Travelling outside U.S once you get your immigrant visa

[rubbyo]

I'm an American citizen who went back to country of my origin 3 years ago and have been living there and got married there and now I want to get a green card for my wife. my question is
If she got the immigrant visa and we went to U.S, do we have to stay in U.S for a certain period of time before she can travel since we still want to live in our country of origin. how long before she can get her physical green card?
there was a law before that a person with green card must enter the U.S atleast once a year so she won't lose their green card. is this still true?
Thank you

 

[princesskate]

If you and your wife are not planning to live in U.S., she doesn't need to apply for a green card but a tourist visa.

Once she gets her permanent residency, she needs to enter U.S. at least once for every 6 months, however nothing is guaranteed, she may still get into trouble if the officer notices her spending very less time in the U.S.

 

[rubbyo]

Thank you for your reply,
Yes, she can get tourist visa but we eventually want to go back to U.S to live there and I want her to have her green card and since we have been married for two years now, I'm afraid some problems may arise due to the long gap in between or laws to be changed. so I think it's safer to do it now. so anyway how long do you think it takes to get the green card once she arrives there?
thanks for answering the second question.

 

[princesskate]

I want her to have her green card and since we have been married for two years now, I'm afraid some problems may arise due to the long gap in between or laws to be changed. so I think it's safer to do it now.

I'd say it'd be more safe to apply for Green Card until she really plans to stay here. I think it would be more risky if her GC gets voided because of spending too less time in U.S., and it would be a big trouble to get her GC back.

so anyway how long do you think it takes to get the green card once she arrives there?
thanks for answering the second question.

Once she arrives WHERE? U.S.?
Are you planning to apply K-3 visa for her or apply I-485 directly after she comes here using any kind of non-immigrant visa (which I don't recommend)? I'm not familiar with K-3 so I don't know the timeline for K-3; if you're planning to apply I-485, it depends on your district office & your luck, it can take as short as 2 months to years.