Green Card Holders Urged to Always Carry This Crucial Document
If you're a green card holder living in the United States, there's an important reminder you really shouldn't ignore. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a renewed warning, reminding lawful permanent residents that they are legally required to carry proof of their immigration status with them at all times. And yes, this isn't just advice—it's the law.
This requirement isn’t something new. It’s been on the books for a long time, but the reminder comes as part of a broader effort to strictly enforce immigration regulations. The Trump administration previously made headlines for tightening the rules around legal status enforcement, and this announcement signals that such scrutiny hasn’t let up. According to CBP, if green card holders are stopped by federal law enforcement and can’t produce their proof of legal status—typically their green card—they could actually face a misdemeanor charge and be fined. In some cases, repeated violations or other legal missteps could even lead to deportation.
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So what exactly do you need to carry? The most important document is the green card itself, officially known as Form I-551. This little card includes your photo, your Alien Registration Number—commonly called the A-number—as well as details like the category under which you were admitted and the card’s expiration date. That A-number, by the way, is a unique 7-to-9 digit identifier issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and used to track your immigration history.
Other types of documentation might include an Employment Authorization Document (also called a work permit), an I-94 arrival/departure record for certain visa holders, or any document that proves your legal status in the U.S. But for most green card holders, carrying the actual green card is the clearest and safest option.
By law, anyone over the age of 14 who is not a U.S. citizen and has been in the country for more than 30 days must keep their alien registration documents on them at all times. It might seem extreme, especially if you've been living in the U.S. for years and consider it home. But enforcement agencies aren’t letting that slide. Legal residents aren’t immune from legal consequences, and assuming so could be a costly mistake.
So, if you're a green card holder, take this reminder seriously. Make it a habit—just like you wouldn't leave the house without your driver's license, don’t leave without your green card. It could save you from a whole lot of trouble.
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