Exit Departure tracking part of new Immigration Bill

[TotallyOz]

We had talked about this a bit back but it looks like a powerful group of Senators want to include an exit system when visitors leave USA.

 

A proposal would also require that an exit system be in place for tracking departures of foreigners who entered the country through airports or seaports, before any illegal immigrants could start on a path to citizenship.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/28/us/politics/senators-agree-on-blueprint-for-immigration.html?hp&_r=0

[Guest fountainhall]

Isn't there already an exit tracking system, at least for air passengers? When I depart the US, the airline takes the second part of my Immigration form. That surely goes into some system to show when and from where I exited?

[TotallyOz]

Isn't there already an exit tracking system, at least for air passengers? When I depart the US, the airline takes the second part of my Immigration form. That surely goes into some system to show when and from where I exited?

Do they check your passport and stamp you out?

[Guest fountainhall]

No, but is that really necessary if they process the departure form and the details are in a computer?

[Guest thaiworthy]

Someone once told me something that I still find astonishing and unbelievable. I was at immigration turning in my paperwork and remarked about all the repetitive forms and the 90-day reporting routine. I thought it would be easy for them to track me down once it gets into the computer. I was then told the paperwork just sits on a floor or in a file and is never entered into a computer system. TiT. Once again, this seems an incredibly doubtful scenario. But if it is possible and not necessarily probable, at least to me, can other tracking systems be just as inane?

[Guest fountainhall]

I was then told the paperwork just sits on a floor or in a file and is never entered into a computer system.

 

I never thought of this before. I have never needed to do a 90-day reporting since I am aways out of the country at least once every 90 days. But when I apply for renewal of the 1 year retirement visa, no officer has ever checked a computer to see when I entered and exited. They always check my passport, which is why I make copies and highlight the various entry/exit stamps.