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

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I know that here in Boston color photocopies of greencards cost about $200 on the street.... most of the illegals have them.... I sure would not want to be caught up in any raids and only have a photocopy on me... ok so it might only take a few house to sort it all out and for my husband to bring my original greencard to where ever I am but would you really want to spend a few hours in a cell while they sort it all out.... not me...

I will carry my real greencard just incase....

Kez

[Dr_LHA 3]

Exactly. As I pointed out earlier in this thread, there's a reason why Green Card has so much anti-forgery technology on them.

[foxtobee 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.

Well, I've been approved 2 weeks ago. My I-94 has been taken out of my passport. I didn't get the stamp and haven't received a GC yet, so how do I prove my legal status now?

[Dr_LHA 3]

Well, I've been approved 2 weeks ago. My I-94 has been taken out of my passport. I didn't get the stamp and haven't received a GC yet, so how do I prove my legal status now?

Having a copy of your NOA1 is the only way to can current prove any status, and after that, the Welcome Letter. You should also be carrying your passport on you.

Edited July 23, 2007 by Dr_LHA

[KarenCee 3]

You know...think about what it took to get to this point. All the waiting, fretting, paperwork, more waiting, interviews (if any) for the card, etc. Why would you NOT want to carry it? Shona said it best...she is proud to carry her card because she's been through hell and back for the privilege of having a GC.

Point blank...carrying your GC is required by law, which was created by this government...whether you like it or not.

[maya62 7]

I wonder if there is any documented situation where someone was detained for only having a photocopy of their greencard on them? I mean treated differently than they would've been if they'd had the actual greencard on them.

Anybody?

I don't know - want to be the first to try it?

Not voluntarily! If it should happen, we'll be sure to report back on VJ about how it goes.

And here's an irony for you: We recently went back to Nepal for our first trip outside the US using the greencards. Upon arrival back in the US, we handed over our passports and the two greencards (all nice and shiney ) to the CPB officer. He asked "Are these new?". I joked "Yeah, kind of... we want to see if they work!" He grinned and said "Well, sorry, but my scanner's broken!". Oh well. He let us go with a friendly "Welcome home."

Maya

[SirLancelot 1]

Well, I've been approved 2 weeks ago. My I-94 has been taken out of my passport. I didn't get the stamp and haven't received a GC yet, so how do I prove my legal status now?

Having a copy of your NOA1 is the only way to can current prove any status, and after that, the Welcome Letter. You should also be carrying your passport on you.

That's correct. I wonder how many of the members who advocate carrying GC actually carry (or carried) their passport with them all the time? The law requires foreigners who don't have a GC to carry their foreign passport and valid I-94 with them at all times as well.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Well, I've been approved 2 weeks ago. My I-94 has been taken out of my passport. I didn't get the stamp and haven't received a GC yet, so how do I prove my legal status now?

Having a copy of your NOA1 is the only way to can current prove any status, and after that, the Welcome Letter. You should also be carrying your passport on you.

That's correct. I wonder how many of the members who advocate carrying GC actually carry (or carried) their passport with them all the time? The law requires foreigners who don't have a GC to carry their foreign passport and valid I-94 with them at all times as well.

Before I got my Greencard I carried my passport and my EAD....

Kez

[KarenCee 3]

Well, I've been approved 2 weeks ago. My I-94 has been taken out of my passport. I didn't get the stamp and haven't received a GC yet, so how do I prove my legal status now?

Having a copy of your NOA1 is the only way to can current prove any status, and after that, the Welcome Letter. You should also be carrying your passport on you.

That's correct. I wonder how many of the members who advocate carrying GC actually carry (or carried) their passport with them all the time? The law requires foreigners who don't have a GC to carry their foreign passport and valid I-94 with them at all times as well.

Before I got my Greencard I carried my passport and my EAD....

Kez

As did my husband.

[Dr_LHA 3]

That's correct. I wonder how many of the members who advocate carrying GC actually carry (or carried) their passport with them all the time? The law requires foreigners who don't have a GC to carry their foreign passport and valid I-94 with them at all times as well.

I got told off by a CBP officer once for having such a beaten up passport. My response was: "Hey, the law says I have to have it on me at all times, what do you expect it to look like?".

[silviake 0]

I got told off by a CBP officer once for having such a beaten up passport. My response was: "Hey, the law says I have to have it on me at all times, what do you expect it to look like?".

HAHAHA !

Good answer !!!

He probably didnt know what to reply to that !

[no name 1]

Before I got my Greencard I carried my passport and my EAD....

Kez

As did my husband.

Mine too!

[elgringo 0]

My wife carries her EAD on her all the time (in her billfold right next to her learner's permit) and she'll do the same with the GC when she gets it. She's never carried her passport with her though.

[KarenCee 3]

My wife carries her EAD on her all the time (in her billfold right next to her learner's permit) and she'll do the same with the GC when she gets it. She's never carried her passport with her though.

Before my husband had anything....EAD or GC...he had to have some form of ID on him should he ever need it for identification purposes. That's why the passport should be carried, how else can you prove who you say you are before you have any sort of ID? Once he had his EAD, we placed his passport in our Immigration file we've created. Now that he has his GC, the EAD is also placed in the Immigration file.

[faith620 0]

I prefer to carry all my documents with me - green card, passport, driver's license, all my credit cards, medical and dental insurance cards etc. Having all this on me at all times makes me feel better.

Don't take in as an attack, but I just got curious about one thing. Do you keep photocopies of all these documents at home? Because if you happen to lose your wallet, you will lose your entire identity. You will have absolutely no way of establishing who you legally are - no green card, passport, driver's license, etc. If you also carry your social security card with you and you lose that too, than you are really screwed. SSA requires two separate photo ID's in order to get a new card. That would be a nightmare to try to restore your identity under these circumstances.