Originally posted by utopiacowboy
> A GC holder does not
have to live in the US. They just have to come back every year for a
visit - as long as you do not remain outside of the US for more than a
year you are ok. In some circumstances you can remain abroad even
longer. Check out this page:
http://travel.state.gov/visa%3Breturning_alien.html
> I know
many GC holders who use this to their advantage. In fact tourist visas
are so hard to get for Colombians, many Colombians get a GC just so they
can visit the US.
How your Colombian friends are using their
green card is strictly not permitted. You have to maintain a residence
in the US to keep your green card. You can't live somewhere else and
keep your GC - at least not if the CIS knows about it. If your friends
are stopped on their way in and the Port of Entry people decide that
they've been using their GC as a more convenient tourist visa, they
won't be allowed in. They might be getting away with it, but it's not
legal, and there's a difference.
See info at:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/PermRes.htm#maintain
Edited for typo
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