Originally Posted by
yassy
We used to take a trip from IAD (Washington Dulles Airport) -Tokyo (direct flight) and when we go to terminal after check in, right before the security checkpoint, there was always the officer at desk and check our passport. I did not check my passport but I assumed that it was when the departure stamp was stamped onto our passport.
So, if we do not interact with immigration officer at any point from terminal B to terminal D, then, my passport would not have departure stamp at all? That would not create entering issue for missing stamp of departure when returned to USA?
Please carefully re-read the various replies above. You may have been mistaken for a long time! The United States had never had exit control checkpoint as long as we have lived. Nobody ever (normally) received an "exit stamp"! The security checkpoint is just that, a security checkpoint. The TSA inspects you regardless of whether you are flying domestic or international. It's the same procedure and many international flights depart from the same area as (not separated from) domestic flights. The TSA accepts the same list of IDs regardless of your destination. While the airline makes sure you have a passport (at check-in and at gate boarding) to fly international, you could've used a state ID to pass TSA, and nothing at all for kids 17 and under!