... and as a result of future developments indicated in the former paragraph, I hope we don't have an increase in the number of diversions and delays.

... and as a result of the obligations mentioned in the latter paragraph -- which implicitly notes that "ignorance of the law is not an excuse for non-compliance with (read as 'violation of') the law" -- there will be alot of persons who could say: "I visited the US once, well sort of twice". Unfortunately, many such persons will not return and will, in turn, turn others off from visiting the US.

on behalf of the good, decent citizens of the US, I apologize for my government's inhumane and completely insane treatment of our friends in other countries who wish to conduct business or simply visit us. I have travelled to over 64 countries in my short life and have only seen similar tactics used in ultra-repressive countries entering/exiting the country seemed like I was criminal for being a caucasian US citizen. Maybe when hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people are unable to enter into the US for that trip to Disney World or to visit a potential business partner or vendor and in turn, and millions or probably billions of dollars are lost, then the government will see how detrimental it's attitudes about passports/visas/non-US nationals truly are.

>I often wondered why the US, Canada and the UK do not check your passports before you leave.

Well, speaking as a citizen of Canada it's none of my government's business as to when and how I choose to leave the country. They can track me returning (because they have to) but my own movements are my own business.

Furthermore, how would you track me when leaving anyway? If I depart from a marina on a sailboat for the USA there's really no way to track me departing. Ditto with a little private plane. I have to legally *enter* the USA, but there's no way to monitor my departure.

Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver, Canada

Canada maintains a database of positive APIS matches for outbound passengers, so they are already well aware of when you leave the country by air and where you are headed to.

I wonder about that too. No immigration counters at the departure levels of U.S. airports, thus no need to undergo such procedures. The only immigration counters at Canadian Airport Departure levels are those U.S. Pre-clearence.

Yes, some of my friends have lived in Canada for many years but do not have permanent residence. They say you do not need as no one checks when you leave. When they go home to Hong Kong to visit family, they just buy another return ticket to Toronto and ditch the return portion. They say it is cheaper to buy a return anyway. As far as work goes, they are self employed and could not care less and certainly are not interested in paying taxes.

Do they tell a white lie at customs - yes, do they care - nope! It is all a game.


Like I said before - Canada certainly has no idea who overstays and who does not. This is certainly true if you have a passport that does not require a Visa to enter Canada.

The throw-away ticketing friends would be better off -- financially speaking -- using two one-way mileage awards, one (or both) of which could be cancelled.

I don't think anyone here has mentioned the absolutely horrible passport requirements now required for foreign journalists coming to the U.S. I'm an American now living in the UK and my partner is a British journalist who must now pay some ridiculous amount just to accompany me back to the States.. let alone do work there. The rigamarole here at the Embassy to do all this is truly mindboggling and degrading.. but necessary.

We are becoming a Big Brother state... very sad to see what has happened since 9/11.