US citizen--passport stamp on reentry to the states

Hi everyone! With all the posts concerning the two women who were recently denied entry into the UK, I am becoming a bit worried myself about the twins and I returning this Sept 6 until Dec. 15.

I noticed when I returned to the states this past June 2 (I was travelling alone and was gone 10 days this time) I was stamped in Boston upon reentry. I was never asked any questions at all. Just told, "welcome back to the states," and received a red stamp that says U.S. Customs and Border Protection BOS 2302 June 02 2004 Admitted until_______ (which of course was left blank.) With all the travelling I have done over the years I have never received anything like this so figured it was just a new measure or policy or something.

Does anyone know if I am "flagged" by the USA now, for some strange reason?

Thanks

Don't worry about it, I am a dual citizen (UK/US) and whenver I return to the States from abroad, sometimes they stamp my US passport, sometimes they don't.

bvamin

No, I've gotten the same thing too. I guess they are stamping everyone's passport now but only fill in the blank when it is a visiting visa. Don't worry, we aren't being 'flagged'.

Another thing I noticed on my last trip home, was that we were required to go through separate lines instead of being able to travel as a family. This only happens when I go to the states, not when I return to the UK........oh well, as long as they let me in and out

OK great...I feel much better now!

I have as many US stamps as I do UK ones in my US passport! 

I have as many US stamps as I do UK ones in my US passport! 

I know, that really gets my goat. At this rate, I'll need additional pages before my passport expires! Grrrrrrrr

I get stamped every time I go back to the US.  The only question I've ever been asked is if I have any food with me.  (I'm always tempted to say, "Don't they feed you in this job?" but I know better than to joke with these people.) 

I do know one US citizen who has been living in England for years, who is routinely questioned on re-entry to the States about what he does in London and why he chose to leave America.  I dread similar questioning because I don't want to reveal that I have a gay partner who is a Brit, for fear that my gf will then be refused entry to the US on that basis.  So far everything's been fine, let's hope it stays that way.

For stamping, though, I think Germany is the worst.  They stamp you in and out.  Since I go there a lot, my passport is filling up quickly.    And of course, at least on the Eurostar, France and Belgium don't bother stamping you at all.  Go figure. 

I've also been frequently stamped on re-entry in the years before 911. Don't worry, it has no significance: you're not being put on any kind of list. As for getting additional pages in the passport, I had to do this about 4 months ago, and it was easy. I mailed the passport to the embassy and ten days later it came back with 26 new pages. But now they will only take a passport by courier, which cotsts 26 pounds, so what used to be free isn't really so much nowadays.

I too have been stamped, but only occasionally. I think its just up to weather the IO can be bothered lol. Its just standard proceedure I guess. About questioning - Ive got it too. No need to worry cos hey - youre a citizen and you have a right to enter your own damn borders! But in general I get asked why I live there, what I do, how long Ive lived there, and whatnot. Although I get questioned regularly at Immigration, Ive only been questioned once about why I live abroad by Customs (of all people!) and I set that dude back in his place for sure. Nosey little brat. hehe.

I hardly ever get stamped in the US - in fact I think it's maybe only happened once! But if I remember correctly, they run the passport through some sort of little machine - like it's reading a barcode or something. So maybe that's the equivilent of an electronic stamp?

AFAIK, when they run your passport through the reader at a US airport, it verifies that it is an authentic passport and it also displays, at the very least, your history of entrances into the US.  It may also display your history of entrances into and exits from other countries.

Running it through the reader is, again AFAIK, not the equivalent of a stamp.

wouldnt it be cool to be an immigration officer for a while JUST so we would KNOW for sure what all this stuff is for and about?!

wouldnt it be cool to be an immigration officer for a while JUST so we would KNOW for sure what all this stuff is for and about?!

Absolutely!

I was traveling in and out of the States every month for a while and some cities stamped my passport coming in and some didn't.  I've developed quite the colection of US stamps.  Sometimes it even depended on the IO at the airport .  I always thought it was a habit they developed from stamping all of the passports in the visitor line.