No green card = no lobster permit?

[trappist]

I went to get a lobster permit last week and I was refused it because I do not have a green card... As you guessed I'm not an american citizen, but I'm here legally, under a visa for business, earning money here, paying my taxes like everyone else here and living in MA...

I was just wondering if any of you had better (or worse ?) experiences.

The person at the office was stubborn and completely unfriendly while I was just trying to politely understand the reason of the denial. I thought I had all the documents needed to get one...

Happy to hear your comments.

 

[Thalassamania]

I believe that in Massachusetts you need to be a State Resident to get a lobster permit. That means you need to either be a registered voter or hold a green card, paying taxes isn't the issue.

 

[RIOceanographer]

How did your citizenship status even come up?

The reason I ask is that I don't know the process for getting a permit in MA, but in RI you just need to present a valid RI state ID or driver's license and anyone with an H-1B visa could get that. They never ask about your citizenship so it would not have come up.

For MA, the only requirements I know of are that you live in MA year round or if you live there only part time that you own at least $5000 in property. It might be that the clerk is considering you a "part time" resident because the visa has an expiration on it but if it matters to you I'd try to talk to a different clerk or a supervisor to get an explanation or to see if you can get a second opinion.

 

[RICHinNC]

Dive at night...dive quietly....

 

[sunapeebob]

Look online at MassWildlife - Wildlife Information. I think that is the address. RIO is correct about the non resident stuff. It also mentions a notarized affidavit that you are here, how long, etc. It mentions nothing about Citizenship. It does say you need to do this in person and can't do it online.

 

[yak]

I think you're SOL on this one.

From MassOutdoors Homepage

Non-U.S. Citizens who are not residents of the Commonwealth shall:
1. Provide a copy of the alien registration receipt card issued by the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service to the applicant and
2. Temporarily reside in any coastal city or town of the Commonwealth and
3. own more than $5,000 in real estate within the Commonwealth as determined by tax records.

C. Non-U.S. Citizens who are residents of the Commonwealth shall:
1. Provide a copy of applicant alien registration receipt card issued by the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Non-resident non-commercial lobster permits require a fee of $60.00 as well as a notarized affidavit attesting to the fact that you are a non-resident who owns a minimum of $5,000 in property in Massachusetts and temporarily reside in a coastal town. This permit may not be purchased on-line. Please contact DMF at 617.626.1520 or marine.fish@state.ma.us for more information.

 

[Tampico_ED]

Dunno if this can be done. Get a letter of residency from your Town. Of course if you have lived in MA for a year+.

 

[RIOceanographer]

Dunno if this can be done. Get a letter of residency from your Town. Of course if you have lived in MA for a year+.

That quote from the regs Yak posted pretty clearly says non-US citizens need to have a green card no matter how long they lived in the state. I think Yak is right, looks like he is out of luck.

I never knew that requirement existed before. But if it makes you feel better I am a US citizen, grew up in MA, and I can't get an MA lobster license either.

 

[pdive]

I'm here legally.

There's you're problem right there. This is Massachusetts afterall, if you were here illegally then you wouldn't need to dive for lobster, the state would just GIVE them to you

 

[trappist]

I think you're SOL on this one.

From MassOutdoors Homepage

Non-U.S. Citizens who are not residents of the Commonwealth shall:
1. Provide a copy of the alien registration receipt card issued by the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service to the applicant and
2. Temporarily reside in any coastal city or town of the Commonwealth and
3. own more than $5,000 in real estate within the Commonwealth as determined by tax records.

C. Non-U.S. Citizens who are residents of the Commonwealth shall:
1. Provide a copy of applicant alien registration receipt card issued by the U.S. Dept. of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Non-resident non-commercial lobster permits require a fee of $60.00 as well as a notarized affidavit attesting to the fact that you are a non-resident who owns a minimum of $5,000 in property in Massachusetts and temporarily reside in a coastal town. This permit may not be purchased on-line. Please contact DMF at 617.626.1520 or marine.fish@state.ma.us for more information.

And yes this is what I brought with me... I had my MA Driving License (=ID right ?), I had my passport with the VISA, I had a cipy of my rent contract and the alien registration copy... this seemed not enough. They clearly told me: no green card = no permit ! I was really shocked. I had not too much time to ask to see supervisor, but I will try further to... Thanks for the help so far !