The United States has announced plans to stop stamping passports, given that entry into the country is increasingly reliant on biometric data anyway. This seems logical enough, and for that matter, it’s a change that has been a long time coming. However, perhaps some passport stamp collectors will be bummed.
United States replacing passport stamps with biometrics
United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has revealed plans to eliminate the routine use of passport stamps when entering the United States. As it’s described, CBP has engaged in a series of initiatives aimed at modernizing its processes, optimizing resources, reducing operating costs, and creating a welcoming environment for all arriving travelers (when I think CBP, the first thing that comes to mind is definitely “welcoming,” yep!).
This has included things like the automation of forms, implementation of new mobile technology, and increased use of biometric facial matching. As the latest step of this, passport stamps will be eliminated to reduce primary processing times and operating costs.
It’s noted that when appropriate, admissions stamps may still be used during secondary processing, and in limited circumstances in primary, when processing immigrant visas or upon a traveler’s specific request. Travelers can retrieve evidence of their admission, authorized length of stay, and five years of arrival data, by accessing the CBP I-94 website.
Now, it’s worth noting that it’s not like the United States has consistently used stamps in recent years anyway. Certainly those with Global Entry haven’t had their passports stamped. Beyond that, though, even foreigners largely haven’t had their passports stamped. It just hasn’t been consistent, we’ve seen all kinds of trials, etc. But what we’re seeing now is an official phasing out of stamping as a standard part of the process.
This is a common sense development
Passport stamps are kind of a funny thing, and the idiom “too much of a good thing is a bad thing” comes to mind. Some people get really excited by passport stamps, because of course they can be a fun memory of the places you’ve traveled to. It’s kind of like collecting a fridge magnet from a place you’ve visited, only… in your passport.
However, for frequent travelers, these stamps can become a pain, since your passport can fill up pretty quickly, requiring you to get a new one.
The novelty of passport stamps aside, instead relying on biometric data is just generally a smart move in terms of border security. After all, the data is being collected anyway, and it’s ultimately much more reliable than a stamp.
It is funny to see the United States planning on increasing the number of pages in standard passports, all while actual passport stamps are becoming increasingly rare. Then again, it’s not like it costs much to print some extra pages, so it’s at least useful for all the visas that people may need.
Bottom line
While this has been a long time coming, the United States now plans to fully phase out passport stamping as a standard part of the immigration process. CBP has ultimately relied on biometric data for entry anyway, so this is hardly a radical development, especially with many passengers already not being stamped.
Passport stamps are increasingly becoming a thing of the past, and that’s at least useful for frequent travelers in terms of not having to pick up extra passports, due to running out of pages.
What do you make of the US eliminating passport stamping?
Going to - and already do - miss the stamps/stamping. I get it, but still. I'm also reminded of the opening to the film European Vacation.
It would be good if the passport owner could see the digital data. When you do global entry, they ask you for a list of places youve been. THEY have the list...but its up to us to remember and without stamps it's harder.
Welcome to the twentieth century. Now consider doing something with your banking system.
The US banking system is fine as it is. We do not need the archaic 3DS to protect the merchant at the expense of the consumer. Basically you have to prove yourself every time to spend your money online.
Given that the person stamping passports also tend to write in the passports of non-citizens how long they can stay in the country, will they just be skipping that now?
Going back to the US from Canada a few weeks ago no passport. Just the biometrics. Took all of 30 seconds.
"has reveals plans"
you mean *revealed*
Thanks, Charles. Got that updated.
Most countries are going in that direction, not just the US.