To carry or not to carry.. that is the question...

[Nunya 0]

So when I got my Welcome to the US notice.... On the notice it says that I must carry it with me at all times (it is the law!!!!!)

Then some people are not telling me to NOT carry it with me, to make a photocopy and keep it in my safe with my passport because it's a PITA to get a replacement card.

Thoughts, Experiences, Buehller?....

Thankies!

:dance:

[Ladylethal 12]

I carry mine, but then again, all my life I've carried my ID's in my wallet and never got them lost, or got them stolen, which is lucky.

[Killer_Clown_2009 0]

I don't carry mine with me. I am often outside on my patio or on my daily walks without it. It's a pretty dumb rule. To carry it with you at all times is pretty vague. Are you supposed to carry it into the shower with you too? When they come up with a microchip greencard that they can implant, then I'll carry it all the time.

Edited July 20, 2007 by jane2005

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Would you take a photocopy of your Driving License and carry that instead of the actual License???? I carry my Greencard in my wallet and it goes with me when I leave the house.....

Kez

[kittykatwoman 0]

I don't carry it with me.

I have a ID card + a driver license card in my wallet.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Permanent Resident Card

The Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, is issued to all Permanent Residents as evidence of alien registration and their permanent status in the US. The card must be in your possession at all times. This requirement means that you are not only required to have a currently valid Form I-551 at all times, but also that you must carry your currently valid Form I-551 on your person at all times.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Kez

[kittykatwoman 0]

Washington State Laws, where I live right now :

I am a lawful permanent resident and must carry my green card. Can I be

arrested if I refuse to produce it when ICE asks me for it?

The law requires that everyone over 18 to carry their alien registration card. Failure to carry it

constitutes a misdemeanor. However, since the Fourth Amendment requires that government

officers must have a reasonable suspicion of illegal activity before they detain someone, the ICE

does not have the authority to force an alien to produce evidence of registration unless it has a

reason to believe that he or she will be unable to do so.

Can the local police ask me for my papers?

Until recently, the local police have not had the authority to stop your car or detain you only

to ask for your immigration papers. However, the Department of Justice is currently seeking

different ways to enlist the assistance of local enforcement agencies in enforcing

"immigration violations." Furthermore, if you are in custody for a criminal violation you can

expect the local police will ask for your papers and will make a referral to ICE.

As is always the law, you have the right to refuse to answer questions about your status to

both the police and to ICE officials.

[Dr_LHA 3]

If you don't have your Green Card on you at all times, you are breaking the law (it is a misdemeanor).

[Dr_LHA 3]

I don't carry mine with me. I am often outside on my patio or on my daily walks without it. It's a pretty dumb rule. To carry it with you at all times is pretty vague. Are you supposed to carry it into the shower with you too?

I think its pretty clear. You should be near your Green Card at all times, if you're in the house you're clearly within reach of your Green Card within a minute, so you don't need to take it with you to the shower! When you leave the house, it goes with you, just like you need to take your Drivers License with you when you drive.

Its an annoying law, but it is the law. If you don't want to be bound to this law, then citizenship or leaving the USA is the way out.

[SirLancelot 1]

I don't carry mine with me. I am often outside on my patio or on my daily walks without it. It's a pretty dumb rule. To carry it with you at all times is pretty vague. Are you supposed to carry it into the shower with you too?

I think its pretty clear. You should be near your Green Card at all times, if you're in the house you're clearly within reach of your Green Card within a minute, so you don't need to take it with you to the shower! When you leave the house, it goes with you, just like you need to take your Drivers License with you when you drive.

Its an annoying law, but it is the law. If you don't want to be bound to this law, then citizenship or leaving the USA is the way out.

That's interesting. Let's you prove to us with one example where someone was actually cited for not having the GC on their possession at all times.

I'm no lawyer and I don't advocate someone follow my example, but I certainly wouldn't carry the GC around. Unless the government assures me that the GC will be replaced immediately if my wallet should be stolen, I will keep it in a safe place. I will make a copy of the GC (front and back) and keep that with me at all times, but not the actual GC.

Would you take a photocopy of your Driving License and carry that instead of the actual License???? I carry my Greencard in my wallet and it goes with me when I leave the house.....

When I lived abroad for a year and half, I made a copy of my US passport and carried the copy with me all the time. I never brought along my US passport unless I was doing something that specifically required me to show my official US passport. One of the biggest worries when traveling or living abroad is to lose your passport and I certainly ain't gonna risk a pickpocket stealing my passport.

Again, I'm not suggesting people follow my lead. Obey the law. But then again, Rosa Parks didn't follow all laws and she turned out all right.

In my opinion, not carrying a GC is much less of a violation than not filing for AOS within 90 days of entering on a K-1 visa. Even without a GC on hand, one's legal status remains intact but after 90 days of K-1 entry, one has no legal status. I'll take not carrying the GC with me at all times over having no legal status any day!

[Silke 1]

@SirLancelot: From what I know (please correct me here if I'm wrong), you have to get married within 90 days if you enter the US on a K1 visa BUT you don't have to submit your AOS paperwork before the 90 days are over.

[Dr_LHA 3]

That's interesting. Let's you prove to us with one example where someone was actually cited for not having the GC on their possession at all times.

Sigh, OK:

http://todayinok.com/2007/06/20/poor-jorge/

I'm no lawyer and I don't advocate someone follow my example, but I certainly wouldn't carry the GC around.

I'm glad you won't advocate breaking the law on VJ.

Unless the government assures me that the GC will be replaced immediately if my wallet should be stolen, I will keep it in a safe place. I will make a copy of the GC (front and back) and keep that with me at all times, but not the actual GC.

Thus, breaking the law.

When I lived abroad for a year and half, I made a copy of my US passport and carried the copy with me all the time. I never brought along my US passport unless I was doing something that specifically required me to show my official US passport. One of the biggest worries when traveling or living abroad is to lose your passport and I certainly ain't gonna risk a pickpocket stealing my passport.

What you did abroad has no baring on the laws of the USA. Foriegners in the USA are required to carry at all times with them their passport, or if they are a resident alien, their green card.

Again, I'm not suggesting people follow my lead. Obey the law. But then again, Rosa Parks didn't follow all laws and she turned out all right.

FFS!

In my opinion, not carrying a GC is much less of a violation than not filing for AOS within 90 days of entering on a K-1 visa.

You can't let that go can you? Jeez.

[SirLancelot 1]

@SirLancelot: From what I know (please correct me here if I'm wrong), you have to get married within 90 days if you enter the US on a K1 visa BUT you don't have to submit your AOS paperwork before the 90 days are over.

I understand this position taken by many on here. You'll read several people vociferously defend this position on here. For the purpose of AOS, I believe they're right as one will be forgiven at the time of adjustment. But during the time between when the K-1 expires and when you file for AOS, the immigrant is "out of status". Interpret it how you will, to me that's an "illegal". I'd rather not carry my GC with me at all times than to be in this "out of status" state. But all seems to be forgiven once you actually file for AOS.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

In my opinion, not carrying a GC is much less of a violation than not filing for AOS within 90 days of entering on a K-1 visa.

You are not violating anything by not filing for AOS within the 90 days of your K1..... there is no law that requires you to file before the 90 days runs out....

If you fail to carry your Grencard on your person then you are violatring the law...

The two do not compare....

Kez

[Dr_LHA 3]

Here is the original article:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.asp...8_A1_spanc67617

Hopefully this can act as a good reason why people should carry their Green Cards on them at all times.

Edited July 20, 2007 by Dr_LHA