dachiri

Hi all,

Random question. A few years ago, I traveled to Canada on vacation. I got in late (by train) and the Customs officer grilled me hard (unnecessary, but whatever), so I guess I didn't notice that she didn't stamp my passport. I also wasn't stamped returning to the US, but that's fairly normal (every once in a while an agent will ask if I want a re-entry stamp, but it's not common).

Anywho, my security clearance came up for renewal recently (see why the grilling was unnecessary? I freely volunteered that I am a U.S. federal employee when she asked as one of her first questions), and I trucked in both my work and personal passports to support my international travel records in my interview. That's when it came up that I hadn't received an entry stamp on the Canadian trip (which I listed on the paperwork). The investigator made kind of a big deal about it, but let it go when I submitted my travel confirmations and credit card statements from the time showing my activity while there (and people said I was crazy for keeping all my confirmations in a folder in my email).

So my question is, is it SOP for Canadian border control to *not* stamp U.S. passports? I know that we have pretty liberal travel "agreements" with Canada, but didn't realize that meant no passport stamp. Is it a big pain/red flag to request one if I go back, so that my travel records match my paperwork when my clearance comes up for review again? I carry my work ID in my purse, so I can show a decent reason for requesting one, I suppose...

Mauibaby2008

I travel to Canada 3-4 times a month.

No passport stamps. Not one.

Airbridge

Stamped last week - as always YMMV :shrugs:

kochleffel

I've only entered Canada once with my current passport. No stamp (entered by land, if that makes a difference).

dachiri

Haha...guess it is truly random and I should just ask. I actually stapled the loose FULL PAGE Macau gave me when I made a day trip there into my passport so that I could demonstrate and document all of my travel, but never considered I'd have "paperwork problems" with CANADA! On the bright side, I'm good for at least the next 5 years? Crossing all digits this doesn't come up again in a later review, since they *can* ask about anything..."yes, as I told the last investigator, I was biking and hiking around Vancouver, in between eating ALL THE FOOD...do I need to prove that AGAIN???"

flipstah

I think it's primarily just the swipe. US does the swipe and stamp.

Stamps are expensive.

Prewrappedbacon

It all depends on why you're entering Canada. If you are entering for business purposes or on a work visa, you should get a stamp. Tourism or transit, you would have nothing.

Eastbay1K

Oh, the investigator sure knew in advance exactly how and when you entered and departed pretty much any country you went to, how you entered/departed and so on, except if you traveled between countries that don't readily share data with the USA. As long as your questionnaire that you complete prior to the personal interview is reasonably accurate, you should be fine. And of course, you'll answer the questions that give the investigator a reason for existence truthfully and accurately.

Was your passport actually a required production item for your last interview?

GrayAnderson

I've been into Canada about 20 times (I think) over the last 4-5 years. I've been stamped twice: Once during the ritual Customs grilling when I got pulled off the train (it was autopilot for them to stamp in that case, I think) and once when I was doing an in-and-out on the Portland-Yarmouth ferry (I was on Canadian soil for about 90 minutes between docking and reboarding).

I think part of the reason the US and Canada have a no-stamp situation is that you've got plenty of folks for whom those stamps would fill out a passport book every year.

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

"I think part of the reason the US and Canada have a no-stamp situation is that you've got plenty of folks for whom those stamps would fill out a passport book every year."

And, of course, a U.S. citizen entering Canada by land or water does not even need a passport. An enhanced driver license or passport card will suffice -- and you can't stamp those.

Josh1780

I've been flying fairly frequently into YYZ for the last 13 years and up until five years ago it was about a 50% chance that I'd get a passport stamp. Since then I'm pretty sure I've been stamped every single time. All my trips have been by air if that makes a difference.

onobond

Well, out of 13 tourism entries to Canada, I've had passport entry stamp on all. Never an exit stamp, though

aaron1262

I worked In Canada for 5 years. And I also grew up in SEA so driven many times to YVR. You never get stamped driving over but pretty much Always when flying. They never stamp via bus either. All of my canada stamps are from when I needed new work permits since I have nexus.

dachiri

As I'm sure you've heard given the Snowden snafu and whatnot, many of the investigations nowadays are conducted by contractors. It's not like I have a TS/SCI clearance or anything, so I'd wager she was a contractor hired to push paperwork for those of us with "low level" clearances, and just latched onto a minor paperwork discrepancy to make it clear she was "doing her job." Overall, I felt very comfortable that I could document all of my travel, but I'd rather not have to turn over personal documents again if it can be avoided by just requesting a passport stamp when one is not routinely given. My question was simply "was this an oddity or do I need to request a stamp when entering Canada if I want/need one?"

I was asked to bring my passports to the interview given the extensive international travel I've done for both work and personal reasons. I'm not exactly in a position to say "no" to what appeared to be a reasonable request.

maverick17

My last trip to Hong Kong was no stamp. Read after they don't do it for tourist visa-free entries anymore. Maybe this is a growing trend.