Question:

I am a Green Card holder since March 2005. I visited India May and June 2006. I am planning to visit again for Christmas for a month, December 2006 to January 2007. Can I do it? As a Permanent Resident of the United States, how frequently can I go out of the US on visits?

Answer:

Up to you.

As often as you want to, as long as you maintain the US as your residency. Duration is the main issue, not frequency.

You may want to look at your travel pattern and the naturalisation requirements, if this is something that interests you.

You have an absolute right to remain outside of the United States for as long as you want. The only "penalties" are that you may lose your right of permanent residence or not be able to naturalize.

Assuming that your questions includes an implicit phrase about wanting to perserve your pemranent residence -- it is a "case by case" situation. Need a lot of facts to evaluate the matter.

Preservation of Green Cards during Foreign Travel by Gregory Siskind, Esq.

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,1030-siskind.shtm

Maintaining Legal Permanent Resident Status http://www.hooyou.com/reentrypermit/maintainninglegalPRS.html Maintenance of Lawful Permanent Residence http://www.americanlaw.com/maintlpr.html http://www.twmlaw.com/resources/immigrant/immigrant6cont.htm

http://careers.the- scientist.com/index.cfm?attributes.fuseaction=news.display&article_id=7- 89

http://immigration.about.com/library/blpermres.htm

http://www.quanlaw.com/ls_presidency.asp

http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/UPLOADS/001688natguide.pdf http://www.immihelp.com/greencard/retain-greencard.html

As I said. Case by case. And it is not JUST a matter of time.

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