do you really have to carry your green card everywhere?

[Lou Lou 1]

I don't know why people make such a fuss about carrying it. I carry it in my purse. I've been lucky enough never to lose my purse in my entire life, nor has it been stolen (after living in London near enough all my life). So what are the chances of me losing the GC? Pretty damn low IMHO.

If you're always losing your wallet or purse, then carry it in something else that you don't lose

[Reba 2]

I don't see what the big deal is having to carry it. If you have a driver's license you have to carry that with you all the time right? Same damn thing.

And the $500 fine for NOT carrying it is a lot more than the $190 fee to get a replacement!

[Kajikit 65]

I guess I like to live dangerously... besides, I very rarely go anywhere, and I'm an anglo-female approaching middle-age. I'm not exactly a public menace or likely to encounter a police officer. (shrugs)

I carry my state ID card for identification.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I too am Ango-female well into middle age.... but I still carry my State Drivers Licence and my Greencard.... and yes I have been asked for ID at police road check areas....

Guess it depends where you live and how comfortable you are about not having it on you....

Kezzie

[mawilson 2,133]

Hey everyone,

I just got my welcome to America letter and it mentions that when you get your green card through, you should always carry it around with you, and then it states that this is the law.....

Do you really need to carry it everywhere? I mean you could lose it pretty easy that way!! I know a few friends who have theirs and they keep it safe in their bedroom drawer!

Paul

Well... technically yes, but I never carry it. Who would even ask for it? I got into a car

accident once and all the cops wanted to see was my driver's licence.

[Anna C. 4]

So they can take you into custody until your status is verified? What happens to me then or to all the others who have NOAs only and their K1 is expired during the waiting process??? Would my EAD be proof enough of being legal?!

I remember with my J1 visa I was asked to carry my passport with me at all times. I never did that. Way too valueable. MY passport was in a safe where it belongs to be!!! People could steal it and sell it on the blackmarket. Happened to a friend of mine.

Well thanks in advance for the answers!!!

[lucyrich 20]

Here's the actual law governing carrying the Green Card. It's in INA 264

(d) Every alien in the United States who has been registered and fingerprinted under the provisions of the Alien Registration Act, 1940, or under the provisions of this Act shall be issued a certificate of alien registration or an alien registration receipt card in such form and manner and at such time as shall be prescribed under regulations issued by the Attorney General.

(e) Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d). Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

So the penalty for not carrying your Green Card, if you've been issued one, is 30 days in prison and/or a $100.00 fine. I don't know how often this penalty is assessed, but I suspect not often.

Interestingly, US Citizens are not required to carry any form of ID whatsoever (drivers licenses are only required if one is driving). But if an alien misrepresents himself as a citizen to law enforcement in order to get around the requirement to carry the Green Card, there are some pretty serious penalties involved.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I remember reading about some form of legislation a while back that proposed ID cards for all U.S. citizens. I don't remember what happened to it. Maybe I could dig it up (if I have time, that is). Of course, I could be remembering incorrectly as well, since I read this article a long, long time ago, and the exact details of it are sketchy at best.

Anyway, as it stands right now, there are no ID cards (with the exception of a driver's license if one drives) for a USC. But then permanent residents are not USC's, so they do need to carry (or are supposed to carry) their greencard everywhere they go. I don't see the big deal in that. Like Reba said, it's just like carrying a driver's license.

Just don't lose your wallet. If you're a male, keep your wallet in one of your side pockets (never put it in your back pocket), and when in crowds, hold the wallet down with your hand, so pick-pockets can't get at it. If you're a female, keep your wallet in your purse, and hold onto your purse (and keep your purse with you everywhere you go) when in crowds or in general. All of it seems very natural and logical.

[Reba 2]

So they can take you into custody until your status is verified? What happens to me then or to all the others who have NOAs only and their K1 is expired during the waiting process??? Would my EAD be proof enough of being legal?!

Yep, if you're between K1 and Green Card, just carry a copy of your passport with you (copy the page with the visa in it). Once you have your EAD, that would be sufficient evidence that you're legal.

I recal a couple of years ago a couple in south Texas were kept in custody until they could find someone to go to their house and get their green cards for them. They'd been out for a drive and didn't have their cards with them. They got stopped at a regular roadside check, and then were taken to the holding cells until their status could be verified.

Personally, I'd rather carry it with me than be humiliated in a jail cell But that's just me. I've seen holding cells, they're not very comfy.

[eclowjpd 0]

What would trigger an officer to ask for status? The police normally ask for drivers license and insurance card.

Lets hope she is never involved in an Police Stop as I was.... I was asked for my status by the officer and I told him I am a greencard holder.... he then asked to see it.... I had it in my wallet so no problem.... I did ask what would have happened if I had not had it with me and I was told I could have been taken in to custody until my status could be verified... now I dont know if they would have done that but I will never take that chance....

Kezzie

Wow, what does a permanent resident or USC sound like? If ones accent doesn't fit the cops concept of "american" you're asked about your status? Seems like discrimination and profiling.

Bill

Well I am a white female so could pass for american until I open my mouth and my Scottish accent comes out....

Kezzie

[mawilson 2,133]

What would trigger an officer to ask for status? The police normally ask for drivers license and insurance card.

At least here in New York city they NEVER do. Otherwise, they would have to deport

5 million illegals who live here.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I should clarify, i do keep it in my wallet. But if I go for a run, walk the dog, I dont bring my wallet, thus dont have my green card. Been stopped twice by the police and have never been asked about my status. That being, I am a white male from Canada. Maybe if I wasn't I would be a bit more leary. I'm good friends with a guy that works for ICE, so far he hasn't turned me in, lol

[Peggy 1]

I must say I dont carry my passport around with. It has my stamp in it from my AOS interview.

My sons Green Card is in my dresser. I dont let him carry it around with him. He is under 18 so he in not required by law to have it on him.

I have been stopped by the police at a road check and they just wanted to see my drivers license. I only had my Canadian License at the time. They just told me to go get them changed over to my State License.

They never asked me my status.

[A-PhiJill 0]

My DH carries his at all times and just in case G-d forbid, he loses it, i have a photocopy of both sides of the card. We keep the passports locked up but I have a photocopy of them too...d

I think it makes it a lot easier if ya have to replace it

[Collie 122]

Mine is in our filing cabinet, so i don't carry it around. I think its too much of a risk if i lose it so thats my reasoning behind it. I believe that a driving license or state id card is enough i.d when I'm asked.