Must she carry her green card daily?

[A + M 29]

I have my GC on me at all times. If I decide I no longer want to carry it around, what should I use as my ID?

P.s. I don't have a DL.

Edited July 11, 2011 by A + M

[JoyDee 21]

I think, honestly, it depends on the kind of place where you live and in all likelihood the nationality of the LPR (sad but probably true).

I mentioned 287(g) above. In Georgia, immigration is a hot button topic of the moment. Three counties near me are part of the program, as are the State Patrol. If they should arrest you, you'll be challenged about your immigration status when you're booked in at the county nick. A green card deals with that little matter instantly and without hassle. Not having your GC would make it a messy and probably very unpleasant experience while they clear it up. Now I for one don't plan on being arrested for anything but it seems to be something that can happen at the drop of a hat for very minor things so it would be foolish to assume it'll never happen to you.

The stats for one of the 287(g) counties in Metro Atlanta paints a clear picture. The vast majority of those detained for immigration matters were from Latin America and the vast, vast majority were arrested for minor traffic violations, not having their DL or "other misdemeanor" offences. Having your GC on your person, if you're in those groups and/or in an area where 'catching the illegals' is a big deal, would be more than advised!

It takes quite a bit to get arrested, drunken driving for instance, perhaps soliciting a prostitute. A red light violation is not an arrest, nor is a speeding ticket, and they cannot ask for your paperwork. I think that folks should brush up on their rights, especially in states like that where you are under constant threat. If you are a legal resident they will find that out when they book you whether or not you are carrying the physical copy of the greencard. Thank heavens for the internet.

[JeremyR 8]

It takes quite a bit to get arrested, drunken driving for instance, perhaps soliciting a prostitute. A red light violation is not an arrest, nor is a speeding ticket, and they cannot ask for your paperwork. I think that folks should brush up on their rights, especially in states like that where you are under constant threat.

Indeed it does take a fair bit to get arrested but not as much as in some other countries, so less than some GC holders might expect. You could be really quite argumentative with most British police officers but so long as you didn't go to assault them, they probably wouldn't arrest you for that on it's own. Say one rude word to a lot of American officers though, and it's cuffs and back seat of the cruiser time.

If you are a legal resident they will find that out when they book you whether or not you are carrying the physical copy of the greencard.

Indeed again but the idea is to avoid a trip to county jail in the first place. Most would agree that's probably not a pleasant experience!

[JDBY 0]

In some States, if a police pulled you over asking for your driver license, he/she will check your immigration status as well; and, the next thing they will ask for is you current valid green card. Yes, the holograms-imprinted plastic one, not a photocopy. Georgia is one of them now.

Spoken from experience.

I was stopped by the police in a sub division doing 30 in a 25 (he wasn't bored was he?) near Charlotte NC. I happened to have my green card with me, after taking my drivers license and checking me out, he said i detect an accent where are you from? I said London England, he asked me how I was finding life and general chit chat. I said I have my green card if you want to see it? he said no thank you sir that wont be necessary, gave me a warning for my "speeding" and bid me a good day. Just my experience, since then, I have left my green card at home as I figured that my DL was enough for them to check me out, considering in NC that you must proove status to obtain a license.

[chinausa 7]

Are you serious? Alex B ? what do you mean by "I'd definitely carry it if you're anything other than caucasian and live in some state like AZ. " Are American police officers all caucasian??

You need to be careful with what you say. This is America, people came here from all over the world. Do not bring up ethnicity sensitive topics here.

Being caucasian doesn't mean you are superior than the rest of the ethnicities. People file lawsuits again racists all the time in this country.

Carry GC if you want, leave GC at home if you want. Its just money, you make money and you spend money. If you lost your GC, just replace another new one, and you probably would have a chance to take a better photo for your GC. This shouldn't even be a problem to worry about. Relax, enjoy other more important things in your life, and just be careful with GC, we're all adult. We should be able to NOT lose the GC.

XH

Edited July 13, 2011 by chinausa

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Well,

it's fair to assume that the average person would envision the "typical illegal alien" as a Hispanic, mostly a Mexican. Ironically, that's true: the overwhelming majority of illegal aliens are from Mexico, the second group are those from Central or South America who entered the US via the Mexico/US border.

Thus, ethnicity does indeed play a role in who is more likely to be asked about his immigration status. For the very reason Arizona's SB-1070 was targeted by civil rights groups as a bill that would target for the most part brown people, as they called it.

It may also be the reason why I was never asked about my immigration status in now almost 20 years of living in Southern California and having driven to the southernmost part of the country several times. I'm a middle aged white guy, short hair, clean cut, decent appearance, almost accent free English. Would I look like what people think is a typical illegal immigrant, I would imagine that I would have encountered problems over the years.

That's just the way it is. Let's call it reality, shall we?

[Pui 0]

I have my GC on me at all time. One time in GA, I was stopped by a police officer at the check point, I only showed him my DL card and it was all good. The police officer never asked for my GC. However, I still want to have my GC on me at all time anyway because you never know when you gonna need it.

[Eshansmommy 2]

I have my GC on me at all times. If I decide I no longer want to carry it around, what should I use as my ID?

P.s. I don't have a DL.

Get a Driver's license or an ID card. What are you waiting on?

And it says in the manual that we are obligated to carry our card on us....

[SydneytoWaco 0]

I had the same question as the OP, and I was linked to this thread.

I actually didn't have my GC (conditional at the time) on me once when I went to visit Big Bend National Park (on the Mexican border). I was going hiking in the mountains and knew it might get damaged (I got soaked by a torrential downpour mid walk). But being near the border I should have probably taken it.

On the way back I went through a customs/border protection checkpoint. I didn't have it on me and explained why, I also showed them my DL. They held me for all of about 20 minutes whilst they did their checks and then let me go about my way. So for all the fear mongers in this thread, I didn't have a bad experience at all. Worst case my wife would have had to come down (a 9 hour drive!) to pick me up with my GC in her hand. But arrest/jail wasn't even on their minds.

[TBoneTX 44,674]

I actually didn't have my GC (conditional at the time) on me once when I went to visit Big Bend National Park (on the Mexican border). [...] I went through a customs/border protection checkpoint. I didn't have it on me [...] They held me for all of about 20 minutes [...] But arrest/jail wasn't even on their minds.

This is extremely atypical, and you were very fortunate. At several of those checkpoints (and I've been through nearly all of them), even USCs are harassed. Only the checkpoint north of Laredo is consistently professional. The "fearmongers in this thread" are doing well to take heed and take precautions by carrying their green card as the law requires.

[visacheck 3]

I have my GC on me at all times. If I decide I no longer want to carry it around, what should I use as my ID?

P.s. I don't have a DL.

If the only reason you're carrying your GC is for proof of identification... you are carrying a very expensive ID. Have you ever heard of State ID?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

This subject comes up all the time and every time it's like a spark at the gas station.

My take on this is an informed one, based on having lived for now 20 years in Southern California and never, ever, not even once been asked about my immigration status, let alone my Green Card, and I have studied at UCLA and driven very close to the Mexican border numerous times.

The Green Card is needed to enter the U.S. again after having been outside the country. It's like an entry pass to Disneyland: once you are in, you can store it away. Within the United States, the common form of ID is a driver's license. Police doesn't ask for a Green Card because they are not allowed to, simple as that. Why would a cop risk losing his job or career over something that's none of his business anyway?

The only people who can ask you about your citizenship and immigration status and are authorized to see your Green Card are federal agents, namely:

1) CIA (if you are working as a spy for Al 'Queda and they find out, they'll come to your house

2) FBI (If you commit a horrible crime such as child obduction or rape or mass murder, you'll get in contact with those

3) USCIS (you only meet them if you go to their office, and only after having made an appointment)

4) CBP (those are the guys that check your Green Card at the airport when you enter the U.S. again from abroad)

5) ICE (those guys are hunting illegal aliens with criminal convictions. I have never seen one, except on TV where an actor played one.)

Hence, common sense (not a generally accepted concept anymore) dictates to keep the Green Card in a super safe place unless traveling internationally. This way not only the inconvenience of having to wait on a replacement can be avoided, but also the cost of $450. My two Green Cards lived their entire life in a locked firesafe box inside a locked Steelcase steel cabinet. My 2-year Green Card still looks like it's never been touched, 'cause it's been touched by human hands less than 5 times.

[Drogs 24]

Why not just carry a photocopy of the Green Card whilst in the USA(if going hiking ect then a Ziploc bag is handy for keeping it and any money dry), If travelling abroad then carry the original card

[JeremyR 8]

Why not just carry a photocopy of the Green Card whilst in the USA(if going hiking ect then a Ziploc bag is handy for keeping it and any money dry), If travelling abroad then carry the original card

Next time a cop pulls you over and asks for your drivers license, offer up a photocopy of it and see how well that goes. Leaving aside the argument of how likely it is, if you're asked to show your green card the officer is not likely to be satisfied with anything but the real deal.

[Matt & Bing 56]

Glad I saw this thread ... Its convinced me to remove the green card from my wife's wallet and keep it somewhere safe. My God, the fear mongering by a few is just ridiculous.