Canadian Traveler

[chris 31 0]

Friends!

Chris from Vancouver Canada and I have a very interesting question. I am a frequent traveler of United States. I always fly from Vancouver International Airport passing through US preclearance border in my airport [in Canada]. I was wondering how long am I allowed to stay in the US and if there is a restriction, then why they don’t even mark my passport saying you are allowed for this period of time ?

Each time I enter they stamp on my ticket and I enter, If I am not making mistake US has no records of when I am entering US and when I am leaving?

I am a musician and I always go for practice to US. If they do have tack of people like me then how? They don’t even finger print or scan my passport [just a stamp on to my ticket that’s all]. I throw my ticket away when I come back to Canada. I am just curious, please give me some information.

[canadian_wife 1,829]

If they don't scan your passport (which I find hard to believe going through YVR) then no, they don't know when you are leaving and going.

Entrance and duration of stay is up to the CBP at the time of crossing. Typically Canadians get 6 months to stay in the US. Some are luckier, others aren't so lucky.

Good luck

[Boiler 46,128]

I thought all passports were scanned.

[chris 31 0]

If they don't scan your passport (which I find hard to believe going through YVR) then no, they don't know when you are leaving and going.

Entrance and duration of stay is up to the CBP at the time of crossing. Typically Canadians get 6 months to stay in the US. Some are luckier, others aren't so lucky.

Good luck

Thank you ! woohooo I am the luckiest dude then? :thumbs:

[Harsh_77 718]

Do you scan your passport at the ticket kiosk?

Either you scan or ticketing agent puts your passport information in the system.

US immigration does have access to this information based on this they can exactly tell when someone entered or left US.

[chris 31 0]

Do you scan your passport at the ticket kiosk?

Either you scan or ticketing agent puts your passport information in the system.

US immigration does have access to this information based on this they can exactly tell when someone entered or left US.

I go to the airport scan my passport through the airline auto check-in stand and get my boarding pass. when I go to the officer he/she stamps on my boarding pass and the airline staff takes that stamped boarding pass from me by the plane's door that’s all. How the heck the US immigration will find out which airline I used when I came to the US??? There are more than 50 airlines a day and millions of travelers ... Do you think they will go and ask 50 airlines to check when Christopher Young scanned his passport, I think this will happen if I was the most wanted person the world …but I am a simple musician ? If so how long these airlines keeps records of their passengers ? I think if that is the case then airline’s database storage will be blasted in matter of few months... Do I make sense?

[Boiler 46,128]

Computers

It's magic

[kzielu 1,149]

I go to the airport scan my passport through the airline auto check-in stand and get my boarding pass. when I go to the officer he/she stamps on my boarding pass and the airline staff takes that stamped boarding pass from me by the plane's door that’s all. How the heck the US immigration will find out which airline I used when I came to the US??? There are more than 50 airlines a day and millions of travelers ... Do you think they will go and ask 50 airlines to check when Christopher Young scanned his passport, I think this will happen if I was the most wanted person the world …but I am a simple musician ? If so how long these airlines keeps records of their passengers ? I think if that is the case then airline’s database storage will be blasted in matter of few months... Do I make sense?

No, you don't make any sense at all. Airlines flying to US are _required_ to provide data about all their passengers traveling to US. They do know when you entered and I don't understand why you find it so hard to believe...

[SapphireDreams 71]

There are plenty of servers that can hold terabytes and petabytes of data for many organizations, including airlines.

They are more than likely scanning your passport when you go through customs, but you probably just don't realize it. There is a reason that they made all passport with a bar code now.

In the Toronto airport, I noticed that you now have to also scan your own passport right before going through security. Other airports I think that agents who check your ticket and name scan them.

As a Canadian you are allowed to stay up to six months at a time on a visit. If you are lying and saying you are going for a week and staying for six months, they'll catch on eventually.

[Harsh_77 718]

I go to the airport scan my passport through the airline auto check-in stand and get my boarding pass. when I go to the officer he/she stamps on my boarding pass and the airline staff takes that stamped boarding pass from me by the plane's door thats all. How the heck the US immigration will find out which airline I used when I came to the US??? There are more than 50 airlines a day and millions of travelers ... Do you think they will go and ask 50 airlines to check when Christopher Young scanned his passport, I think this will happen if I was the most wanted person the world …but I am a simple musician ? If so how long these airlines keeps records of their passengers ? I think if that is the case then airlines database storage will be blasted in matter of few months... Do I make sense?

Airlines are not only required to report when a plane came and left, they are required to share all the passenger details.

When you scan the passport at ticket kiosk your passport number and other details like date of birth, first name, last name, country of issue, passport issue date / port, expiry date everything is read by the scan.

That will be kept in the govt database with the date you entered and same way when u leave the record a record is kept in govt database.

Its magic isnt it?

On top of it now days the lot of the new passport have RFID chip built in them, RFID chip is as big as grain of rice. The chip hold all your details and information.For the RFID chip you dont even have to scan the passport, you might think you are just walking thru a door way and would not even know there are reader picking up your details and putting it in system somewhere.

Edited April 11, 2012 by Harsh_77

[jaycali 415]

Just a quick question. If they can find out when you left because you scanned your passport. Why on Earth do visa holders need a departure record stapled in the passport?

And, for those unlucky few who realize they still have the I-94 in their passport when they come home.. They still have to go to great lengths to prove they didn't overstay.

Edited April 11, 2012 by jaejayC

[Boiler 46,128]

That used to be the case for the VWP.

[jaycali 415]

Still is for visas.

[chris 31 0]

Just a quick question. If they can find out when you left because you scanned your passport. Why on Earth do visa holders need a departure record stapled in the passport?

And, for those unlucky few who realize they still have the I-94 in their passport when they come home.. They still have to go to great lengths to prove they didn't overstay.

Good point jaejayC!!

So what is the point of stamping on a traveler’s passport then, If they can track and chase each individual? Don’t get me wrong, I am not here to overright anyone’s thoughts. Don’t you all think they state all these rules and regulations to prevent people using their system? YES! They do have the right – means to track people, this is USA, world’s supper power, but they perhaps have a random check on random people. Living or staying in USA is not cheap whether it’s a temporary visit or a day of fun. The governor (Obama) gives 50k FREE resident visas to people all over the world (lottery visas) each year. Do you think they will track Christopher Young, a musician ?? lol

Its alllll politics and stamens. USA and Canada have many things in common, from language to culture and allllll…. They know its better for someone from India (Please excuse me) to come in and spent years to learn the system and all or to have a Canadian who is just the name CANADA is the difference that’s all, I think I do make sense.. My dear negative thinkers friends, you might have heard or have bad experience from the past, it is not on everyone … hope I am not hurting anyone’s feeling but just to give hope and make a positive point.

Good luck to you all !

Chris

[Harsh_77 718]

Stamping the passport, stamping I-94 were existing process before they started scanning the passport and RFID came into existence.

Stamping passport and I-94 gives the person visiting a visual by what time they have to leave.

When it comes to immigration – they do not go like ooo you from Canada I don’t care I would not enforce immigration policy or I would go easy one you, but ahhh you from India I would enforce all the immigration policy.

It does not work that way, sometimes visitor from Canada or from countries that have VWP might slip away with few minor things but if gets caught then whole laundry list is opened and every time there was immigration policy violation would be bought up.