carrying green card all the time

[EMC2 1]

So I received this letter and it indicates that I should carry my green card with me at all times IT IS THE LAW.

My husband had his green card for 5 years before he became citizen and he never had it with him.

If you have a drivers license is it still necessary to carry your gc?

What's the worst hing that could happen?

Any experiences?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Yes. It's the law.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/do-i-really-need-carry-green-card-me.html

[Caryh 5,206]

While the law states you must carry this at all times, there was a bit of an outcry about it, as its many hundreds of dollars to replace and a very long wait. So enforcement was dropped.

[arken 4,197]

I am running on the fifth year on my GC and have been carrying it only when I am travelling internationally. I use DL only for domestic air travel. I am not taking the chances of loosing it by carrying all the time.

[EMC2 1]

Thank you for your replies!

I think I will carry mine because I don't want to break the law by any chance.....

[Lemonslice 4,840]

I carry a photocopy when I am not travelling - card is kept in our safe at home and husband knows where to find it should I get arrested or something. I figured the chance of being arrested are much lower than the chances of losing my wallet and have to pay to replace the green card.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to General Immigration-Related Discussion ~

[KierenHby 899]

Yes. It's the law.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/do-i-really-need-carry-green-card-me.html

That is not an official US govt resource.

Yes, by law you are supposed to carry the GC at all times; however, enforcement is rarely enforced. GC risks being lost or stolen and replacement is a messy and expensive affair. Keep it locked and safe, unless of course you're travelling internationally.

Better to make a clean, color copy and carry that instead. Whenever law enforcement asks for it, they can get initial proof of residency from the color copy.

Edited April 29, 2016 by KierenHby

[rutabaga 209]

The information provided in the link is accurate (and cites the relevant section of the code to boot); it doesn't matter if it's not "an official US govt resource". Whether a copy will be accepted by a LEO as "initial proof of residency" is entirely up to the LEO as the law is that you have to carry the card itself and they are by no means obligated to accept a copy.

(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.

[charmander 692]

Has there been any other effort other Arizona SB 1070, where states tried to enforce carry immigration papers at all times?

I've been in this country for 13 years (NY and MA) and never ever I carried my passport or GC unless I was traveling. Even when I travel abroad, I leave my passport in a safe lock. Who wants to carry these documents with themselves all the time?

[Caryh 5,206]

For those that tout the law and say you must, I ask that you show evidence that anyone has ever been prosecuted for not carrying a green card. Every case I have seen, the US Attorney's Office has declined to prosecute.

[rutabaga 209]

You don't have to be prosecuted to have your day ruined--just being detained over it would be enough if you ask me (admittedly, more of a risk for those traveling in the areas with CBP checkpoints).

Edited April 29, 2016 by rutabaga

[Transborderwife 4,666]

The way I see it, would you drive with only a photocopy of your licence? No you wouldn't. Yes, that costs significantly less to replace but it's the same sort of respect.

[arken 4,197]

There are laws and there are norms. It's the law that you are required to carry your GC all the time and it's the norm that nobody will ask for it as long as you provide the other forms of identification like Driver License or State ID. How many of us have been asked to show GC while travelling in the US?

The need of carrying a Drivers License (and not its photocopy) while driving is comparable to the need of carrying a GC while crossing the Border.

[charmander 692]

You don't have to be prosecuted to have your day ruined--just being detained over it would be enough if you ask me (admittedly, more of a risk for those traveling in the areas with CBP checkpoints).

They could detain a US citizen for the same purpose. Who carries their birth/naturalization certificate or passport with themselves at all times? Recent statistics show only 36% of Americans own a passport. https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/statistics.html . So for the remaining 64% of the population the only proof of citizenship is the birth or naturalization certificate.

Edited April 29, 2016 by charmander