Unstamped Passport

[Germaknee]

I am a US Citizen that traveled under a US Passport to London. When I arrived in London my passport was stamped "leave to enter for 6 months". A week later I traveled from London to Germany for a weekend then returned to London and got stamped again "leave to enter for 6 months". I had no Germany stamp just the two times I entered London. I am back in the US now and was curious if I needed to have a "closed date" stamp saying that I left London? Should these stamps have said "enter to leave for 6 months"?

Will I have a problem if I return to a UK or other European location? Like does this make my passport no longer valid for those countries?

[txh1b]

I think it is the language context that is causing the problem here. The "leave" used here was not as a verb but as a noun. That means you have been granted permission for 6 months. This definition "Make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain" from a popular source is being used here.

Many countries do not have an exit stamp which includes US.

[Germaknee]

Overstay

So Then how would one know if I overstayed 6 months? If I go to UK and get stamped when I come in, I could be there for 3 years if I wanted to and just leave without problems when returning to US?

[txh1b]

Every country has an entry stamp though. So, that can be figured out easily if you left the country on time or not.

US has the I-94 that tracks departures. I am not sure of UK. If one wants to be an illegal, loop holes exist in any country one visits. That is why Visa Officers make sure while granting visa. For Visa Waiver countries, they seem to trust each other.

[Germaknee]

Slightly confused

Every country has an entry stamp though. So, that can be figured out easily if you left the country on time or not.

US has the I-94 that tracks departures. I am not sure of UK. If one wants to be an illegal, loop holes exist in any country one visits. That is why Visa Officers make sure while granting visa. For Visa Waiver countries, they seem to trust each other.

When I went to London, I never got a US re-entry stamp when I returned to the US? I think I just walked through the "US Citizen" line or something. This does not list me as still being in UK? All this shows then is that I left US on March 15th arrived in London twice (16th from US, 22nd from Germany) Even though I am back in US currently but also visited Germany with no record? If my stamps are March 16th and 22nd of 2007 for entry into London and wanted to go back to London this June (08) do you think that would pose a problem?

[txh1b]

With respect to immigration, the burden of proof always rests on the visitor/immigrant. If you are concerned, save copy of the previous boarding pass, eticket proof etc.

As you are a USC, you are less likely to encounter a problem. It seems like EU countries think people with US visa are not likely to stay there and waive transit visa needs for many travellers that are non US citizens and you are a USC.

I did not know that USCs don't get an entry stamp on the passport upon returning. I think you are worrying too much though.