Parents Green Card - Come to USA once in 3 years or so

[parents_gc]

Hi,
I am a US citizen since 2 years. My parents have been coming to this country every now and then and staying with me for almost 6 months.
All the time they have been coming on a Visitor Visa; even after I became a citizen.
I have not applied for a green card for them because I was told by friends, forums and acquintances that they need to stay in this country for atleast 6 months within a year, if they have a Green Card; or else their Green Card might get cancelled.
Because of this reason I have never applied a Green card for them. Even after becoming a US citizen; I applied for a fresh Visitor Visa for them.
But I really want them to come here and not suffer because of health issues in this country. If they have a green card, I can enroll them for a Obama Insurance which does not care about the pre existing conditions.

Can my Friends/learned members on this forum please help me with this question.

1>Can I apply for a Green card for my parents?
2>If I can, is it mandatory for them to be present in USA for atleast 6 months within a year?


Your answers would help me and give me a piece of mind on which way to go.

[rayb]

Submit I-130 petitions for your parents. Once they have Green Cards, there is no requirement that they must be in the U.S. at least six months every year. But if they are out of the U.S. for a year or more, they will need Reentry Permits to reenter the U.S.

--Ray B

Hi,
I am a US citizen since 2 years. My parents have been coming to this country every now and then and staying with me for almost 6 months.
All the time they have been coming on a Visitor Visa; even after I became a citizen.
I have not applied for a green card for them because I was told by friends, forums and acquintances that they need to stay in this country for atleast 6 months within a year, if they have a Green Card; or else their Green Card might get cancelled.
Because of this reason I have never applied a Green card for them. Even after becoming a US citizen; I applied for a fresh Visitor Visa for them.
But I really want them to come here and not suffer because of health issues in this country. If they have a green card, I can enroll them for a Obama Insurance which does not care about the pre existing conditions.

Can my Friends/learned members on this forum please help me with this question.

1>Can I apply for a Green card for my parents?
2>If I can, is it mandatory for them to be present in USA for atleast 6 months within a year?


Your answers would help me and give me a piece of mind on which way to go.