Greencard stolen overseas

[Daniela M_______ 410]

Is it legal to carry a copy of the GC? I live in Mexico and I have a temporary residence card (pretty much an actual green card but mexican😂) once I thought it would be a good idea to make a color copy and keep the original safe at homw and they told me at migration office to not do that as it can be misinterpreted as document fraud or falsification.

 

The way around was to get a notarized copy of it (very expensive btw) and it's a 2 pages document which of course is not very comfortable to have in a wallet...

 

I know they are different countries but maybe there is a restriction about that in the US also? what happen if my GC is at home and I get asked for it somewhere?

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

I had Adil take 2 copies of his green card to keep one in his lugguage and leave one here (like we are told to do with our passports)

then he could get help at our embassy with the copy if he lost it or had it stolen

BTW the green card says on it to carry it at all times

and here in TN they had a round up about a year ago and it was rough on those with no green card

usually they go to work sites with a bus like  they do at least once a month to the chicken slaughtter plants in middle Ga

[little immigrant 801]

16 hours ago, Damara said:

It seems hes going to attempt to go to the Embassy and tell them he doesnt have the money to pay for the boarding foil and they need to just give it to him. I dont think thats going to work but who knows? Often he does stuff like that and people for some reason just make exceptions for him and do things they arent suppose to do. But he will handle this- Im confident of that... 

I definitely want to hear how this goes.

[CEE53147 559]

The fees are  to help pay for the people who provide the services. Why should the US taxpayers pay for his decision to make it possible for his documents to be stolen? I cannot imagine who would be so foolish as to leave a wallet or purse unattended, outside overnight - or even for 5 minutes. I have had to pay recently for having a car windshield replaced because3 a vandal damaged it on the street. Should my neighbors have had to chip in?

[TBoneTX 45,288]

1 hour ago, Daniela M_______ said:

it can be misinterpreted as document fraud or falsification

Yes.

It's Federal law that green cards must be carried.  Period.  Posters should please stop suggesting otherwise.

[Illiria 980]

Technically you are required to carry the original, it’s got a fine and up to 30

days in jail for not carrying it. I have to say I always did and now carry my passport card just in case as my work would occasionally see ICE around and I can’t be bothered to argue about impracticalities of carrying it. 

2 hours ago, Daniela M_______ said:

Is it legal to carry a copy of the GC? I live in Mexico and I have a temporary residence card (pretty much an actual green card but mexican😂) once I thought it would be a good idea to make a color copy and keep the original safe at homw and they told me at migration office to not do that as it can be misinterpreted as document fraud or falsification.

 

The way around was to get a notarized copy of it (very expensive btw) and it's a 2 pages document which of course is not very comfortable to have in a wallet...

 

I know they are different countries but maybe there is a restriction about that in the US also? what happen if my GC is at home and I get asked for it somewhere?

Bleh, this is awful but glad he is safe and wasn’t hurt in it being taken.

Edited September 25, 2018 by Illiria
Damn autocorrect

[AshMarty 360]

17 hours ago, Boiler said:

Does he have Travel Insurance?

This would probably be a good idea to look into. My husband and I only book trips on one credit card because of the travel insurance the credit card offers. 

[Daniela M_______ 410]

1 hour ago, Illiria said:

Technically you are required to carry the original, it’s got a fine and up to 30

days in jail for not carrying it.

I'm not sure how "technically" and "30 days in jail" match in the same sentence lol.

 

I get your point, jk.

 

It's a crazy expensive replacement fee for the card (no way that card costs $500).

[Illiria 980]

Just now, Daniela M_______ said:

I'm not sure how "technically" and "30 days in jail" match in the same sentence lol.

 

I get your point, jk.

 

It's a crazy expensive replacement fee for the card (no way that card costs $500).

What?

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Those are pretty ornate and detailed cards so the cost plus processing I don't doubt it costs that much. Doubt USCIS is pocketing money from it. My husband carries his GC in his wallet without fail because he knows the rules that apply to him. If he needs to show an ID ever he just uses his license; but he also knows he keeps his GC in his wallet with him so he is just more cautious. I don't leave my wallet anywhere and no one should regardless how "safe" they think it will be. The one time you let your guard down something happens usually.

Edited September 25, 2018 by Ben&Zian

[jan22 3,054]

20 hours ago, Damara said:

.......

It seems hes going to attempt to go to the Embassy and tell them he doesnt have the money to pay for the boarding foil and they need to just give it to him. I dont think thats going to work but who knows? Often he does stuff like that and people for some reason just make exceptions for him and do things they arent suppose to do. But he will handle this- Im confident of that... 

 

I just had to rant about this because the overall cost is crazy. People traveling in foreign countries that are robbed have plenty of problems and 600 dollars is a lot of money for a boarding foil to get home. 

It is unlikely he will even get into the Embassy, let alone convince them to drop fees.  There is no USCIS office in any of the Scandinavian countries -- so there is nobody authorized to waive the fees even if it were legally possible.  T he main reason you need to pay at the Embassy is that you are paying the State Dept. to do USCIS's work.  US tax dollars cannot be used to provide services to non-US citizens overseas. (If a US citizen's passport is stolen overseas and they do not have the money to replace it, they can get a no-cost passport for direct return to the US.)

[Daniela M_______ 410]

1 hour ago, Illiria said:

What?

I was trying to say that if the law says you can get 30 days in jail for not having your GC with you if its asked, then I wouldn't risk to take it so lightly.

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

BTW, it absolutely costs at or close to $500 for a replacement GC. My husband is getting his in the mail any day now and has already been researching the obligations (yes, you are supposed to carry it on you) and what happens if it becomes lost or stolen. Not only is it pricey to replace, you don't get the replacement all that quickly, either. My suggestion has been to get a certified copy made and keep it secured, as we do our passports and SSN cards, in the awful event the original disappears so he has something on hand in the meantime should he ever have to get a replacement.

[theresaL 408]

Sorry to ask a dumb question, but what is a "boarding foil"?? I've never heard of this term.

[Studentss 6]

2 minutes ago, theresaL said:

Sorry to ask a dumb question, but what is a "boarding foil"?? I've never heard of this term.

A lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States is required to present a valid Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, if seeking readmission to the U.S. after a temporary absence of less than one year. If you have lost or had your Green Card stolen, a Boarding Foil facilitates boarding by the airline to transport you back to the U.S. Processing time for this service is approximately 2-5 days.