The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will stop routinely stamping passports during the first stage of entry screening, but travelers can still ask an officer for a physical stamp.
The change was outlined in a bulletin published on October 1, 2026, through the agency’s Carrier Liaison Program. CBP did not give a specific date for when routine stamping will end.
Why the procedure is changing
CBP said the shift forms part of efforts to modernize border processing, which increasingly uses automated forms, mobile services and facial biometric technology.
The agency said ending routine stamping could reduce the time officers spend at the initial screening point and lower operational costs.
When a passport stamp may still be issued
Officers may continue stamping passports during secondary screening, when travelers are sent for further examination. Stamps may also be used in some cases during primary screening, including when processing immigration visas.
Travelers who want a physical record of their entry can request a stamp directly from a CBP officer. The agency said requests will still be honoured.
Electronic I-94 record serves as proof of entry
The end of routine passport stamping does not mean the US will stop recording arrivals. CBP said foreign travelers’ official entry records are held in the electronic Form I-94, which is updated when they are admitted.
Travellers can use the official I-94 portal or the free CBP One mobile application to view their admission record, immigration status and authorized length of stay. They can also view and print the document when they need to show proof of admission to a government agency, school or employer.
CBP advised travelers to contact its offices if they find an error in their I-94 record so it can be corrected.
US Expands Social Media Checks for Visa Applicants.
Newsunplug.co.ke reported that the US was expanding social media screening for applicants seeking I, TN and TD visas from October 1, 2026.
The move added another layer of scrutiny to the country’s immigration and border screening procedures.
Applicants may be required to make their social media profiles available for review as part of the vetting process.
