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by swagempire 920 days ago
Really? Which ones?

Even if I get an e-visa, I get an in and out stamp. Not having these would invalidate the whole reason for having a passport.

10 comments

So many, really. It seems to depend on the agent. I’ve passed through US customs and not gotten stamped.

Israel famously does not. They’ll give you a small slip with your details on it. I was told that an Israeli stamp on your passport would automatically bar you from entry in many Arab states so they came up with another system

Also pretty much anytime I have entered the UK via the global entry lanes I never got stamped.

Canada same way. Really Anywhere moving to e-gates or kiosks where you just hand a print out to an agent.
Travel within the shengen zone is a one, you may get entry and exit stamps, but if you travel Germany and France there is no record.
so..... if that is not recorded by the government themselves why do they expect you to record them?
If they’re applying for a visa or citizenship there’s likely requirements that you must have spent X% per year in the country and not abroad, even if it’s inside the schengen zone (or similar). Asking for the exact dates of your travel outside the country is likely the best way to do that
still my question remains, so what you give 8 days instead of actually really 12 days spent inside a country. will that affect your application?
There’s a threshold, you need to have been physically present in the US for 50% of the days of the year requirements.

For example if you’re applying for citizenship based on the 5 year rule, then you must’ve been physically present for at least 30 months (913 days to be exact) in those 5 years prior to your application. 18 months (548 days) if you’re applying based on the 3 year rule as a spouse of a US citizen.

So 8 days instead of 12 can mean it’s no big deal or it can mean you’re not eligible if those 4 days make or break your required amount of days physically present in the US.

It’s one of those silly things the government already knows but wants you report anyways.

While the US doesn’t do a passport check before leaving via the airport, airlines automatically send over departure information to CBP, that’s how they are able to show this information in the I-94 on the website.

Obviously entry is also recorded.

I suppose it’s a way to make it easier to filter out ineligible people at the beginning of processing applications without having to delve into the records to verify and in part to see if you’re honest.

Also, it’s possible to leave the country on an unreported date, for example, if you sail across the atlantic.
I just checked my passport and there are zero stamps for US border entries or exits in the last five years.
As a German, you do not even need a passport to travel to a bunch of places.. turkey, tunesia, agypt, Monaco

Then there is the whole topic of oversee territorys... Not sure if those count as international territory but also no passport required..

Hong Kong provides you with a small paper slip rather than a passport stamp
I’ve had this happen leaving the EU earlier in the year. It was either AMS or CDG airport where I didn’t get a stamp. Hadn't noticed until I got home.
Japan from the US, and also Guam (US territory, I know)
USA to New Zealand last winter nobody stamped anything.
USA to Scotland I didn't get a stamp!
> Really? Which ones?

the US (ESTA).