Verify Yourself!

While the United States still has its issues tracking foreign nationals (see New York Times article “U.S. Can’t Trace Foreign Visitors on Expired Visas”) you can help yourself to not get caught up in the web, and be accused of staying in the States longer than allowed, and longer than you actually did.

Keep good records of your travels in and out of the United States. For planes, trains and buses, keep your boarding pass stub and tickets for the travels leaving the United States.  For vehicle drivers and passengers, it becomes a bit tougher. The best way is when you enter Canada in your vehicle (or as a passenger) tell the Canadian inspector at the booth that you would like to get your passport stamped.

If that is too time consuming, remember to use the same credit card for purchases made in the United States (and keep receipts) and then immediately after enter Canada… whether it’s the same day or shortly afterwards. You would at least have a plausible argument (and some evidence) that you left the United States.

Of course, U.S. immigration could argue that you couriered your credit card to someone in Canada who used it just to fake your exit!