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

[SirLancelot 1]

I did read the article. The point being he was charged on a real crime--driving a stolen vehicle--and the GC infraction was a side note. Your average Joe whose not breaking real laws won't be stopped randomly to check for his or her GC. If you're arrested for driving a stolen vehicle, no license and no insurance, you ought to have your GC status stripped and deported!

Well that's a matter for the immigration court to later decide, he may well lose his LPR status.

However you continue to ignore the main point, the fact that he was held without being able to post bail for 6 days because he didn't have his Green Card on him. If he did have it he could have posted bail and been out of jail within a day.

You fail to see my point. Normal, average Joes who don't get arrested for real crimes are NOT affected by this. For real criminals, they should be detained EVEN if he or she has the GC with them.

You're using a story which is based on a real criminal getting arrested--which most of us never experience--to intimidate and scare people who don't carry their card with them all the time into doing so.

This is your tactic all the time, fear-mongering and intimidation. I've seen it over and over in the tone of your posts.

People shouldn't be intimidated into feeling guilty for not carrying their GC with them all the time. A photocopy should be adequate for everyday purposes. I would accept a requirement for the real deal when you're using the GC for some official purpose, but everyday routine day to day life, I think a photocopy should suffice.

If you want to carry yours, fine, carry it. Don't cause unnecessary fear into those who don't want to do so.

[SirLancelot 1]

You all need to better educated yourselves on some US history.

I don't think you know us well enough to judge our US history knowledge...

If one can't see and understand the reference to Rosa Park, then the description fits. And I never directed the remark towards you. You never made any mention of Rosa Parks, so my comment wasn't directed at you.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Regardless of your personal feelings on the matter, not carrying your Green Card with you at all times is breaking the law. On VJ it is against the TOS to suggest people break the law, and just to head you off at the pass: No, going out of status on a K-1 visa is not a crime.

Edited July 20, 2007 by Dr_LHA

[SirLancelot 1]

I know full well who Rosa Parks was.... how you can even compare what she did to not carrying your greencard is an insult to her and all the other people who have fought so hard to be trated like humans and not being forced to live like and be treated like 2 class citizens...

If you choose not to carry your greencard that up to you but here on VJ I will continue to quote the law... I personaly carry my card because it is the law and because I happen to be proud of the fact I am a LPR...

Kez

Several of you assume way too much. I am a USC. I don't carry a GC, nor am I required to, nor do I have one.

Don't intimate others into doing something they don't want to. You all use fear tactics and intimation. Go back and read your own posts. Was it a friendly suggestion or some fascist admonishment compelling others to do like you? And please be honest with your assessment.

[SteveLaura 0]

I'm confused. It happens. Is the problem that you HAVE to carry it with you, or the risk of losing it? (Or is it 'loosing'? ) If it's the former, then why bother with a photocopy? If it's the latter, then the hassle or replacement I can well understand, but I risk that too with my keys, bank cards and other paraphernalia I carry with me everywhere.

[SirLancelot 1]

Regardless of your personal feelings on the matter, not carrying your Green Card with you at all times is breaking the law. On VJ it is against the TOS to suggest people break the law, and just to head you off at the pass: No, going out of status on a K-1 visa is not a crime.

Oh please! Don't even go there. Twisting my words would be an understatement.

I don't suggest anyone break any laws. I ask that you not intimidate and scare people into conforming to whatever you think is right.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Don't intimate others into doing something they don't want to.

All we're doing is advising people that they should not break the law.

[Arazia 0]

Several of you assume way too much. I am a USC. I don't carry a GC, nor am I required to, nor do I have one.

Don't intimate others into doing something they don't want to. You all use fear tactics and intimation. Go back and read your own posts. Was it a friendly suggestion or some fascist admonishment compelling others to do like you? And please be honest with your assessment.

U.S. Citizens aren't required to carry identification with them at all times, but if asked by a person of authority such as the police, they are required to provide it within a certain set amount of time. Permanent Residents don't get that perk because they aren't U.S. Citizens.

This has nothing to do with fear or intimidation. The law says that a Permanent Resident is required to carry their Greencard with them at all times. Not doing so is a crime, and if caught, could result in the person being ... at the minimum detained while their identity is verified. At the worst, they may be convicted of the misdemeanor. How likely is it to happen? Not likely, but that isn't the point...

Stating the possible consequences is no different than saying 'If you steal money from a bank, you could possibly go to jail'. There are always consequences for people's actions.

Anyways, I think I'm done with this discussion.

[SirLancelot 1]

I'm confused. It happens. Is the problem that you HAVE to carry it with you, or the risk of losing it? (Or is it 'loosing'? ) If it's the former, then why bother with a photocopy? If it's the latter, then the hassle or replacement I can well understand, but I risk that too with my keys, bank cards and other paraphernalia I carry with me everywhere.

The latter. The replacement cost of a photo copy of anything is practically nil. Very easy to do if one loses it. The replacement cost of the actual GC is huge, much more so than a lost key or bank cards. A photo copy of the GC will convey the same info as the official GC. If anyone must see the official GC, one can easily go home and retrieve the real deal. But to causually carry it around everyday is just too risky.

[SteveLaura 0]

The replacement cost of the actual GC is huge

What is the cost? I have no idea.

[Dr_LHA 3]

I carry my phone around with me every day, despite the fact that the cost of replacing it is >$600. Risk is part of everyday life. If you consider the risk of breaking the law to be less than the risk of losing a GC then fair enough.

However, as has been said many times, I cannot recommend personally that people do not carry their Green Cards on them at all times because doing so would be both breaking the VJ terms of service, and advising someone to engage in a criminal activity.

[SirLancelot 1]

Not doing so is a crime, and if caught, could result in the person being ... at the minimum detained while their identity is verified. At the worst, they may be convicted of the misdemeanor. How likely is it to happen? Not likely, but that isn't the point...

Stating the possible consequences is no different than saying 'If you steal money from a bank, you could possibly go to jail'. There are always consequences for people's actions.

This is actually a very good point. Equally, one possible consequence of not filing for AOS before the 90 days of one's K-1 visa expiration may also cause one to be deported, but it's never talked about on here. People repeatedly advise others to not worry about filing later. It's a remote consequence--probably just as remote as a random Joe being asked for his GC out of the blue by an authority figure--but it's given as gospel on here all the time.

To not carry a GC vs. to be out of legal status, let's see, which is a greater cause of concern? I'd rather be issued a misdemeanor for not carrying a GC rather than be deported for being "out of status".

[Dr_LHA 3]

The replacement cost of the actual GC is huge

What is the cost? I have no idea.

$370 after the fee increase. $260 now.

[SirLancelot 1]

I cannot recommend personally that people do not carry their Green Cards on them at all times.

Ok. I can buy that. I can even endorse that.

But I will add that I wouldn't fault someone for not wanting to carry their GC with them at all times. Try to obey this law if you can, but if you end up not, I don't believe you need to worry too much about it.

[SteveLaura 0]

The replacement cost of the actual GC is huge

What is the cost? I have no idea.

$370 after the fee increase. $260 now.

Blimey. Then again, if my wallet's gone, I could lose an amount equal to or more than that from my cards. 'Tis a risk, as you say.