Have We Done Something Horrible

[meme]

So when we arrived in the US we filled out an arrival slip and departure slip. We were there for 5 days (thai hubby has 10 year multiple entry tourist visa), on the plane on the way to Canada we realized we never gave the departure slip to anyone. On the back of the slip it says that failure to give the slip to the airline will make it very difficult to enter the states again.

Anyone have experience with this?

They never asked us for one either!

[Krub]

So when we arrived in the US we filled out an arrival slip and departure slip. We were there for 5 days (thai hubby has 10 year multiple entry tourist visa), on the plane on the way to Canada we realized we never gave the departure slip to anyone. On the back of the slip it says that failure to give the slip to the airline will make it very difficult to enter the states again.

Anyone have experience with this?

They never asked us for one either!

It is the airline's responsibility to collect the slips on flights going out of the USA.

I would contact the airline if at all possible

In any cases keep all documents boarding passes, etc. ready to show in case there is a problem next time he tries to enter the US

I suppose he has entry stamps into Canada and back into Thailand which should be sufficient to prove he left the US within the validity of his entry stamp

Don't think it will be any problems those slips get lost very easily by the airlines on which you can put the blame later on........

[ubonjoe]

The airline did not have to ask for it or submit your I-94 the USCIS.

(2) Exceptions . The form I-94 requirement of paragraph (1) of this paragraph ( does not apply to United States citizens, lawful permanent residents of the United States, or passengers in transit through the United States; nor does it apply to a vessel or aircraft departing on a trip directly for and terminating in Canada or departing from the United States Virgin Islands directly to the British Virgin Islands on a trip terminating there.

Source: http://www.uscis.gov/propub/ProPubVAP.jsp?...3f4ad64241f03fc

So it's not your or his fault. If he is has an arrival stamp for Canada in his passport he should not have a problem when he travels to the US again. It might slow things down a little until he explains and they see some proof. But chances are they won't even notice.

Edited December 11, 2008 by ubonjoe

[meme]

Thank you for the replies, What does the airline do once they recieve the slip? Do they mail it to somewhere to show we have left the country?

[ubonjoe]

From what I read on the link I gave they submit a passenger manifest with info from the I-94 to USCIS. I think it is all done within their computer systems.

[taxout]

But the USCIS regulations cited above also provide that

"A non-immigrant alien departing on an aircraft proceeding directly to Canada on a flight terminating in that country must surrender any Form I-94 in his/her possession to the airline agent at the port of departure."

You do need to hand in that I-94 to avoid problems in the future. The website of the US Embassy in London has a page explaining the procedure.

"If you have left the United States and are still in possession of the I-94 or I-94W it is in your best interest to forward it to the appropriate authorities so that your record is corrected and that you do not experience any problems on future travel to the United States as a result.

"It is very important that you complete the back of the card listing the port of departure and date of departure from the United States and the carrier/flight information. The I-94 or I-94W together with a letter of explanation and evidence of your departure from the U.S. should be sent to:

DHS-CBP SBU, 1084 South Laurel Road

London, Kentucky 40744

USA"

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/dhs/cbp/i94.html

[meme]

But the USCIS regulations cited above also provide that

"A non-immigrant alien departing on an aircraft proceeding directly to Canada on a flight terminating in that country must surrender any Form I-94 in his/her possession to the airline agent at the port of departure."

You do need to hand in that I-94 to avoid problems in the future. The website of the US Embassy in London has a page explaining the procedure.

"If you have left the United States and are still in possession of the I-94 or I-94W it is in your best interest to forward it to the appropriate authorities so that your record is corrected and that you do not experience any problems on future travel to the United States as a result.

"It is very important that you complete the back of the card listing the port of departure and date of departure from the United States and the carrier/flight information. The I-94 or I-94W together with a letter of explanation and evidence of your departure from the U.S. should be sent to:

DHS-CBP SBU, 1084 South Laurel Road

London, Kentucky 40744

USA"

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/dhs/cbp/i94.html

Wow, OK well who should I contact? An American embassy in Canada?

[taxout]

Please read the link!. It's all there.

"Do not mail the I-94/I-94W to the Embassy. Doing so will only delay the update of the departure information. "

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/dhs/cbp/i94.html

[meme]

Please read the link!. It's all there.

"Do not mail the I-94/I-94W to the Embassy. Doing so will only delay the update of the departure information. "

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/dhs/cbp/i94.html

perfect! Just what I needed. Cheers.

[Maizefarmer]

Wouldn;t worry about ...... hang onto the card and next time you go back, if there's a problem because of this, then produce it, but my guess is it happens hundreds of times a day - from folks loosing them, the airlines getting their admin messed up - you're defineatly not the only person whose exit details are not complete for some reason or other.

[LTGTR]

It IS the responsibility the airline to collect the I-94.Just keep it and all supporting docs and you'll be fine.

Recently retired from what is now the largest airline in the world,Delta,after 32 years in airport customer service.

[BigSnake]

Not to worry just an HONEST Mistake, let them know what happen and all will be forgiven.

[NanLaew]

Dear meme,

A lot of west coast airports have automated INS kiosks in the departure hall where the onus is on the departing non-resident to swipe their passport and complete Immigration departure formalities automatically. They used to have some staff hovering around the machines a few years back but it was all very low-key and on the last few trips, I didn't see anyone using or attending them.

I departed SFO almost 18 months ago without swiping the passport OR surrendering the I-94 stub to the airline gate staff. I have entered and departed the US 4 times since then without any problems so I reckon your hubby's errant I-94 stub isn't going to cause any alarm bells.

(I think the US INS computers are still trying to identify the 9/11 bombers.)

Edited December 14, 2008 by NanLaew

[Thanyaburi Mac]

So when we arrived in the US we filled out an arrival slip and departure slip. We were there for 5 days (thai hubby has 10 year multiple entry tourist visa), on the plane on the way to Canada we realized we never gave the departure slip to anyone. On the back of the slip it says that failure to give the slip to the airline will make it very difficult to enter the states again.

Anyone have experience with this?

They never asked us for one either!

Meme

NOT a LARGE problem, not.

Make a copy of the I-94 for your files, then read below. A friend of mine here did the same thing and a bit of googling turned up this info.

Mac

Returning I-94

Following from the old INS, now CBP at the borders:

http://tinyurl.com/2n5hpm

How to record departure from the United States after the fact.

Question

I did not turn in my I-94 when I left the U.S., what should I do?

Answer

If you returned home with your Department of Homeland Security Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) Departure Record in your passport, it means that your departure was not recorded properly. It is your responsibility to correct this record. You must provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sufficient information so we can record your timely departure from the United States. This will close out your earlier record of arrival to this country.

If you do not validate a timely departure from the United States, or, if you cannot reasonably prove otherwise when you apply for admission to the U.S. in the future, CBP may conclude you remained in the U.S. beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, the next time you apply to enter the U.S. your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin.

In particular, visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the United States under the Visa Waiver Program cannot reenter the U.S. in the future without obtaining a visa from a U.S. Consulate. If this occurs and you arrive at a U.S. port-of-entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa, CBP Officers may order your immediate return to a foreign point of origin.

If you failed to turn in your I-94 Departure Record, please send it, along with any documentation that proves you left the United States to:

ACS - CBP SBU

1084 South Laurel Road

London, KY 40744

Do not mail your Form I-94 Departure Record or supporting information to any U.S. Consulate or Embassy, to any other CBP office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to CBP records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future.

To validate departure, CBP will consider a variety of information, including but not limited to:

Original boarding passes you used to depart the United States;

Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the United States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph); and

Photocopies of other supporting evidence, such as:

Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you worked in another country after you departed the United States,

Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States,

School records showing attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States, and

Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the United States.

To assist us in understanding the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an explanation letter in English. Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above. You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. CBP cannot return original materials after processing.

We strongly urge you to keep a copy of what you send to ACS-CBP and carry it with you the next time you come to the United States in case the CBP officer has any questions about your eligibility to enter.

If taking short trips (30 days or less) to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands during the course of your visit to the U.S., hold onto your I-94 or I-94 (W). It should only be turned in when you leave the U.S. to return home.

Delays beyond the traveler's control, such as cancelled or delayed flights, medical emergencies requiring a doctor's care, etc. are not considered unauthorized overstays, however, you will need to bring proof of the cause of your overstay next time you travel to the U.S. in order for it to be forgiven. For airline delays, ask the airline for a letter affirming the delay or a copy of your cancelled boarding pass.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

http://norway.usembassy.gov/embassy/consul...8a5fcdd4257ee28

Returning the I-94 or I-94W Form

Is there a green or white card stapled to your passport?

Failure to turn in your I-94 or I-94W when you leave the U.S. can create a serious problem. Without this record of your departure, you will be identified in U.S. records as an "overstay." Being identified as an overstay means that you will be denied re-entry into the U.S.

If you failed to turn in your I-94 or I-94W, please send it, along with any documentation that proves you left the U.S., to the following address:

ACS Inc.

1084 South Laurel Rd.

London Kentucky 40744

USA

Documentation to prove your departure can include the boarding pass from your flight. If you exited the country by a land border it is much harder to verify that you did, in fact, leave the country on the date you claim. If you have any documentation of your arrival in your home country ( i.e. passport stamp), then you should send a copy of that. If the above office does not have any supporting documents to substantiate your claim to have left the U.S. on a certain date, there is no guarantee that you will be entered into the record as having done so.

We strongly urge you to keep a copy of what you send to ACS Inc. and to carry it with you the next time you come to the U.S. in case the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer has any questions about your eligibility to enter.

If you want to confirm that your I-94 or I-94W was received by ACS, please give them 4 months to process the paperwork. Then you can write the following address to determine whether or not your departure was recorded. If you turned in the I-94 or I-94W when you left the U.S. as required, please do NOT request confirmation that it is on file. This process is only for people who did not turn in the I-94 or I-94W when they exited the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Air Sea Passenger Operations

Room 5.4D

1300 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington D.C. 20229

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-i94.html

PRESS RELEASE

How to Record Departure from the United States After You Have Already Left

(日本語)

January 10, 2003

Most foreigners going temporarily to the United States (Non-Immigrant Visa or Visa Waiver Program) are required to fill in and submit Arrival-Departure Record Form I-94 to the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) upon entering, and return it to BCIS when departing the U.S. This is to record legal entry and timely departure.

If you returned home with your I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) in your passport, it means that your departure was not recorded properly. It is your responsibility to correct this record. You must provide the BCIS sufficient information so we can record your timely departure from the U. S.

If you do not validate a timely departure from the U. S., or if you cannot reasonably prove otherwise when you next apply for admission to the U. S., the BCIS may conclude you remained in the U. S. beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, the next time you apply to enter the U. S., your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin.

In particular, visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the U. S. under the Visa Waiver Program cannot reenter the U. S. in the future without obtaining a visa from a U. S. Consulate.

To validate departure, the BCIS will consider a variety of information, including, but not limited to:

Original boarding passes you used to depart the U. S.

Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the U. S. (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph.), and

Photocopies of other supporting evidence, such as:

Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you worked in another country after you departed the United States

Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States

School records showing attendance at a school outside the U. S. to indicate you were in another country after you left the U. S.

Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the U. S. to indicate you were in another country after leaving the U. S.

Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above.

You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. The BCIS cannot return original materials after processing. To help us understand the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an explanation letter in English. You must send your letter and enclosed information only to the following address:

ACS - BCIS SBU

P.O. Box 7125

London, KY 40742-7125

USA

NOTE: Do not mail your departure Form I-94 or supporting information to any United States Consulate or Embassy, to any other BCIS office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to BCIS records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

--

Give a man a beer and he wastes an hour; teach a man to brew, and he wastes a lifetime.

[johnh101]

FWIW

I did the same a few years ago and there was no problem next time I went in to the US.

I asked about this and basically I was told they don't really care about people leaving, only arriving.

This is only my personal experience, I have no idea about the legality of the whole situation.

[bkk_mike]

If you've got the stamps in your passport showing your next port of entry. (which you will have, if travelling on a Thai passport as even Thailand stamps your return date), then you should be OK, as you'll have the proof in front of the admission officer that you exited the country within the validity of your visa.

The only problem is, for instance, if you were returning to somewhere in the EU on an EU passport, where no stamps would have been made. You'd then have to keep something to prove you left on time, just in case it's queried on your next arrival by the arrivals officer. (i.e. ticket, boarding pass stubs, etc.)

[stub]

There are enough posts on here on what do do.

What you *do not* want to do is leave it in your passport for the border agent to find next time. This is how you can get grief. If things go wrong, it is possible to get refused entry and disqualified from Visa on Arrival in the future.