What should it be? Carrying a copy or original GC......

[Aakash28]

After one gets the GC should he/she carry the original GC all the times or can a copy of GC suffice the requirements - does one has to have original GC at all the times - when outisde the house - but then there always a fear of loosing your so hard - earned GC?

What's the most optimum solution to this?

Ofcourse, one when travels via air - it's always suggested to carry original GC no matter whether you are travelling within or outside US - Are there any exceptions?

 

[memme]

My Recent Experience

After one gets the GC should he/she carry the original GC all the times or can a copy of GC suffice the requirements - does one has to have original GC at all the times - when outisde the house - but then there always a fear of loosing your so hard - earned GC?

What's the most optimum solution to this?

Ofcourse, one when travels via air - it's always suggested to carry original GC no matter whether you are travelling within or outside US - Are there any exceptions?

My car was stopped by border patrol both ways when we drove for a weekend trip to San Diego from Phoenix.

There was a mandatory stop point for each vehicle. However, most cars were allowed to pass. I guess, based on the appearance, they asked the drivers to pull over. The officer asked me where was I born and what status I am in. They asked me to show the GC. Since, I was not carrying the GC, they took my DL and kept me waiting for about 15 minutes. Later, after doing a secondary check in their system, they allowed me go with a warning that I must carry the GC at all times.

Similar thing happened on the way back. WARNING.

So, I have put the GC in my wallet (just like my DL). I don't believe that carrying a copy of the GC will do any good.

Here is the text from USCIS:

"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."

As you may notice, there is no mention of COPY.

 

[wik]

The conventional wisdom (if there is such a thing) is that carrying your original GC is a good idea if you are traveling near border cities or airports where random status spot checks occur. Of course, any travel outside of the US demands carrying the original. Carrying a copy is not a great idea, because copying a legal document like a green card COULD be construed as forgery (which is a stretch, I know). If you do make a copy, like I did in case my card ever gets lost, write clearly on it that it is a COPY.

For two years I never carried my original card, but now I always carry it when traveling by air both inside and outside the USA because you simply never know when and where spot checks may occur, or if such checks might increase in frequency and location in the future.

Many people don't carry their GCs for fear of losing them and the hassle of replacing something that took so long to get, but it is increasingly seeming like a good idea to carry them in accordance with the law.