Passport not stamped entering UK (1 Viewer)

[Ingwe]

Had a good 6 weeks in France (weather a little cooler than I’d have liked) but now back home. When we left on Eurotunnel, in July, French customs stamped our passports. But no stamps when we left France on Thursday. So we’ve had 43 of our 90 days but are wondering what the point was of stamping the passport on the way out but not when we left.

 

[glenn2926]

I’m pretty sure it will be recorded electronically when your passport was scanned.

 

[Ingwe]

I’m pretty sure it will be recorded electronically when your passport was scanned.

Yes, I’m sure you’re right, but what is the purpose of stamping if it’s all recorded electronically?

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[glenn2926]

Yes, I’m sure you’re right, but what is the purpose of stamping if it’s all recorded electronically?

Just an old fashioned border guard . I’m looking forward to collecting passport stamps again. It always felt like I was truly abroad once my passport had been stamped.

 

[gus-lopez]

I'd still be standing there until it was stamped. Assuming it is recorded electronically is hoping they do

 

[Brains]

Yes, I’m sure you’re right, but what is the purpose of stamping if it’s all recorded electronically?

So that you know your dates as well, as you do not have access to the digital record
Personally I'd have asked for a stamp from either France or UK, as it may avoid awkward questions on your return

According to my passport I've been in Singapore for the last 2 years, as they did not record my departure.
It could be an issue at some point if i need to go back.

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[dunnah01]

They probably stamped it on the way in because they wouldn't know where your exit country would be and whether they would have electronic logging facilities.

 

[marchie]

EU electronic database records will record the arrival and departure dates. The EU Stay Calculator for Visitors is a copy of the System used by the Border Guards.

Steve

 

[sciac2001]

Not directly relating to the OP:

A friend who holds a Portuguese certificate allowing unlimited Schengen stay and travelling through Spain and Portugal now had his passport stamped at Bilbao.
However, when he presented his certificate with his passport the Border guard waved him away and stamped the passport anyway.

So now, he doesn't know whether he can stay longer than 90 days or not.

I assume that his certificate will be noted when he ships back home if he has stayed over the 90 days, but can anyone guarantee that?

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[2657]

Not directly relating to the OP:

A friend who holds a Portuguese certificate allowing unlimited Schengen stay and travelling through Spain and Portugal now had his passport stamped at Bilbao.
However, when he presented his certificate with his passport the Border guard waved him away and stamped the passport anyway.

So now, he doesn't know whether he can stay longer than 90 days or not.

I assume that his certificate will be noted when he ships back home if he has stayed over the 90 days, but can anyone guarantee that?

I had exactly the same thing happen at Santander, he did not want to even look at the piece of paper, said we should have a card with photo. Tried to explain that the Portuguese had not got round to issuing them yet, stamped my passport anyway but when I showed no sign of moving or offering my wife's passport he struck out the stamp with a warning that we would not be allowed into Spain without the card.
He obviously had no idea of the correct procedures.
I am not worried about the stamp as the way the stamps are done on any random page makes them practically useless in any case.
The scan is the important thing as this will be easily recovered and assessed.

 

[sciac2001]

I had exactly the same thing happen at Santander, he did not want to even look at the piece of paper, said we should have a card with photo. Tried to explain that the Portuguese had not got round to issuing them yet, stamped my passport anyway but when I showed no sign of moving or offering my wife's passport he struck out the stamp with a warning that we would not be allowed into Spain without the card.
He obviously had no idea of the correct procedures.
I am not worried about the stamp as the way the stamps are done on any random page makes them practically useless in any case.
The scan is the important thing as this will be easily recovered and assessed.

Thanks for your experience.

Will you be overstaying the 90 days in the hope that all will be well.
Quite a mess...

 

[2657]

Thanks for your experience.

Will you be overstaying the 90 days in the hope that all will be well.
Quite a mess...

We were on the way back to the UK and won't be staying more than 90 days in the UK.
We are entering France at St Malo on Monday so will see what happens there.
I am not worried about the stamped passports but the border officials should know the rules so will have my say but if they stamp them so be it.
Not worried about overstaying in Schengen at all........I have my piece of paper
Try not to think about what happened after the last guy bragged about having a piece of paper!

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[marchie]

We were on the way back to the UK and won't be staying more than 90 days in the UK.
We are entering France at St Malo on Monday so will see what happens there.
I am not worried about the stamped passports but the border officials should know the rules so will have my say but if they stamp them so be it.
Not worried about overstaying in Schengen at all........I have my piece of paper
Try not to think about what happened after the last guy bragged about having a piece of paper!

But THAT piece of paper was issued by an Austrian Painter, and was clearly just an estimate for giving a quick once over that would enable Mr Chamberlain to put a gloss on things ...

Steve

 

[cmcardle75]

I had this issue walking from USA back to Canada. The USA law says that Canada is responsible for telling them that you've left the USA, and thus, not overstayed the however many days you were allowed on visa waiver. The Canadian border guards say that they have no intention of doing this and would just stick the paperwork in the bin if you gave it to them.

I finally found you can post your exit documentation to an address in St Louis or somewhere and did so. No idea if anyone read it. I've been back to USA several times since, so I haven't been barred!

I guess not many "foreigners" walk between USA and Canada.

 

[Ingwe]

I guess not many "foreigners" walk between USA and Canada.

No. Some go over the Niagara Falls in a barrel.

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[coroner]

I had this issue walking from USA back to Canada. The USA law says that Canada is responsible for telling them that you've left the USA, and thus, not overstayed the however many days you were allowed on visa waiver. The Canadian border guards say that they have no intention of doing this and would just stick the paperwork in the bin if you gave it to them.

I finally found you can post your exit documentation to an address in St Louis or somewhere and did so. No idea if anyone read it. I've been back to USA several times since, so I haven't been barred!

I guess not many "foreigners" walk between USA and Canada.

Same happened to us at Niagara Falls just handed the us doc to a nice policeman at Toronto airport who said hed send it to US boarder force been back several times since without incident so presume not on the watched list.

 

[62272]

I had this issue walking from USA back to Canada. The USA law says that Canada is responsible for telling them that you've left the USA, and thus, not overstayed the however many days you were allowed on visa waiver. The Canadian border guards say that they have no intention of doing this and would just stick the paperwork in the bin if you gave it to them.

I finally found you can post your exit documentation to an address in St Louis or somewhere and did so. No idea if anyone read it. I've been back to USA several times since, so I haven't been barred!

I guess not many "foreigners" walk between USA and Canada.

Had you broken down? Or was it a hiking tour?

 

[EuroTrotters]

Yes, I’m sure you’re right, but what is the purpose of stamping if it’s all recorded electronically?

So you have a stamped record as will any authorities who for any reason do not have access to the electronic system

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[cmcardle75]

Had you broken down? Or was it a hiking tour?

No, it was Niagara Falls, just like coroner. The USA side is actually much more tasteful than the disgrace that is the Canadian side!

 

[Ingwe]

So you have a stamped record as will any authorities who for any reason do not have access to the electronic system

So by not stamping on the way home, I have no record in my passport available to any authorities who do not, for any reason, have access to the electronic system. Going to have some fun explaining to such authorities that we haven’t been in France all the time from the entry date!

 

[EuroTrotters]

So by not stamping on the way home, I have no record in my passport available to any authorities who do not, for any reason, have access to the electronic system. Going to have some fun explaining to such authorities that we haven’t been in France all the time from the entry date!

Yes, I know. Stupid isn't it.

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[gus-lopez]

So by not stamping on the way home, I have no record in my passport available to any authorities who do not, for any reason, have access to the electronic system. Going to have some fun explaining to such authorities that we haven’t been in France all the time from the entry date!

but when yo next enter again it will be obvious that you must have left at some timen to be coming in agai? Then again they will probably accuse you of using another passport

 

[Ingwe]

but when yo next enter again it will be obvious that you must have left at some timen to be coming in agai? Then again they will probably accuse you of using another passport

You’re assuming common sense in our Border Agents, gus-lopez!