I know we need to renew the green card and apply for a 10 year green card next year. But I wonder, what are the conditions that change or get removed? Just the length of validity or is it more?

We are planning a trip abroad for just two weeks. O doesn't have any stamp in his passport saying he is a permanent resident but he does have his 2-yr green card. He'll be allowed back into the U.S., right? Is there some condition on travel that would make it necessary for him to have another piece of paperwork?

And he can leave for two weeks without jeopardizing his application for the 10-yr card next year, right?

I believe all is OK but I've learned not to assume things in this process.

Thanks for any advice!

The unexpired greencard is generally sufficient for travel to regain access to the USA.
The legal permanent resident status is jeopardized when certain conditions are met:

"Maintaining Permanent Residence
Maintaining Permanent Residence You may lose your permanent residence status if you commit an act that makes you removable from the United States under the law in section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If you commit such an act, you may be brought before the immigration courts to determine your right to remain a Permanent Resident.

You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

* Move to another country intending to live there permanently.
* Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
* Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
* Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period.
* Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns." (taken from: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

The conditions are that you will pay them an ungodly amount of money for a 10 year green card after your two year card expires.

The "conditions" on the green card are that the alien must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the USCIS that the marriage was entered into with bona fide intent, before the alien will be awarded a permanent resident card with 10 year expiry date.

Thanks for the clarification!

I just started imagining O being stuck in Trinidad after our vacation and having to go through the whole application for a visa process again.... Although Trinidad wouldn't be such a bad place to be compared to winter in the U.S.!