visa waiver part 2 not taken on departure

[steph_goodrum]

They were trialling the EXIT program in several airports in the US a while back and were supposed to be rolling it out on a greater scale but dont know how far it has gone.

On a similar vein has anybody registered for the IRIS programme available from certain airports in UK and does it really make reentry to the UK quicker? I didnt realise it was available at Heathrow last time we flew. Cant do it this time as its only available at Gatwick North and we fly from South Terminal (it's beyond security so you can only register when you are flying out from there).

[Michelle]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum
Michelle and Geoff
If your stub was white I am guessing you have a Visa? This may be why they took it or it may just be now procedure. We travel on Visa waiver so of course there is nothing in our passport other than the emtry stamp and gree stub. We go this week so we'll find out in a few weeks if they take ours when we check in at Downtown Disney.
[/quote]

Hi Steph, yes we do have a visa, so will be interesting to see if they take out the white stub when you check in at DownTown Disney.

[allyjack]

I had the grren forms taken from our passports in Downtown Disney ( also on 18th )
We were there for 2 hours while they sorted our connecting flights with BA who had cancelled all their flights to Dublin from Gatwick after the one we were going to miss. Couldn't say more for the guy. He eventually got us rerouted and all home safe and sound.

[Michelle]

Glad you got home safe and sound.

[ujpest doza]

USA I-94

If you have been to the USA. and have have not had your green I-94 removed by US. immigration please return it to the following address:

ACS, USCI, SBU

P.O. BOX 7125-LONDON

KY40742-7125

USA

[Tonish]

Just came across this on another site:

Detained in US because of missing departure card

Carole Humphrey from London wrote
I travel to the United States several times a year on business. Last October, when I arrived at JFK airport in New York, I was detained by immigration officers. I was told to go into a room and, when I asked what was going on, I was told to wait my turn. There were no other passengers in the room.

The officials were rude, unhelpful and jingoistic. In the end, I lost my temper (it was 2am) and they threatened to send me back to London if I did not shut up. So I sat and read my book for half an hour, while they took their time doing very little except talk very loudly about me.

Eventually, I was told that US Immigration records did not show a departure from the US after a visit that commenced on September 23, 1997. I explained that Immigration in San Francisco - where the officers seemed pleasant and efficient - had informed me of this six months previously and had said they would sort it out. However, the officers at JFK said the problem had not been sorted out.

I had not handed in my green departure record when I left New York in 1997, but it had been removed on entry at Los Angeles airport in 1998 (Immigration has a record of this on its computer). The officers at JFK ultimately agreed that it was a clerical error. I was allowed into the country after an hour of deliberation, but they said they could not fix the problem.

I was given an address in Kentucky to write to with proof that I did not overstay my 1997 visit. I sent this to the US by courier in January, but I have had no response and there is no number to call. How do I know that I will not be detained by Immigration on my next visit?

Gill's response
Yours is one of dozens of letters The Daily Telegraph has received from readers who have encountered rudeness and aggression from US Immigration officials at JFK airport.

If you sent your letter to this address - ACS-USCIS, SBU, PO Box 7125, London, Kentucky 40742-7125, USA - your record should have been corrected.

However, no acknowledgement or confirmation that all is now well will be sent. Because of this, the US Consulate in London recommends that you take copies of the covering letter, proof of posting or courier delivery, and copies of documentation proving you returned to Britain in 1997 in case you are stopped again at Immigration.

This seems sensible advice - although there is nothing to this effect on the US Embassy's website (www.usembassy.org.uk).

Many readers have written to say they still have the I-94W (departure) card stapled into their passport. Instructions on how to return it can be found on the embassy's website (click on "Immigration" at the bottom of the home page).

In the light of Carole Humphrey's experience, it is essential that you return the departure card, filled in correctly, with a covering letter explaining why it is still in your possession. You must also send proof that you left the country within 90 days (boarding cards and passport stamps for other countries are best, but otherwise bank statements, pay slips or credit-card receipts are acceptable).

If you no longer have the I-94W card, but know that it was not surrendered, you must follow the same procedure, sending a copy of your passport details, dates of arrival and departure, and proof that you did leave the country. The US Consulate in London does not have the authority to update records.

Ms Humphrey's experience highlights how important it is to make sure the airline's check-in agent collects the departure record. If there is no one to collect the card, find someone to give it to. A spokesman for the US Embassy in London said he would ask authorities at JFK airport to investigate your case.



Loooks like it's well worth making sure the stub is handed in.

[julieanne]

There have been 2 or 3 times in the past when the departure card has not been removed from my passport and I have always returned it as per the instructions. I now take great care to watch it is removed at check in.

But it has occurred to me that some of those cards must go misssing given the numbers involved [?]