Optimistical

Well I am not a tax expert or attorney, just an ordinary USC. Possibly Saylin is or at least has researched the issue far more extensively that I ever had the desire to. At least it seems that way. And it's not my intention to get into a P***'ng war with anyone. Maybe the major issue here has to do with event dates.
FWIW here's my timeline. Married May 2014. I sent my TR for CY 2013 with the I130, Filing single. Process trudged along and my wife's interview was scheduled in May 2015. Prior to the interview I sent her the 2014 TR still filing as single. And fwiw co did not ask for it. Before filing the 2014 TR I did basic research because it was my intent to maximize refund or minimize liability by claiming both wife and step-daughter on the return (3 vs.1 exemptions). What I read is that there is a residency requirement that also goes along with the marital status. Since neither were residing in the US for the prescribed amount of time (>6 mths???) I couldn't list either.
If you're hooked up with a tax attorney and he's working pro-bono, I certainly would like to hear his view. I would be very specific when talking to him about specific event dates AND place of physical residence along the way and report back.
Keep in mind that the requirement of providing tax returns and W-2's is just to satisfy the AOS filing, ie do you make enough money to support your immigrating family. They (the NVC) are really looking at the gross earnings.
Once again this was specific to MY case and may not apply across the board. So take it at face value. And let us know what the 'expert' says. Maybe I am wrong and Saylin is correct. If that is in fact the case maybe I too will refile using the NRA SSAN as a filler.

Not true.
You do need to provide where the passport with visa will be delivered. If you don't pre-fill it out it will cause more delays on the interview date.
And as encouragement, tell your wife not to stress out. CO asked her my name, where she will live, how / where we met. Then approved, welcome to the US. All these guides you come across about 100 questions: your favorite color, college mascot, color of your car, how many brothers / sister's you have, mother's maiden name, etc. etc. is all BS. At least for CR1/ CR2 visas. They don't have time to give her a 3rd degree.
For my step-daughter's (4 in Oct.) Is your name Marilyn? She didn't even answer just nodded her head. And that 'interview' was over.

I do not think you will have problems with the tax return at interview. When I did my wife AOS in feb 2015. I sent in my 2013 tax form i file single as i was not married for that year. For my wife interview i sent her a copy of the extension i file for this tax year 2014
And some more proof of our relationship that I had.
the interviewer only ask to see some pictures she had of us. They did not ask to see anything i sent her for interview.
Also the interview was very easy they only ask my wife 3 very basic question

Yes she will know kn day of interview if she is approve. The interviewer should tell her but they do not always. If the officer does not tell her. Or she is still not sure she can ask the officer at the end of the interview if she is approved
As far as booking a flight that is up to you. Most people will say wait. However I did book my wife ticket the same day she was approve. I book her ticket about 3 weeks from her approval. She got her visa in about 5 days but she did not have to submit any more stuff and she also was living in manila. I think most get their visa from there in under 2 weeks. But i have heard of some having to wait longer
The choice is yours If you are willing to take that chance or not

I agree with the above response. I your wife lives in a metro area (Manila, Cebu, Davao) and if there are no complications at the interview (221g) then booking a month out has minimal risk. Will give her 2-3 weeks to complete the cfo and all the bon voyage parties.
The risks are unforeseen... printing press brakes, supertyphoon, 2go strike, etc etc. That is why the embassy says to wait until visa is in hand before making travel plans.

1. It won't update till the actual packet is in USEM.
2. Leave the date as is because your going to drive yourself crazy otherwise you can change. Up to you.
3. It's a rare occasion that someone gets there Medical down in one day. Those that have, have been first in line and 6 am will not get first in line. 3 am will but she is alone in a neighborhood she is not familiar with. The neighborhood is not to bad but hey.....
4. Your daughter does not need a CFO sticker as she is a USC.
5. Five to seven business days is plenty.
6. To schedule your medical appointment you will need the interview confirmation page that you printed and the emailed confirmation page from NVC with your MNL#. If you do not have the NVC letter then take a screen shot from the CEAC page.
PREREGISTER at St. Luke's website, it saves time when you arrive.

you should get an email from the nvc that say your interview has been schedule . No you do not pay another fee for interiew that is for k-1 visa. The only other fee you will paid is the 165 dollar fee for processing of green card.You will not be able to paid that untill after visa is issue it can be paid before you come to USA or up onto a year after you arrive to pay it. you will have to pay for the medical. Yes it is cash only you can pre registar for medical on the st lukes website it will save time.You should bring copies of tax forms to interview. They did not ask to see my from my wife but who knows they could ask to see that from your wife .Always better to have something and not need it then not to have it

We had to wait 31 days to hear from NVC after submitting DS-260 and supporting documents. Unfortunately, we got a checklist and now we're under supervisor review, which takes another 45 days.
So count a minimum of 30 days and a max of.......

Once you have case complete than you wait for Interview scheduling. Than your petition is sent out to the embassy. Philippines usually isn't too long of a wait.
Here's the CC to Interview spreadsheet take a look.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xbLl_8yDgHLeDaLnTrPdYc44J0sjPSFfYCKxlKx6uTY/edit#gid=0

edit.
Usually it's not a problem. Unless she doesn't want to do the xray.

This is the number for NVC 1-603-334-0700 they are open 7am to midnight eastern time best time to call is early in the morning right when they open or late at night right before they close
You will need to call them and get your case and invoice number. Once you have the numbers you can log in on the ceac website and fill out the DS261 choice of agent form and pay the Aos fee
Do not wait on the NVC to send anything or you will be waiting extra time
Also when you call to get your case number you can give the NVC yours and your wife e-mail

that link will help some one have a general ideal of the nvc process part of the visa. However to save a lot of time the steps are not right
These are the steps to do as it will help speed up the process at the NVC
step I. call and get case and invoice number
step 2. fill out Ds-261 choice of agent form
step 3. pay AOS fee
step 4. send in AOS and IV packets
Step 5. call and have the NVC review the DS-261 if they have not done it yet. keep calling till they do, some agents will tell you they can not, but it can be review over the phone
step 6. pay the IV fee
step 7. fill out the DS-260 visa application form
step 8. wait for case complete which should not be much longer
good luck

Yes she can send you a scan copy. And no you do not need the cdl endorsmenent.

1. It takes 3 years of marriage and 3 years of permanent residency in US (+ bunch of other requirements / taxes / good moral character) to get citizenship. Typically takes couple of months.
2. If US citizen has own children, then they are US citizens. If they're spouses children from a different marriage, they can be petitioned for being US residents, not citizens. Children to be unmarried and below 21 though.
3. See above.

1 - It would take three years minus 90 days, of the alien living in the US -and- staying married to the US spouse before applying for citizenship. The citizenship process should not take longer than 9 months, at worst.
2 - Through CRBA, children of a US citizen become US citizens at birth, provided the US parent satisfies the requirements for residence in the US.
3 - Check the requirements in this link: http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents
Good luck!

A legal permanent resident must keep their domicile in the USA, spend more time in the USA than out of it. No they cannot leave and live in another country. The beneficiary can obtain a re-entry permit if they will be outside the USA for 1 year or more however, but the ultimate decision maker is the CBP upon entry. Staying out of the country longer does effect their citizenship capability and doesn't not absolve them from renewing their green card or removing conditions.
If the couple has been married less than 2 years at entry the beneficiary receives a 2 year conditional residence green card upon which they must remove the conditions before it expires by proving a genuine relationship continued with the petitioner.
If married more than two years, the beneficiary receives a 10 year green card which they must either renew or gain citizenship before it expires.
For citizenship for the beneficiary read here: http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization/naturalization-spouses-us-citizens
and here: http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization
After becoming a citizen both USC's can then live wherever they want to in the world and return to the USA whenever they want to. However they still must file US taxes for the entire time they are USC's no matter where they are in the world.