US immigration - no one took my I-94

[puggit]

Left Washington Dulles airport on Wednesday to come home

As described in countless places the security operation there is an utter shambles. Lengthy queues, then you have to remove shoes, laptops from bags etc etc.

But no person to person screening to be seen in the form of either people patrolling queues with random people or even someone at a desk checking passports!

Hence I (and I imagine countless others) managed to leave without handing in the green I-94 counterpart to prove we've left the country

Found a website which doesn't fill me with confidence: http://help.customs.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/endu**&p_li=&p_topview=1

Anyone else had this problem?

[bigandclever]

I did a few years back. Arrived back in the States and customs arse said "By having this it proves you never left the United States". We had a bit of a dingdong in the arrivals hall (I was 'tired and emotional' after my flight), supervisor's got called and despite my Olympic-standard swearing, they let me in. I *think* they can check your passport electronically to see which airport's you've been through, and it all tallied with the dates and times I gave them in my defence. One thing that did stick out was one of the supervisors mentioned it was a good thing I hadn't removed it myself as that's an offence in itself. Either way, I got let in and lived to tell the tale. Though clever bastard in his box let out a "And don't do it next time" as I walked off.

Similar thing happened to my brother and he went to the American Embassy in London to get it removed by them.

So them's your choices: p1ssed in the US arguing with men with guns; or a trip to an embassy in gentle Blighty.

[sheepy]

I've had this happen to me (Miami didn't remove it). Unfortuantely, the document "fell out" once I was back in the uk Been back since without any issues.

Sheepy

[Flat in Fifth]

Yepp and its a total and utter PITA next time you go back.

Decision is yours, pain now or pain next time you go back.

this is what you want

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

[Plotloss]

Do they take notice of these things these days then?

Presumably it was a green I94W not the white I94?

I've got a big pile of them somewhere, pre 9/11 they really didnt seem to give a toss, perhaps evidently...

[tinman0]

Had the same problem last year. Got a bit of aggro but was let on my way after 30 seconds of being told off. Had no other issues entering the US since.

Edited to say: if its in your passport - bin the 'ucker. If you are asked by immigration where the missing green bit is (which they wont) tell them that you have no idea as the flight attendant took it off you when you last left the states.

>> Edited by tinman0 on Saturday 3rd December 00:47

[mikef]

Agree with tinman - if you happen to lose it, then next time you enter the US make sure you have the boarding pass from your last flight out (or if you've lost that, then the other evidence of non-US residence listed on the US embassy link above)

[Pulsatingstar]

Ahh ive got one of these too. I best send it back then as im bound to go back at some point.

[simonrockman]

I've had it happen, but I was back within 90 days so they took it out then and officially I left and returned on the same day.

A colleague had it happen once and now every time he goes to the US they take him into a room for a 5min chat while he explains why his record isn't straight and they send him on his way.

Simon

[tertius]

Happened to me recently, I left it in my passport and they took it out when I arrived the next time no hassle at all. I've been back several times since.

Judging from the other posts it makes a difference who you see, how they are feeling, time of the month, alignment of the planets that sort of thing.