It seems that once they let you enter the U.S. they will let one go about one's holiday or business activities etc, but the day you depart, the onus is on the visitor leaving their country to advise the authorities that you are leaving?? I bet if i went to Miami again, the same thing would happen and will keep happening simply because no one will pass on the information to correct things. Singapore is just a speck in the ocean when compared to U.S. but an airport is set up for arrival and departure passengers and those in transit. I can't imagine anyone leaving Singapore (Changi Airport) without a stamp in the passport showing you have departed and the stapled visitors card also removed at the same time. It is as if most airports in the U.S. have not been told what procedures/rules are to be strictly followed and one would think that in these times of high airport security, such procedures/rules would be standard at all airports. Not so!! and yet they have had long enough to get it right.
I guess it is like tipping, we learn from the experience, especially now that the American's have perfected the exact tipping (gratuity) calculation on the bill just in case you might have difficulty working out what the service is worth.
