Immigration worry

Dear Lifelines; My wife and I are returning in January from the U.S.; I am a U.S. citizen and she is Japanese. We had lived in Japan together for 7 years prior to my 2 year U.S. assignment. (I am a regular employee of the Japan branch office.)

My wife has been a green card holder for two years now.

Questions: How often must she return to the U.S. to maintain her current status? I have heard she must return within 6 months. Just how does a U.S. re-entry permit work and is it difficult to get or even necessary? -- Mike