No departure stamp in passport

I visited England a few months back, I didn't notice right away, but when leaving LGW they did not put a departure stamp in my passport. This is the first time I have traveled out of the US, but shouldn't they have stamped when I left the country? I am worried wondering if this will be a problem when I go back to England in March? I was nervous enough with all of the questions last time! Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

I've never had a departure stamp from anywhere.  Has anyone else?

um, once or twice on the way to Europe, years and years ago, but not generally.  Don't worry about it.

I had one a few years ago in Australia, never from here. (The UK)

Never had one either.  I received a stamp when I got to the UK, but not when I left.  Been to France a few times and I never got a stamp coming in or leaving.

Don't worry about not having an exit stamp, the UK rarely does this. But several Continental states do. Germany, for instance, rigorously stamps you going in and going out. It's just a cultural thing, the UK doesn't worry about people leaving it!

There is no departure stamp when leaving the UK.  The only countries that I have visited that have put a departure stamp in my passport were India and Kenya.

bvamin

I got a stamp entering Dusseldorf, none leaving, and one departing Copenhagen.

But none either way in Prague - my ultimate destination!  Argh!

Thanks so much for all of your replies, as I said I have never traveled out of the US and wasn't sure how that worked! I feel much better now 

and don't forget you have your re-entry stamp back into the states so there's proof you left before your visa or waiver time was up... if thats what your worried about

hmmm I just looked and I don't have a re-entry stamp to the US either but I am sure it's fine, I am going to stop stressing now...lol!

You can also ask Passport Control to stamp your passport.  I always do this and I've yet to have a problem in any of the countries I've been to.

Well I made it there and back without incident. Don't know what I was stressing about. This time all they asked upon my arrival was if I was there for business or pleasure and how long I was visiting, told me to have a nice time and stamped my passport and sent me on my way  Not sure if the lady I had the first visit was having a bad day or just more thorough, but she asked lots of questions! Oh, and I did get a re-entry stamp into the US this time..lol. Thanks all for the help.

I checked my passport the other day, and after about 20 flights to the US and back in the last 4 years, I only was stamped in the US 2 times. Interesting,, wonder they they stamp, or don't stamp? Is it just a random thing?

Glad you made it there and back with no problems SillySnip

I'm a US citizen and strangly, US immigration almost ALWAYS stamps my passport when I Re-ENTER  the USA. 

As for departure stamps, they are not commonly used in Western Europe.  But I travel frequently to the Middle East and just about every country there, a departure visa is required to board the plane. Not only that, but many countries you also have to pay for an exit visa (or departure tax) to leave their country!  In Jordan, for example, you pay about $8 USD departure tax, and from the counter to the plane, about 10 different people will look at your passport to make sure you paid the $8!