Will US customs have records of someone entering the US (in 1989) and exiting (in 1991)? It was before machine-readable passports

//ads -- adsterra.com -- native banner
?>
I assume there won't be any records available as it was over 25 years ago. Does ayone know anything more concrete than my guess? To be clear, the person overstayed their visa by 18 months and wants to return to the US for a holiday.
Best Answer
Does anyone know anything more concrete than my guess?
By default you should presume that the US government does know and build up your strategy accordingly. Your options are therefore:
- Best approach: apply for a US visa, honestly mentioning your previous overstay. Assuming you're an otherwise law-abiding individual with a stable source of income its highly likely you will receive a visa regardless of your previous overstay.
- Risky approach: fly to Canada and then enter the US overland, without applying for an ESTA or a visa. At the land border you are usually not asked about previous overstays and the crossing experience is quite smooth. But if you are asked, the best strategy would be to tell the truth and hope for the best. In the worst case scenario you can just drive back to Canada and enjoy a holiday there instead.
Pictures about "Will US customs have records of someone entering the US (in 1989) and exiting (in 1991)? It was before machine-readable passports"



How do U.S. citizens get travel history?
Apply for or Retrieve Form I-94, Request Travel History and Check Travel Compliance. International travelers visiting the United States can apply for or retrieve their I-94 admission number/record (which is proof of legal visitor status) as well as retrieve a limited travel history of their U.S. arrivals and departures ...How do I get my Arrival Departure Record?
To access this record, visit the CBP's website . Your electronic I-94 record should be printed immediately after arrival. Nonimmigrants who arrive in the United States by crossing a land border will continue to receive the paper I-94 card.How do I find my border crossing record?
Accessing the database and pulling up your border crossing history is simple. All you have to do is visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection I-94 request page, and input your full name, date of birth and passport number. You'll be able to see a history of your US ins and outs.What is the name of the record of your arrival to the United States?
The I-94 travel record, formally known as the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, is a paper or electronic document issued by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer to foreign visitors entering the United States.How forged passports are caught in UAE
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Charles Parker, Tim Samuel, Charles Parker, Uriel Mont