Why ask US green card at Indian airport?

[Doc1167]

I was traveling from US (greencard holder) to India. At Mumbai airport immigration officer looked up my Indian passport for exit stamp of the US and US Visa; he found none. He asked me for explanation. I told him that I was a greencard holder in the US. He demanded to see my greencard! Question:

Does US stamp passports for exit?

Why India would care about my visa in the US?

What could happen if I refuge to produce my greencard (and insist that entering India was my right)?

Would he be ok to see (xerox) copy of Greencard (and if I tell him that I lost original)?

Slightly diff question: I know they check your visa for destination country before letting you board the plane (if you are leaving). Let's assume that I have lost my GC but have a (xerox) copy of it. In that case:

Would they let me board the plane with the copy of Greencard; is that going to satisfy them in India?

When I arrive in the US, would US immigration officer allow me to enter with the copy of greencard?

Thank you for your comments and guidance.

 

[nkm-oct23]

What is your problem in showing your green card when asked by an immigration official? I guess he wanted to know if you were an NRI or not (spent > 6 months in US)

If you lose your green card no airline will allow you to board a plane bound to US. Original green card is required, a copy is NOT acceptable. If a green card is lost you can get a temporary one way Transportation Letter from a US consulate which allows you to return ot US and then apply for a new card.

 

[König]

Does US stamp passports for exit?

No.

Why India would care about my visa in the US?

They wanted to make sure you have not become a US citizen. It is simple: if you don't have a US visa, then you should either have a GC or a US passport. India does not allow dual/multiple citizenships. So, he asked for your GC to make sure you are really a permanent resident, and not a US citizen.

What could happen if I refuge to produce my greencard (and insist that entering India was my right)?

Entering India would not be your right if you became a US citizen. You do not have a visa and you are refusing to provide a GC - an officer could suspect that you have a US passport instead. In that case, you would not have the right to enter India because you would lose Indian citizenship automatically upon acquisition of US citizenship.

Would he be ok to see (xerox) copy of Greencard (and if I tell him that I lost original)?

Probably, no. I became a US citizen a while ago and I still have a copy of my GC.

Slightly diff question: I know they check your visa for destination country before letting you board the plane (if you are leaving). Let's assume that I have lost my GC but have a (xerox) copy of it. In that case:

Would they let me board the plane with the copy of Greencard; is that going to satisfy them in India?

Just like nkm-oct23 said, you would need to obtain a transportation letter from the US consulate. The airline would not let you board the plane with only a GC copy. However, having a GC copy would help with the consulate.

When I arrive in the US, would US immigration officer allow me to enter with the copy of greencard?

Assuming that somehow you could get to the US port of entry with just a GC copy (let's say by land from Canada), the CBP would most likely allow you to enter the USA, but they could levy a heavy fine for not having proper travel documents. This entire scenario would not apply to your case because you would not be able to board the flight in the first place.

I have been in a situation where I had to get a transportation letter - the consulate gives you two sealed envelopes: one for the carrier (i.e., airline) and one for the CBP. They also give you a copy of the letter. The copy is not a travel document.