where do I keep the green card

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

In the highly unlikely case that you are traveling to a destination where there is a CBP checkpoint, and they ask you for your immigration status and you answer "I am a Green Card holder" and you don't have it on you, just mentioning your A # or presenting a photocopy of it allows the Officer to check your status on the computer within a minute or two.

Nobody gets detained for that. Most likely you'll hear a speech reminding you that you always have to carry it with you, and that's it. The worst that could happen is that you'll get a $100 fine, although I've never encountered a case where that actually has happened.

Still you could get 3 such tickets and are still a mile ahead of somebody who has to replace his misplaced, lost, or stolen Green Card.

For me that's a no-brainer.

All the cases we read here and everywhere is about people who didn't keep their cards in a safe place and were devastated when they had to replace it. Worse . . . imagine you lose your wallet with the Green Card, Driver License, ATM card, and all credit cards in it.

You need a new ATM card. The bank needs to see an ID. Well you don't have your GC nor your DL, so off to the DMV you go. They can't issue a new DL without proof of legal presence though. Hence, you need a new GC. Getting one takes up to 6 month though. Now what?

Therefore, putting the GC in the wallet is really no such a great idea.

[TBoneTX 43,518]

imagine you lose your wallet

And how often does this happen to people, in reality? It would be far worse to have a note in one's immigration records (put there by CBP or ICE) of "broke law -- wasn't carrying green card."

In the next few days, I plan to call CBP at a POE, speak with an actual front-line agent, and ask exactly what the ramifications are of not carrying one's green card. I suspect that they won't put forth very much understanding in their answer.

[newlyweds2010 208]

And how often does this happen to people, in reality? It would be far worse to have a note in one's immigration records (put there by CBP or ICE) of "broke law -- wasn't carrying green card."

In the next few days, I plan to call CBP at a POE, speak with an actual front-line agent, and ask exactly what the ramifications are of not carrying one's green card. I suspect that they won't put forth very much understanding in their answer.

Ok, that's true, it has never happened to me to lose my wallet or to have it stolen. but sh!t happens, occasionally. Please, let us know what the CBP told you over the phone.

[mae29:) 0]

where the sun shines to keep it green

[newlyweds2010 208]

where the sun shines to keep it green

surely a better place than where the sun don't shine

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

In the next few days, I plan to call CBP at a POE, speak with an actual front-line agent, and ask exactly what the ramifications are of not carrying one's green card. I suspect that they won't put forth very much understanding in their answer.

It is a misdemeanor offense.

INA § 264(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.

[TBoneTX 43,518]

It is a misdemeanor offense.

INA § 264(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.

Nich to the rescue with meaningful and definitive information, again. "Follow the law" means exactly that, or the "sh!t that happens" could be of a whole other sort, including an established criminal record.

Edited to add: It appears that anyone who advocates anything less than exact compliance with the above law is violating VJ's Terms of Service.

Edited December 23, 2010 by TBoneTX

[SunDrop 59]

Would such a misdemeanor count against you during nationalisation?

Because I would rather pay a $100 fine than have to replace my GC at 3 or 4 times that cost.

I've had my purse lifted once. Never had my car stolen but then I've never lived in Arizona either.

I think it's ridiculous that they should make it so expensive to replace, if you're a victim of crime. I lose it, that's my bad. I get mugged or pickpocketed, I'm a victim of crime and shouldn't be liable for the full cost, or at least should be able to apply for compensation from either my household insurance or a victim's fund.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

For the sake of the original question--my husband keeps his greencard in his wallet because that's what the thing it came with said to do.

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

My wife never takes it out of the house. She has her state ID with her which is all the ID she needs. Technically, you're supposed to carry it everywhere, but we'll take our chances. I'm not paying $400 to get a new one. My parents emigrated here and never took their greencards out of the house in the 15 years between when they came to the US and when they filed for citizenship.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Correct.

For all practical purposes, the Green Card is needed when returning from a foreign country. For that reason I've been living in the US for now close to 19 years and have never been asked for my Green Card or resident status in any way, shape, or form, not even when traveling within a few miles of the Mexican border.

It's a personal decision, and I totally respect people who have it on them "at all times," even if that implies inserting it into one of the body's cavities during sex. For the same reason, I have zero compassion for people who are whining that they have to chill out hundreds of dollars for a replacement card and have to wait up to 6 months for their new card to arrive.

Suum quique.

Edited December 23, 2010 by Just Bob

[mike9 0]

I never carried , it , too valuable to loose , your DL is the form of identification and most states required to prove legal residency to obtain a driver license , ( with few states exceptios) ,find out if your state require this confirmation before issuing a DL , I never carried my GC and my passporte , just when traveling internationally , all domestic flights can be taken with a DL

Not sure about South West US , ( AZ, CA ) I lived Midwest , WI , and IL and in GA , never an issue ( Got a ticket in WI . DL was plenty of documentation required)

my 2 cents

and I am Mexican by the way ,

[newlyweds2010 208]

let me ask a different question: what happens if CBP stops an LPR and he has no green card on himself?

so far I've read that people leave their card at home all the time and nothing has happened in x years: but as long as one is not caught, of course everything is fine and nothing happens. this is valid for an LPR who left his documents at home as well as for a murderer.

the interesting part is when you get caught.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Immigration is a Federal matter, meaning State police is not authorized to inquire about immigration status and even less to ask for a Green Card. That would have been different in Arizona had SB-1070 passed without the Feds' intervention, but since they objected, this is still true for all 50 States of the Union.

I knew a feisty girl who once was asked by a cop if she has a Green Card and she responded: "None of your f*cking business." Cop put his tail between his legs because he knew he had NO RIGHT to even ask.

So what are situations within the US where you can be legally required to show your Green Card?

1) You are applying for a job and have to show proof that you are authorized to work in the US.

2) You have been arrested by police and they suspect you are an illegal alien. In that case they can call ICE and those guys have the right to check you out.

3) You are passing a CBP checkpoint near some US-Mexico or US-Canada border where CBP officers stop you and inquire.

Hence, these are the situations where it makes sense to "carry": applying for a new job; committing a crime, traveling close to the US border.

[TBoneTX 43,518]

all domestic flights can be taken with a DL

Some U.S. airports have CBP/ICE agents hanging out by the TSA checkpoint.

State police is not authorized to inquire about immigration status

Some State police agencies are part of the 287g or "Secure Communities" programs.