jumpdrive, here are the instructions on re-entry permit and travel after GC, that I got from my lawyer as a closing note when I got my GC. Please verify the below however for accuracy on the USCIS website as laws could have changed.
"In order to maintain your lawful permanent resident status, you must continue to live in the U.S. A lawful permanent resident (i.e. green card holder) may use the green card as documentation to reenter the U.S. after a “temporary” trip abroad. If a person is outside of the U.S. for an extended period of time (for one year or longer), the person is deemed to have abandoned residence in the U.S., and a green card is insufficient to get the permanent resident back into the U.S. An extended absence from the U.S., even if it is less than one year, may be construed by INS that the person has in effect given up permanent residence in the U.S.
If a person knows he/she is leaving the U.S. for an extended period of time (generally six months or more), he/she should notify INS in advance and obtain additional documentation to ensure reentry into the U.S. In this case, the person can apply to the INS while still physically in the U.S. for a Reentry Permit. A Reentry Permit is a valid reentry document other than the green card and is valid for up to two years from the date of the person’s departure from the U.S. If the person does not make any trips to the U.S. during the two-year period, he/she must return to the U.S. prior to the expiration of that two-year period as indicated on the Reentry Permit.
A person must be physically present in the United States at the time of filing the application for a Reentry Permit. Once the application is filed, a person does not need to remain in the U.S. to wait for a response. Once approved, the Reentry Permit can be mailed to the person abroad. If a Reentry Permit is approved, it may be used by the alien for an unlimited number of entries into the U.S. during the two-year period of its validity. The permit is not renewable once the two years expire; the person must apply for a new Reentry Permit. Again, a person must return to the U.S. prior to the expiration of the Reentry Permit.
A Reentry Permit does not guarantee a person’s readmission to the U.S. but it does certify that the person’s trip abroad has been accepted by INS as temporary, i.e. that the person is maintaining permanent resident status despite the lengthy absence. As a result, a permanent resident who has a valid Reentry Permit cannot be deemed to have abandoned status based solely on the duration of an absence while the permit is valid.
When applying for a Reentry Permit, a person must intend to remain a U.S. permanent resident despite a lengthy absence from the U.S. Permanent resident status is not automatically lost by a lengthy absence abroad, unless it is one year or more, but an extended absence from the Unites States is one strong factor that is taken into account by INS in judging a person’s intentions, and can be determinative. The key factor is the individual’s intentions, but a mere statement of intent to remain a U.S. resident is not controlling. The INS will look at objective facts that indicate the person’s intent to maintain lawful permanent resident status.
The main factors that are considered include the following:
1. Length of absence;
2. Purpose of a person’s departure;
3. Existence of facts indicating a fixed termination date for the stay abroad;
4. Continued filing of U.S. tax returns as a U.S. resident;
5. Maintaining close ties with the U.S., for example maintaining ownership of property, bank accounts, credit
cards, driver’s license;
6. Location of person’s close family members; and
7. Location and nature of the person’s job.
The fact that a person returns to the United States once a year alone has no bearing on the person’s retention of lawful permanent resident status. In all cases, a person MUST file U.S. tax returns as a resident. This does not mean that the alien will have to pay U.S. taxes if he or she is employed abroad, but must file a resident tax return on worldwide income to maintain lawful permanent resident status. A person should also always maintain a U.S. address, even if it is simply a mailing address at a friend’s house or a relative.
A valid Reentry Permit does not negate the effect of a lengthy absence on a person’s ability to meet the requirements for naturalization, which include prescribed periods of residence and physical presence in the U.S.
In order to become a naturalized citizen, a permanent resident must meet a number of requirements. Two of these requirements are that the person must reside continuously in the U.S. for a period of five years from the date of lawful admission, i.e. obtaining the green card, and the person must be actually physically present in the U.S. for at least half of that period (two and a half years for most people) prior to applying for naturalization.
If a person is physically absent from the United States for one year or more, then he/she cannot meet the continuous residence requirement for naturalization purposes. If continuous residence is broken, the result is that a person must start all over again to accumulate the five years continuity of residence upon his/her return to the US. One way to avoid this is to return to the U.S. every six months, although this is not always feasible. Also, any time spent outside of the U.S. makes it more difficult for a person to meet the physical presence requirement of two and a half years.
Generally, lawful permanent resident aliens may apply for citizenship five years after acquiring permanent residence. The law provides that extended absences from the United States may adversely affect your ability to maintain your status as a permanent resident."
You can also find more information on life after a green card on the USCIS website.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=4f719c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...nnel=aab807b03d92b010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
... I do not think so. You can not cheat your way into citizenship. Either you live here or not.