Photocopy of GC is sufficient for travel ?

H

Hannah7

Registered Users (C)
Hi!

I'm aware of the regulation saying : "You must keep the proof of you status at all times" = Green Card

However ... I'm leaving to mountains (Utah, Colorado) which are states where I don't live. I'm afraid that I could easily lost this valuable document.

Do you think it's possible to PHOTOCOPY the GC and, in case, use it as a proof of permanent residence? Original would remain home safe.
 
There was a big discussion here a few months back about whether to keep GC with you all the times, or never. It was inconclusive, but there are lots of people who carry it everyday, and there are lots of people who never carry it (unless traveling internationally) - with no adverse effect.

Don't sweat. Keep the photocopy in your pocket / purse / wallet.
 
Hannah7 said:
Hi!

I'm aware of the regulation saying : "You must keep the proof of you status at all times" = Green Card

However ... I'm leaving to mountains (Utah, Colorado) which are states where I don't live. I'm afraid that I could easily lost this valuable document.

Do you think it's possible to PHOTOCOPY the GC and, in case, use it as a proof of permanent residence? Original would remain home safe.
Click to expand...
Don't carry a photocopy. A photocopy doesn't satisfy the law, and it never helped anybody who got stopped by immigration agents.

Technically you're supposed to have it on you at all times even if you're swimming in a lake or jogging around the block. Which of course is ridiculous. Practically, the chances of immigration agents stopping you when you're mountain climbing or skiing are next to zero. But you should at least keep it in your place of accommodation. If you're going to climb a mountain in Utah, without carrying the GC with you to the mountains, keep the GC in your cabin or hotel, don't leave it all the way in California or Texas or whichever state you live. And if you're flying to your destination, make sure you have it in the airport, as sometimes the airports (even domestic-only airports) will have immigration agents roaming around randomly asking people for papers.
 
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I don't think it is the immigration agents that a GC should be worried about. In some locations a local police officer is authorized to ask someone their immigration status. Prince William County in Virginia is a big one because it was the first (or if not one of the first) in the country. The debate about it is when is it acceptable to ask someone their immigration status, is it when someone is pulled over for a traffic infraction or during the booking process when someone is arrested for a crime.
 
dhlunar said:
I don't think it is the immigration agents that a GC should be worried about. In some locations a local police officer is authorized to ask someone their immigration status.
Click to expand...
Same difference ... the chances of being stopped by a cop and asked for immigration status when climbing or skiing in the mountains are also practically zero. Certainly a lot less than the injury risks of skiing or mountain climbing.
 
I sometimes take my GC with me when I travel domestically. Why not. Still, I think a photocopy is better than nothing. If the OP is uncomfortable carrying the GC, then the photocopy is the next best option, as it gives her a BETTER chance of being let go if asked about her immigration status, as opposed to no visual proof at all.
 
on USCIS website many years ago it give instructions saying PRs do not need to carry the GC, then they remove that
and replace with soemthing like "You should be able to repsent the GC within resoable time frame when requested"

Laws that requirs PRs to carry the GC is called INA 264 (or 8 USC 1304 Under United States Code).

Read teh following. In theory if you spend 5 years as PR and then apply for citizenship anmd during teh interview the
IO ask you "Have you always carry your GC in the past 1500 days?" You anwser I never carried it, the youconfess to
1500 coutns of violation of 8 USC 1304 and subject to 1500*30 daysd in jail and af ine of $150000.
But practically, you are overally better offf if you only carry a photocopy. A little more caution you can carry photocopies
in daily lives and only carry real GC when travelling more than 100 miles from you home or stay overnight away from your
home plus when visiting some sensitive area like airport, nuclear power station, border region, military bases etc.


When you make a photocopy and carry it, make sure to write "This is only a photocopy of the original permenent resident card"
legend on your photocopy to fend off potential forging charge


http://law.onecle.com/uscode/8/1304.html

(e) Personal possession of registration or receipt card; penalties 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) of this section. 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.
 
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