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I've often wondered why the us does not have any exit passport controls. It is the only country I've been to that only checks incoming and not outgoing. I'm no

I've often wondered why the us does not have any exit passport controls. It is the only country I've been to that only checks incoming and not outgoing. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't, just observing.

matte_black 9y ago
They do not care.
CPLX 9y ago
It's literally the definition of "a free country" Specifically it was always used as a sharp contrast with the policies of the Soviet Bloc which did not allow people to freely leave their countries.
- LV-426 9y ago
  The definition of "free country" is not zero passport controls on exit, and: Robeson declared that it was “rather absurd” that he was not “allowed to travel because of my friendship - open, spoken friendship - for the Soviet people and the peoples of all the world.” http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paul-robeson-loses-appeal-over-his-passport http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paul-robeson-lose...
  - LV-426 9y ago
    Oh dear, seems like thin-skinned people here (who understandably want to remain anonymous) don't like factual posts about racial and political persecution in a certain "free country".
- decebalus1 9y ago
  > It's literally the definition of "a free country" citation needed. First off, it does, but it only becomes visible to passengers when they violate the conditions and try to re-enter. Second, this is not the definition of a 'free country'. Third, by modern definitions of a 'free contry' (1) the USA should not be considered 'THE land of the free'. (1) https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2017 https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-...
- monksy 9y ago
  You can have your rights to leave the country stripped away by being accused of felonies, a judge can take away your PP, and even renewals can be rejected if you owe the government money.
- anigbrowl 9y ago
  No it isn't. The right to depart and the right to do so without being recorded are two different hings.
ojbyrne 9y ago
Answers on Quora suggest it's automated, and invisible to most people. https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-US-not-have-immigration-control-while-departing https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-US-not-have-immigration-c...
CydeWeys 9y ago
I've never understood why other countries have the exit controls. What is the point?
- kurthr 9y ago
  The second "stamp" allows them to track how long you were in the country and which country to left through (which may not check on exit either). For visas (especially EU) this is a big deal, because you (as a US citizen) are not required to apply for a short term business/tourist visa, but you can't stay more than 30days. If you exit through the UK, however, you may not receive the exit stamp (e.g. EuroStar). They may then deny you re-entry due to the apparent violation.
  - jackweirdy 9y ago
    I think the Eurostar is the only port of exit in the U.K. where I _have_ had my passport checked - at least at my airport, exit passport checks are only random
    - jstanley 9y ago
      I've had mine checked every time I've been on a ferry, and every time I'm taken a plane. I can't think of any other ways to leave the UK than by boat, train, and aeroplane, and I've been checked at all of them.
      - jackweirdy 9y ago
        By airline/train or UKBF staff? There’s a difference as airport staff won’t check visa validity etc or do the entry checks that are the subject of this chain. UKBF checks passports on departure at the Eurostar. At manchester airport at least, there are no routine outbound passport checks by UKBF
        jlangenauer 9y ago
        No, that's actually French border control. On the Eurostar, you clear the destination border when you check in, so that when you arrive you simply walk out.
kurthr 9y ago
Many do have exit checks (EU, most of Asia), but many don't (US, most of the Americas). I'd assume some of it in the US occurs when you buy the ticket... however, in some places you could still enter Mexico without a passport (returning is a challenge!). The bigger issue is that Congress hasn't issued a specific mandate for this collection (by a private entity) and spending authority for the apparently ~$1B program. The article's concerns are for a more intrusive security state without congressional authority. DHS’ current face scan-based program also may not comply with federal law. The program may exceed the authority granted to DHS by Congress because Congress has never explicitly authorized biometric collections from Americans at the border.26 Even if DHS has sufficient legal authority for the program, DHS has failed to complete a prerequisite public rulemaking process for the program, as mandated by federal law.
- mcast 9y ago
  I accidentally* drove past the US southern border into Tijuana from San Diego without passport control, there was only an automated plate reader managed by US CBP. I also did not have my passport or passport card on me. Coming back the same day, there was a line to drive back into the US that took several hours. Luckily, I was allowed back in with a driver’s license by the agent. *I was dropping off 2 American friends who were taking a day trip to visit Tijuana, but the road signs were terribly marked and I crossed over unintentionally.
  - monksy 9y ago
    I've always wondered how re-entering the US is without a passport. You should be able to do it, and you should be scrutinized about it heavily.(Sounds suspicious)
    - TillE 9y ago
      Up until 2004, it was completely normal for US citizens to travel to Canada and Mexico (and back, of course) without a passport. Reentry theoretically shouldn't require a passport, as long as you can prove citizenship.
    - 9y ago
z2 9y ago
Yet the onus is on visitors to prove that they did not overstay their visa, if leaving by land/sea, or if by some airline/airport fluke the departing passenger list didn't make it over to the DHS. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1674/~/report-departure-if-entering-by-air-and-departing-by-land https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1674/~/report-d...

matte_black 9y ago

They do not care.

CPLX 9y ago

It's literally the definition of "a free country" Specifically it was always used as a sharp contrast with the policies of the Soviet Bloc which did not allow people to freely leave their countries.

LV-426 9y ago
The definition of "free country" is not zero passport controls on exit, and: Robeson declared that it was “rather absurd” that he was not “allowed to travel because of my friendship - open, spoken friendship - for the Soviet people and the peoples of all the world.” http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paul-robeson-loses-appeal-over-his-passport http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paul-robeson-lose...
- LV-426 9y ago
  Oh dear, seems like thin-skinned people here (who understandably want to remain anonymous) don't like factual posts about racial and political persecution in a certain "free country".
decebalus1 9y ago
> It's literally the definition of "a free country" citation needed. First off, it does, but it only becomes visible to passengers when they violate the conditions and try to re-enter. Second, this is not the definition of a 'free country'. Third, by modern definitions of a 'free contry' (1) the USA should not be considered 'THE land of the free'. (1) https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2017 https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-...
monksy 9y ago
You can have your rights to leave the country stripped away by being accused of felonies, a judge can take away your PP, and even renewals can be rejected if you owe the government money.
anigbrowl 9y ago
No it isn't. The right to depart and the right to do so without being recorded are two different hings.

ojbyrne 9y ago

Answers on Quora suggest it's automated, and invisible to most people. https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-US-not-have-immigration-control-while-departing https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-US-not-have-immigration-c...

CydeWeys 9y ago

I've never understood why other countries have the exit controls. What is the point?

kurthr 9y ago
The second "stamp" allows them to track how long you were in the country and which country to left through (which may not check on exit either). For visas (especially EU) this is a big deal, because you (as a US citizen) are not required to apply for a short term business/tourist visa, but you can't stay more than 30days. If you exit through the UK, however, you may not receive the exit stamp (e.g. EuroStar). They may then deny you re-entry due to the apparent violation.
- jackweirdy 9y ago
  I think the Eurostar is the only port of exit in the U.K. where I _have_ had my passport checked - at least at my airport, exit passport checks are only random
  - jstanley 9y ago
    I've had mine checked every time I've been on a ferry, and every time I'm taken a plane. I can't think of any other ways to leave the UK than by boat, train, and aeroplane, and I've been checked at all of them.
    - jackweirdy 9y ago
      By airline/train or UKBF staff? There’s a difference as airport staff won’t check visa validity etc or do the entry checks that are the subject of this chain. UKBF checks passports on departure at the Eurostar. At manchester airport at least, there are no routine outbound passport checks by UKBF
      - jlangenauer 9y ago
        No, that's actually French border control. On the Eurostar, you clear the destination border when you check in, so that when you arrive you simply walk out.

kurthr 9y ago

Many do have exit checks (EU, most of Asia), but many don't (US, most of the Americas). I'd assume some of it in the US occurs when you buy the ticket... however, in some places you could still enter Mexico without a passport (returning is a challenge!). The bigger issue is that Congress hasn't issued a specific mandate for this collection (by a private entity) and spending authority for the apparently ~$1B program. The article's concerns are for a more intrusive security state without congressional authority. DHS’ current face scan-based program also may not comply with federal law. The program may exceed the authority granted to DHS by Congress because Congress has never explicitly authorized biometric collections from Americans at the border.26 Even if DHS has sufficient legal authority for the program, DHS has failed to complete a prerequisite public rulemaking process for the program, as mandated by federal law.

mcast 9y ago
I accidentally* drove past the US southern border into Tijuana from San Diego without passport control, there was only an automated plate reader managed by US CBP. I also did not have my passport or passport card on me. Coming back the same day, there was a line to drive back into the US that took several hours. Luckily, I was allowed back in with a driver’s license by the agent. *I was dropping off 2 American friends who were taking a day trip to visit Tijuana, but the road signs were terribly marked and I crossed over unintentionally.
- monksy 9y ago
  I've always wondered how re-entering the US is without a passport. You should be able to do it, and you should be scrutinized about it heavily.(Sounds suspicious)
  - TillE 9y ago
    Up until 2004, it was completely normal for US citizens to travel to Canada and Mexico (and back, of course) without a passport. Reentry theoretically shouldn't require a passport, as long as you can prove citizenship.
  - 9y ago

z2 9y ago

Yet the onus is on visitors to prove that they did not overstay their visa, if leaving by land/sea, or if by some airline/airport fluke the departing passenger list didn't make it over to the DHS. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1674/~/report-departure-if-entering-by-air-and-departing-by-land https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1674/~/report-d...