When a foreign national becomes a lawful permanent resident of the United States, he or she gains many rights and privileges. The two rights which all know are the ability to live and work in the United States permanently.
Perhaps one of the lesser known privileges that lawful permanent residents gain is the ability to travel to numerous countries without obtaining a visa. This is a great privilege for many foreign nationals because they would otherwise need a visa to travel almost anywhere outside of the United States.
Each country has different restrictions, and these restrictions are subject to change (so double check before you travel) – but here are some of the participating countries that I have heard:
Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Aruba, and The Netherland Antilles.
This means that a foreign national from China or India who becomes a lawful permanent resident will not need to obtain a visa to travel to participating countries.
Again, each country is different, and is subject to change its requirements – so double check before traveling. What a great way to save money and time!