To carry or not to carry?

F

flyertekk

Registered Users (C)
Hey all

I just received my permanent residence card aka green card. It says that the card is suppose to be carried at all times by law. I am just wondering how many people here actually do carry the card with them? For example if you do not carry the card with you do you keep a copy of it with you? Just wondering.

Thanks for looking.
 
I have carried mine in my wallet (inside its protective envelope) for the past 800+ days without a problem. I also have copies of it (back and front) in my safe in the event of needing to replace it.
 
I would suggest to use a common sense. If you live in the border area where you are likely to be asked for a legal status proof, then it's a good idea to carry it even when you go to a grocery store. Otherwise, weigh the benefits of carrying the card opposed to the consequence of losing it and having to go through I-90 process.
 
There was another long thread about this:
http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=271584

The danger of carrying it all the time is not just losing the GC itself if your wallet or purse is stolen, but losing both your GC and your license at the same time. If that happens and you don't have another government-issued ID like a passport, your life could get really screwed because of the catch-22 situation where you need the GC to replace the license and you need a license or government ID to replace the GC.
 
Jackolantern said:
There was another long thread about this:
http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=271584

The danger of carrying it all the time is not just losing the GC itself if your wallet or purse is stolen, but losing both your GC and your license at the same time. If that happens and you don't have another government-issued ID like a passport, your life could get really screwed because of the catch-22 situation where you need the GC to replace the license and you need a license or government ID to replace the GC.
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Never carried in US. Was traveling in Canada for a 3 day weekend, and lost the waist pouch with DL, GC and all family passports in it. Had fun trying to lodge a police report.
 
This is my approach, which I believe is pretty sensible and a good compromise between following the letter of the law exactly and never carrying it due to fear of loss or theft:

1. Make plenty of copies, front and back, and keep them in different places - home, office, online.

2. Don't carry on a day to day basis while in your own city, unless you live in a border town like El Paso.

3. Carry when flying to a different city.

4. Carry when driving around near the borders (Texas and Arizona have several border patrol checkposts).
 
TheRealCanadian said:
The vast majority of people living in America fall into the same category as me.
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Lucky them. I wasn't so lucky.

For those who don't live in a border state, the odds of being robbed are far greater than ever having to show immigration documents during day-to-day life (i.e. not the obvious infrequent locations like airport and DMV).
 
After reading everyone's post I will carry my card with me. I don't live in town that is known for spotting people or having ICE roam around or anything like that. But it is a law to carry it.
 
is it really mandatory to have the GC with you all the time (in ur wallet/purse) ?
i have never carried my gc, i always relied on my DL to prove my identity. I live in NY so far, no one has demmanded me to flash my gc. the few times i had taken it with me were when i was travelling beyond borders and when taking up new employment. i dont know how it is in other cities, but i could say in ny no one really cares to ask you for a gc, may be coz the illegal immigrants out number the ones who got here through the propper channel
 
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