• Green card holders cannot leave the United States for one or more years without a reentry permit.American Flag image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com
  
  In 2009, the United States welcomed 1,130,818 new green card holders, according to the Office of Immigration Statistics. Holding a green card, known as a permanent residency card, has one major condition: residency. It is impossible for a green card holder to live outside of the United States and merely enter once a year to maintain their status. The number one residency requirement for green card holders is to be physically present in the United States with brief time spent abroad.
  
  

Maintaining Residence

• Permanent residents must maintain a permanent residence at all times, even when traveling abroad. If a green card holder cannot be linked to an address, he will be considered to have abandoned his status. In such cases he will be questioned by an immigration court and possibly deported. Holding an address of a location that is owned by someone else is acceptable, but you should maintain other proof of residence such as a driver's license and U.S. bank account.
  
  

International Travel

• A permanent residency card implies that you are a permanent resident of the United States and not a visitor. For such reasons, green card holders have restrictions on international travel. Permanent residents who need to travel outside of the country for periods lasting one year or more must obtain a reentry permit from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before leaving the country. Reentry permits are also suggested for those who are leaving the U.S. for travel lasting between six months and a year though they are not required. Legal residents who fail to obtain a reentry permit for travel of one year or more will be considered to have abandoned their status and will be barred from reentering the country. Reentry permits can be obtained by filing form I-131 Application for Travel Document with the USCIS.
  
  

Change of Address

• Green card holders are required to report any change in address to the USCIS within ten days of moving. The report can be made electronically on the website of the USCIS using form AR-11.
  
  

Character

• Permanent residents must prove that they reside in good moral character in accordance with all state and federal laws. Permanent residents who violate the law face not only the penalty of the crime, but also risk deportation. Being convicted of a felony, even a misdemeanor, is grounds enough for an immigration court to sentence deportation.