Losing a green card

[Malrothien 6]

I think it is. I think it is helpful in order to understand. Understand that there is no need to carry the card around on a daily basis. Most people will never have to show it in their lifetime.

But in order to comply with USCI regulations, for those who prefer to have the card with them when leaving the house, there's a better place for it than the wallet, which is what pocket pickers are aiming at. I can think of quite a few places where I could have access to my card that would not be the target of thieves.

Yes, most people will never have to show it, but what happens if you ARE that person? Fines? Maybe being held? No thank you.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Yes, most people will never have to show it, but what happens if you ARE that person? Fines? Maybe being held? No thank you.

You are correct. In the end it's a personal decision. If you cannot produce the Green Card to immigration officals, you are running a risk of a $100 fine. If you lose your Green Card, you have to pay $310. Hold on, let me do the math real quick . . . . got it! I can be fined 3 times for not having my Green Card on me, yet am financially still ahead over somebody who had to replace theirs once.

Hmm . . . decisions, decisions.

P.S.

Even as a SoCal resident in close proximity to the Mexican border, and having traveled very close to said border many times, I have never, ever, by no person in the almost 2 decades I now live in this country, been asked about my status or asked about my Green Card or even shown my Social Security Card. Both are where my passport and my emergency cash are: in a safe place at home.

Food for thought.

[LindaB 0]

I cross the border every day from Washington state to BC. to go to work and have to show my permanent resident card going up and especially coming back into the U.S. Even when I am in the Nexus lane they ask my status and want to see my card.

[maplestar 2]

I have my green card back!

We got a call yesterday from the transit company that they'd located my wallet, so we drove to their office to pick it up. Had about an hour of wait, because we needed a supervisor who had the key (it had been somebody from another office who'd called us, not realizing that the Norfolk office had no lost and found staff working that day). And the first time the supervisor looked, she couldn't find it. But their computer showed it as located, so that was good, and we eventually left with my wallet in hand.

So far as I can tell, all is there except for $25 in cash. I'll still carry the card with me. (I'm sorry, guys, but when the US government tells me one thing and "random person on message board" tells me something else, I'm going with the US government. Even if it's not likely I'll need to produce it, I assume it will be a whole lot of hassle if I don't have it that one-in-a-million time I need it.)

But some of the other cards will find new homes (I obviously don't need my SIN card every day. Nor do I need a pile of loyalty cards for chains in Canada. And the now-superseded Employment Authorization Card can probably live in that safe place where I store my Social Security Card, etc.)

Now, to reactivate my debit card...

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Great news for you...the person who found it wasn't out to commit major fruad I guess...just to take the easy cash.

[Spoom 8]

Congrats on getting your green card back, maplestar

I'm still interested in knowing if, legally speaking, one is required to have the original LPR card on their person at all times, or if one can get by with just a copy. Technically speaking, the copy should be sufficient to prove your legal status, given that it has at the very least your A-file number on it (right?) and possibly another unique identifier, which they should be able to look up on demand. Can someone point me to the laws in question?

Edited March 30, 2010 by Spoom

[OBX 51]

Great news on getting your card back!

Congrats on getting your green card back, maplestar

I'm still interested in knowing if, legally speaking, one is required to have the original LPR card on their person at all times, or if one can get by with just a copy. Technically speaking, the copy should be sufficient to prove your legal status, given that it has at the very least your A-file number on it (right?) and possibly another unique identifier, which they should be able to look up on demand. Can someone point me to the laws in question?

I would be interested in knowing as well. I now carry just a copy but figure that along with my drivers' licence that should be sufficient.