Don't ever forget your greencard!

[jw07 0]

I recently took a trip back "home" to Canada for a friend's wedding. It was a last minute decision, and I was packing in a hurry. I didn't realize until after I got to Canada, that I had accidentally grabbed my work authorization card, instead of my greencard. Worried, I called USCIS and explained my situation. The woman I talked to on the phone said that I shouldn't have a problem getting back into the US, and that worst case scenario I would get a "slap on the wrist" so to speak. So when I hit customs in Vancouver on my way back to Chicago, and was asked the nature of my trip, I said that I live in Chicago with my husband. When asked for my greencard, i explained to the officer my situation. Of course, I got sent to the back room for inspection/questioning. I waited FOREVER, and had already missed my flight. When it was finally my "turn", the officer was EXTREMELY rude (what else is new). I gave him my greencard number, work authorization card, and pleaded with him that it was just an honest mistake. He told me that I would have to either pay a waiver fee to enter the US or wait in Vancouver and have my greencard sent to me. Then he told me that the fee was $550! At that point I was extremely upset that I had missed my flight and the idea of paying all that money over a simple mistake made me angry, and I just walked away. I figured it would be cheaper to get a hotel and have my husband fedex my greencard to me, than pay that stupid fee. So I went back to the airline counter to reschedule my flight, and the guy at the counter was extremely nice and realized that I was upset. He told me I could catch a redeye flight to Chicago that night, and would go through customs at O'hare instead of Vancouver, and just have my husband meet me there with my greencard. (Why couldn't the customs officer have told me that??! - hmm, maybe because they wanted that $550 out of me)

So after 13 hours in the Vancouver airport, I finally get back home, and when I got to customs in Chicago, I told the officer of my situation and that my husband should be in the airport and trying to pass on my card to someone that can bring it to the customs area. He just shook his head and stamped me through anyway. So, I went through all of that stress for nothing!

Just thought I would share the experience. I realize it was my fault for packing the wrong card, but I don't feel that the officer in Vancouver was fair at all. Just seems that all they care about is money. Next time I travel, I'll be sure to GLUE my greencard to my passport

I also am wondering if having an entry denial on my record will affect anything in the future - such as removing my two year conditions?

[TayRivers 4]

Do you not carry your greencard with you at all times?? it is a condition of being a permanent resident.

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. The Permanent Resident Card currently is issued with a 10-year validity. You status as a Permanent Resident does not expire with the 10-year validity. Only the card expires. The card is only valid up to the expiration date and must be renewed before it expires.

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

[vanee 13]

I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through all that stress. But thanks for sharing the story as a reminder for the rest of us.

[jw07 0]

Do you not carry your greencard with you at all times?? it is a condition of being a permanent resident.

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. The Permanent Resident Card currently is issued with a 10-year validity. You status as a Permanent Resident does not expire with the 10-year validity. Only the card expires. The card is only valid up to the expiration date and must be renewed before it expires.

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

No, I don't carry my greencard around with me. I keep it in a safe at home, along with my passport,birth certificate, and other important documents. Wether it is a requirement or not, I don't think it's smart to carry something like that around. I am a full time student, and studying massage therapy- there are days when all i have are massage classes, and all i bring with me is a tote with my sheets etc. Or when i'm in the cadaver lab, we have to leave our book bags behind in the lecture room. So i rarely even bring a wallet to school, and i just keep my drivers licence in the car. I find it highly unlikely that i would ever be in a situation where i was required by law to "show my greencard" and be in a sticky situation for not having it with me. Just my thoughts on it...

[TayRivers 4]

Do you not carry your greencard with you at all times?? it is a condition of being a permanent resident.

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. The Permanent Resident Card currently is issued with a 10-year validity. You status as a Permanent Resident does not expire with the 10-year validity. Only the card expires. The card is only valid up to the expiration date and must be renewed before it expires.

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

No, I don't carry my greencard around with me. I keep it in a safe at home, along with my passport,birth certificate, and other important documents. Wether it is a requirement or not, I don't think it's smart to carry something like that around. I am a full time student, and studying massage therapy- there are days when all i have are massage classes, and all i bring with me is a tote with my sheets etc. Or when i'm in the cadaver lab, we have to leave our book bags behind in the lecture room. So i rarely even bring a wallet to school, and i just keep my drivers licence in the car. I find it highly unlikely that i would ever be in a situation where i was required by law to "show my greencard" and be in a sticky situation for not having it with me. Just my thoughts on it...

You should do a search on VJ for people who did not carry their greencard at all times and were asked for it but the police and were held for several hours until their status could be verified.

All I know is it is a legal requirement to have it on your person at all times.

[rebeccajo 14]

You don't keep your greencard in your passport either. When you re-enter the US, you enter on the greencard alone.

[Neonred 3,917]

You don't keep your greencard in your passport either. When you re-enter the US, you enter on the greencard alone.

Every time we have re-entered the US they wanted to see greencard and passport.

[ninjarocket 1]

You don't keep your greencard in your passport either. When you re-enter the US, you enter on the greencard alone.

Every time we have re-entered the US they wanted to see greencard and passport.

I recall that to be the case also. I had a greencard for 5 years and made numerous trips outside the country. Each time I was asked to show my passport when I returned.

[*JG* 2]

Most people don't carry their green cards with them.

Sorry you had so many problems. A lesson I am sure you will not forget.

[Emancipation 2]

Do you not carry your greencard with you at all times?? it is a condition of being a permanent resident.

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. The Permanent Resident Card currently is issued with a 10-year validity. You status as a Permanent Resident does not expire with the 10-year validity. Only the card expires. The card is only valid up to the expiration date and must be renewed before it expires.

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

I understand what you are saying.. but when one goes home to his/her home Country.. they travel on their own passport.. and having your Greencard while you are back in Canada is not a requirement.. the mistake was an honest one (The EAD & Green Cards look very similar).

OP - maybe now's a good time to scrap book the EAD and get it out of your imp. documents, and just keep your Green card around in your documents so this mistake never happens again.

[Mononoke28 137]

I never carried my green card with me when I was a permanent resident and was never questioned about it. I'd rather deal with someone who's asking for it if I didn't have it, than losing it or have it stolen and go through the hassle of filing for a new one.

Diana

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

It's a misdemeanor if you don't have it on you.

[JeanneVictoria 55]

We live in Tucson, Arizona and my husband always carries his greencard. On an outing one weekend, we spent the day at Tombstone. On our way home, the border patrol had a checkpoint and was stopping all cars (this was a few miles out of Tucson). Thank God he had his card as we had no problems going thru this checkpoint.

They asked our nationality, wanted our drivers license and also his greecard. So I do suggest to always carry it. It sure saved us having him detained him until we could prove he was legal.

[Pineapple 0]

I agree about that its a law of the United States to carry your green card all the time with you.

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

I believe it's the law to carry your passport with you at all times if you are pre-AOS and don't have a greencard - or are on a tourist visa.

So, we've just applied for AOS, my K-1 passport stamp runs out in 8 days so if an official stopped me in the very near future and asked for my UK passport, complete with an out-of-date stamp, I'd be arrested and possibly deported.

Crazy rules. I'll stick with my Oregon Drivers ID and affect an American accent if I'm ever asked for ID at an airport or the like.

R