With reports of increased ICE checkups and raids across the United States, many H-1B visa holders are adopting new precautionary habits to safeguard their immigration status. Among the most common measures: carrying passports and I-797 approval notices during daily commutes and travel.
A viral social media post prompted a wave of responses from foreign professionals, who shared how they stay prepared for unexpected encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The post also explained growing unease within immigrant communities, especially those on temporary work visas, over the unpredictability of enforcement actions. Although U.S. law does not mandate carrying original immigration documents at all times, many respondents reported that keeping physical or digital copies on hand offers reassurance and a sense of security in an uncertain environment.
“Get a real ID and keep it”
The internet swiftly reacted to this post. A user said, “Take a photocopy of your passport and I-94. I keep one set in my car, one set in my office bag.” Another added, “Carry your driver’s license/state ID and your latest I-94 printout. Have your passport with you as well if you’re traveling out of state.” “I have digital scans of my I-797 form and I94 as well as a physical copy. But I am not carrying my original forms. But I’ve been to both red and blue states, urban and rural in the past few months and have had zero issues,” claimed another user. “Get a real ID and keep it. Of course, have soft copies of everything else. I travel a lot and never once did I carry my passport,” noted a netizen. “Fear mongering at its peak lol. Nothing has changed for legal immigrants who dont commit crimes,” said a user.