back their departure record at the border. I convinced them to hand in their card at the next US consulate.
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