You might have read some of the er... issues.. I have been going through.
What they want to know is that you left, and when. You were right to send in your I94/W stub and boarding card, and you were very wise to keep copies to have with you next time you try and enter. Do not lose them!
As another poster said, After 90 days (max) of entry you would be classed an an 'overstay' so getting another passport stamp from elsewhere now is much of a muchness.
In fact, the airlines have lost 5 exit cards of mine (from a multitude of visits over 15 years), but it took me many years (approx 7) to find out which visits were a problem. They wouldn't even tell me the problem was missing exit cards, just that was 'a problem' on my records!
The first missing record was after entering in March 97 going to Miami, the second, also March 97, also going to Miami. So as you see... as I re-entered within 90 days and could not have overstayed on the first trip was not really the main issue for them. They just had no record of me leaving, and it sent up red flags.
I reckon they must have lost billions of these exit cards, and it is a pain in the derriere. I keep all my boarding cards (for obscure reasons), I even had those relating to the 'missing' exits from 10 years ago. Once they finally told me what the issues were, I sent them the info they wanted the next day.
That was a month ago, I'm still waiting to hear that my record has been physically corrected.
To the OP. Don't worry. You've done the right thing. Take your copy records with you.
Talking about this very issue with USC&BP in Washington recently, they suggested in future:
- Take a copy of your exit card (also note it's # in your diary)
- Note your departure in your diary (airport, flight #, airline)
- Request an exit stamp when you leave the US (apparently!)
- and/or request an