For a frequent overseas traveller, Travel History is a quite familiar term. However, anyone flying to a foreign territory for the first time may be required to know what does this term literally indicate. Basically, Travel History is a kind of travel record, which includes number of entries by a visitor to a particular country. Besides, the record also includes various other information pertaining to visa type, duration of stay in a country, traveller’s exit information etc.
There are various Border Service Agencies from where, an applicant can request for his/her travel history report. Additionally, the official portals of Custom and Border Protection (CBP) can also help an application in getting the arrival/departure information. However, depending on the country and purpose of request, an applicant may not be always required to request for a Travel History report. For example; anyone applying for the citizenship, permanent resident card or any old age security pension program in Canada, Travel History report is not required. On the other hand, anyone travelling to a particular country frequently, the respective Embassy will keep an eye on traveller’s visa information, financial statement, family situation at the native country, location of the port of entry etc.
The prime purpose of keeping a tab on applicant’s travel information is to ensure that the applicant has already been to a particular country several times and returned back to the source country before the expiry of the visa terms. At times, applicants are also recommended to provide their past exit record and foreign passports even if they are archaic. The reason being, providing such old information helps in gaining trust in the eyes of immigration officers, which ensures that the applicant will not financially be dependent on the visiting country.
Applicants seeking a Travel History Report should also be very specific if they are in need of only entry record or exit record or both. Furthermore, it is to be informed that the exit information is limited and the same will not be included if requested in particular by an applicant. Some of the important information required for collecting entry and exit reports may include location of port of entry, name of the applicant, date of birth, passport number etc.
If you haven’t made your debut voyage to any country yet, start practicing the request for your travel record from your next trip. This will get you the complete record of your travel date, travel destination, visa type, date of entry, exit date etc. So let your travel history be a transparent report card to the immigration officials and embassy of the visiting country.
