is63

I had my interview today. It was fairly easy but they had some computer issues and I did the test and interview in an office instead at the window.

The interviewer was really nice with a thick accent like me.

I passed of course.

Now waiting for oath ceremony.

9 minutes ago, stormnut42 said:

Got to the Detroit field office right at 1pm and my interview was scheduled for 1:30pm.  We went through the metal detectors but, forgot that our heated jackets have batteries in them. So, they made my spouse take the batteries back to the car. I showed my interview notice and went and sat down. About 1 minute later I was called up where two guys were working. I sat down and he wanted my interview letter and my Greencard. He checked those and then took my finger-prints from each of my index fingers.  Then, he stapled a number to my interview schedule and told me to sit in section 2. So, I sat there and waited for about 10 minutes. Then, I went up to window #6. The lady said this is where my test would take place. She told me to stand up again, raise my right hand and I had to take an oath to tell the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth (I noticed there was no "so help me God" at the end. Oh well).

 

Then, she told me that she would start with the English test. I had to look at the iPad and a white screen came up with a sentence. Ironically, it said "What country is to the north of the U.S.?"  So, I read that. Then, it switched to some blank lines and she said I would have to write that sentence but, be careful not to touch the screen with my fingers. I took the stylus and awkwardly wrote out the sentence, stopping after a few seconds and asking if I was ok to write or did I have to print. She said she didn't care, as long as she could read it. Then, she said she would start the government questions (civics test).  She said she would ask up to 10 questions and that I would have to get 6 correct, to pass.   Here were my 6 questions:

 

1.  Name one thing Abraham Lincoln did? (I said - Freed the slaves).

2. Who is the current president of the United States? (I said - An orange-faced clown. LOL No. I actually said - Donald J. Trump).

3. Who is the vice president of the United States? (I said - Mike Pence).

4. Who was president during the depression and World War II? (I said - Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  She got confused when I used his middle name and asked me to say the name again. So, I just said Franklin Roosevelt.  She was typing in answers and probably didn't know how to spell Delano! LOL)

5. Which ocean is to the east of the United States, east coast? (I said - Atlantic).

6. Who were the people in the U.S. before Europeans came here? (I said - Native Americans. Indians.)

 

She stopped asking questions and said I passed. She then told me to sit in section #3 and wait for my name to be called. I was pretty shocked that the test portion was done at the windows and not in the back rooms like when I had my Greencard interview.  We waited like 15 or 20 minutes before my name was called. 😴  I could hear other people taking their tests at the different numbered windows. But, one guy got had his actual citizenship interview right at the window. I could hear hear asking the questions on the n400 form. I thought he was going to fail his interview at one point, because he didn't seem to understand the question about if he's been paying his taxes since living in the U.S. as a Permanent Resident. First he was saying "No."  Then he was saying he applied for taxes or something. At one point, she asked if he understood the question. I think he eventually understood and finished the interview. 

 

I got called and my spouse came to the door to go to the back rooms. I asked if he could join me but, they didn't allow it!  I was surprised!  Oh! And, during our wait in section #3, one of the security ladies walked around and called everyone's attention to her and told us to turn off our cell phones. She did that like 3 times!!! The final time, she said that if your cell phone is on and you go to the back rooms for your interview, they can terminate the interview! 

 

I followed the lady to a small office, not far from where I had my Greencard interview. She asked me for my interview letter and Greencard. Then, she said I could lay out all the other documentation I brought (my passport, my spouse's birth certificate and our marriage certificate). She asked for my full name, said I passed my test and congratulated me.  Then, she was going over my n400 on her computer. She said the computers are weird and she had to re-enter some information. She reassured me I didn't do anything wrong on my application and it was just their software or something. Then, she asked me all those silly questions from the n400 form, like.... "Do you plan to overthrow the U.S. government?"  (I almost wanted to say Trump is doing a pretty good job of destroying it now!)  She confirmed my address and updated my employment status.  Then, she had me write my signature like 3 different times on an iPad at her desk. One of the times was after a display came up and she said that's what will appear on my Naturalization Certificate. 

 

After some more typing, she said that my case status should update shortly and that I am now in line to be scheduled for my Oat Ceremony.  I asked her if we can choose where to have it. She said the computer takes your name from a list of hundreds of people and puts you in the soonest ceremony according to where you live. She told me that mine will be somewhere here on the west side of Michigan. She said it might take a little longer than east side ceremonies. She said it might even be a small ceremony presided over by a judge in a courthouse. She then told me I was done and walked me back out to the waiting area. We went back to our car and started looking for a place to eat. About 2 minutes after I got in the car, I got an e-mail saying my immigration status has been updated. It is now saying "In line to be scheduled for Oat Ceremony."  I was like.... Wow! That was fast. So, hopefully that doesn't take too long.  We ended up going to eat Greek food in Greek Town at a place called - The Greek. It was pretty good! We both got gyro plates.  Then, it was back on the road for our 2 hour drive back to Battle Creek.  

 

I'll update when I find out when my Oath Ceremony is scheduled.

 

 

Very descriptive. Congratulations.

I am wondering if a question does not ask for one answer but there are different possible answers, what should you say in that case.

Eg.

12. What is the “rule of law”?

• Everyone must follow the law.
• Leaders must obey the law.
• Government must obey the law.
• No one is above the law.

4 hours ago, Given2Fly said:

Question - I have read that the Detroit Field Office does not allow walk-ins. Is that correct or is it possible to do a walk-in for biometrics before the actual appointment when you have the appointment letter?

I tried but they did not let me.

The lady inside the waiting room was not happy with my request but she asked the operator and told me NO.

Applied Nov 12th online interview Mar 20th. FYI

On 2/8/2019 at 1:40 PM, markongo said:

===============================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office..|NBC/IOE
.................|--/--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|..............|...

================================== 
Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox 
================================== 
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office..|NBC/IOE
Allan Souza......|12/23/15|11/15|11/26|11/28|12/14/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Baltimore.....|IOE
==================================
USCIS Chicago, Illinois Lockbox
==================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office..|NBC/IOE
.................|--/--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|..............|...

==================================
USCIS Online Filing
==================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office..|NBC/IOE
ordjnb...........|02/10/16|11/11|11/11|11/12|11/27/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago.......|IOE
oncefuturealien..|02/04/16|11/08|11/08|11/08|11/27/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Bernardino|IOE
&D2012...........|02/14/14|11/27|11/27|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Denver........|IOE
ThousandMoreSteps|03/30/15|11/28|11/28|11/29|12/20/18|--/--/--.|02/04/19.|03/25/19.|--/--/--.|Oklahoma City |IOE
is63.............|03/20/13|11/11|11/11|11/12|12/07/18|--/--/--.|02/14/19.|03/20/10.|--/--/--.|Detroit...... |IOE 
JnJ13............|07/29/13|11/17|11/17|11/17|12/12/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Antonio...|IOE 
raghucbz.........|02/22/16|11/25|11/25|11/25|12/21/18|--/--/--.|01/28/19.|03/04/19.|--/--/--.|Jacksonville..|IOE 
Mathies_dane.....|08/05/13|11/15|11/15|11/16|12/03/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Antonio...|IOE
Andruida.........|07/27/15|11/04|11/04|11/04|11/27/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Boston........|IOE
emcia_81.........|01/07/16|11/08|11/09|11/01|12/14/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington DC.|IOE
Xderka...........|01/24/14|11/12|11/12|11/16|12/04/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Fort Myers....|IOE
-Marie-..........|08/05/13|11/07|11/08|11/08|11/27/18|--/--/--.|01/31/19.|03/12/19.|--/--/--.|San Diego.....|IOE
markongo.........|04/01/11|11/08|11/08|11/10|11/27/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Long Island,NY|IOE
NewKid...........|unknown.|11/07|--/--|--/--|11/30/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Santa Ana, CA.|IOE
Brewlin..........|unknown.|11/05|--/--|--/--|11/30/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|01|15/19.|--/--/--.|Raleigh, NC...|IOE
===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office..|NBC/IOE
.................|--/--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|..............|... 


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22 hours ago, dannyphan91 said:

Congrats. That’s so fast :(((

thanks, its is scheduled for march 20th

received email for interview scheduling waiting for online document re mail for date.

What is this Interview in Line. Do we get a message for that ?

I tried walk in for biometrics today (a week earlier) and failed. They didnt let me

================================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office..|NBC/IOE
.................|--/--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|..............|...

================================== 
Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox 
================================== 
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office..|NBC/IOE
.................|--/--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|..............|...
==================================
USCIS Chicago, Illinois Lockbox
==================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office..|NBC/IOE
.................|--/--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|..............|...

==================================
USCIS Online Filing
==================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intrview.|Oath.....|Field Office..|NBC/IOE
ordjnb...........|02/10/16|11/11|11/11|11/12|11/27/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Chicago.......|IOE
oncefuturealien..|02/04/16|11/08|11/08|11/08|11/27/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Bernardino|IOE
&D2012...........|02/14/14|11/27|11/27|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Denver........|IOE
ThousandMoreSteps|03/30/15|11/28|11/28|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Oklahoma City |IOE
is63.............|03/20/13|11/11|11/11|11/12|12/07/18|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Detroit...... |IOE 
===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office..|NBC/IOE
.................|--/--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|..............|...


Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:
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2. Please use your VJ name to avoid confusion.
3. Click "Quote" on this new template or most recent/updated version of this template.
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Legend:
GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS
Cashd: Date your check was cashed / credit card was charged by USCIS
NOA: Receipt Notice Date Printed on your official I-797 notification
Fprints: Date assigned for fingerprinting (Bio-metrics)
In Line: Date you received e-notification about the start of your interview scheduling
Int Ltr: Date you received the official letter in the mail regarding interview
Interview: Date of your interview
Oath: Date Oath taken

Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you will have the N-400 interview

You can follows these steps:

1- Prepare your full application before traveling to USA. In the application ask them to mail you the document to your country at the USA embassy and not at your USA address.

2- Travel to USA and plan to stay there for at least 30 days

3- File your application the moment you land in USA (put it in the mail using priority mail or even express)

4- Wait for biometrics letter and take the letter to the USCIS office try to do walk-in (take a copy of ticket and explain your situation). The letter should come in about a week, if you do the biometrics before the actual date then you are done and can travel out of USA.

5- If walk-in failed try again and again till the date of your actual appointment that should be within one month of application.

Good luck

Hi Nancy,

Thank you for your response. I agree and fully understand the purpose of the green card and that it is intended for someone to "reside" in the US. But obtaining a travel permit allows the LPR to be out of the country for up to 2 years without residency being considered abandoned. And from what I have read, it is also possible to reapply.

My question was more about people's experiences with the timing to get this permit, and not so much about the residency status.

Regards,

LAR

I think she will be fine since she mainteined ties to USA and had a family emergency.

Check this (all four points are applicable to your wife case):

For continuous periods of between six (6) months and one (1) year. Absences from the United States for continuous periods of between six (6) months and one (1) year during the periods for which continuous residence is required under § 316.2(a)(3) and (a)(6) shall disrupt the continuity of such residence for purposes of this part unless the applicant can establish otherwise to the satisfaction of the Service. This finding remains valid even if the applicant did not apply for or otherwise request a nonresident classification for tax purposes, did not document an abandonment of lawful permanent resident status, and is still considered a lawful permanent resident under immigration laws. The types of documentation which may establish that the applicant did not disrupt the continuity of his or her residence in the United States during an extended absence include, but are not limited to, evidence that during the absence: (Amended 9/24/93; 58 FR 49913)

My wife and I got our employment based Green cards in the mid of September 2010. We are eligible to apply for Citizenship in July 2015. During last 5 years I was out side of the country for 80 days. So, I filed my N400 application in July 2015.

But my wife's case is different as she went to India couple of times and those trips were not more than 3 to 4 months. But this time, due to family emergency, she went to India on Nov 25, 2014, and she is planning to come back on Oct 10, 2015, this trip is around 10.5 months. Once she arrives here, we are planning to file her Citizenship application in the 3rd week of Oct 2015. Please let us know whether she is eligible to file her Citizenship once she comes back, if yes is there any risk of denial of the Citizenship or Green Card?

Here are some more things about our situation:
1. We have been filing our tax returns together for the last 10 years as I'm the primary and she is dependent.
2. While she is outside the US, my wife has been part of the lease agreement in the apartment where I'm staying now.
3. During these file years her physical presence in the US including this trip would be 38 months.
4. She has been maintaining her own bank account in the USA for the last 6 years.

Thank you for your help.

I agree with all hypnos points. But I can add that your job offer overseas is a post-doc and it is a TEMPORARY position. Focus on the three years period and do not think on what follows.

You can get the 2-year permit if you do not want to come back to USA every few months. For the last year either get another permit (from USA) or come every 6 months.

I am a post-doc myself working overseas but also kept some ties with USA like somebody else mentioned in the post (taxes, house, some family members stay in USA).

Good luck

1) You can apply for a re-entry permit, but this is valid for a maximum of two years only. It is also only for the purpose of remaining overseas temporarily. It sounds as if you will be permanently moving back to Germany, and cutting ties with the US. You also cannot renew a re-entry permit from overseas and must apply from within the US.

2) It will not be automatic but CBP will make an assessment when you attempt to re-enter the US. If you have been overseas for a year without a re-entry permit, or over two years with a re-entry permit, or they suspect you have abandoned your residency they can ask you to voluntarily relinquish your green card. If you refuse, they can refer you to immigration court where an immigration judge would make a formal determination of whether or not you abandoned your LPR status.

3) You may still be eligible to use the VWP after voluntarily surrendering your green card. Or you could take steps to try to maintain your US residency.

4) If you do this there is a better-than-average chance that you will lose your green card if you remain overseas for three years.

Not necessarily. See above.

Poor advice. Germany is one of a handful of countries for which dual citizenship is not straightforward. If a German citizen acquires a non-EU citizenship then there are stringent rules and conditions they must follow in order to be able to keep both. If the German citizen cannot meet these conditions then they will automatically lose their German citizenship upon acquisition of the non-EU citizenship. This is likely what the OP was referring to when she said that dual citizenship isn't an option for her.

Before answering the question of 3 or 5 years, have your wife stayed outside USA for more than 6 months, basically between December 2013 and June 2014. You can just calculate the number of days. If no then you a good chance of get naturalized with the 3 years rule.

I do not have personal experience with naturalization, but have a good experience with removing conditions which I assumed you went through already.

Me and my wife had to live overseas for a two years and I was able to prove that we have a bona-fida marriage through buying a house together in USA, having same back account in USA and of course having a daughter together. At the same time, the same proofs I used to prove that I did not intend to leave USA for good and I had intention of living in USA after taking a temporary job overseas.

So besides you bank account do you own a house in USA or at least is your name on the lease if you are renting a house for your family in USA ?

Other things to consider, health insurance, will, car insurance, tickets travelling together and so on.

I strongly believe it is doable with the 3 years rule. But I advise you before submitting the application to at least live in the USA for the time of application in case they wanted to interview you which is around 3 months.

Good luck.

Do you know what kinds of proof they are looking to provide? I will be travelling back and forth throughout that time, so photographic evidence for that last year shouldn't be a problem, in addition to joint accounts/billing addresses/taxes/etc. Plus, my wife and child in all likelihood will be staying together with my parents during that time.

Hi all,

I have a question regarding the naturalization application, do we need to submit police clearance or certificates at any stage during the naturalization process?

My question is mainly if we lived out side USA for some time before the naturalization process begins, do we have to provide international police clearance.

Thanks

Its ok. Wait till your case is approved then cancel the credit card.

Do not worry USCIS will not use your credit card to buy coffee.

should I leave it as it is?

If I deactivate the card and get a new account number, would USCIS think that it is suspicious because the numbers I sent <copy of credit card> would be different from the new new numbers?

omg I am so silly

I was thinking of your situation and was not able to sleep but I think I found an interpretation.

It is possible that they sent the re-entry permit to the department of foreign affairs in DC (or similar) and then it will be forwarded to the US embassy in Japan.

This is the only explanation if DC was not your address listed on the application.

Hello,

It seems like I am in trouble and I would like to ask for your help.

I applied to the reentry permit in May 2015 and got my biometrics done on June 15, 2015. Since I needed to leave the US shortly, in my original application form, I chose to pick up my permit in Tokyo, Japan. When I looked up my case status at the end of July, 2015, it said that "My document was delivered to me by post office" and gave a USPS tracking number. The USPS tracking website shows, however, that the mail was delivered in Washington DC. I am currently in Tokyo and certainly did not receive anything from the USCIS yet. Plus, I did not list any DC address in my application. Has anyone had a similar problem before? In which case, how did you handle the problem?

Any advice will help. Thank you very much!

Hi guys,

There is this member (a supreme one) who seems to give false information about travelling outside usa with a GC.

He is always telling GC holders that they cant travel outside USA even with a re-entry permit (knowing that it looks like he never heard of it and refers to it as advance parole).

You will always see him replying to these topics in particular.

In addition. his profile picture is very disturbing ...

Anyway to report him ???

Please let me know.

if you get the re-entry permit you will be fine.

do your own research, dont rely on incorrect information here and there.

Hi thanks for your reply, I mean the re entry permit, why it is not appropriate if I intend to live in the US eventually, it is only 1.5 years after the GC issue date ! and I can visit the US each 5 months !

If DC is not your US address anyways, then it should be returned to the sender i.e.

I would first call USPS and check its current location then ask them to send it back to sender (if they accepted).

And call USCIS immediately, they should be able to send you a replacement to Tokyo.

PS You have a re-entry permit and not AP so its their fault if you chose to send it to Tokoy. Good luck.

Hello,

It seems like I am in trouble and I would like to ask for your help.

I applied to the reentry permit in May 2015 and got my biometrics done on June 15, 2015. Since I needed to leave the US shortly, in my original application form, I chose to pick up my permit in Tokyo, Japan. When I looked up my case status at the end of July, 2015, it said that "My document was delivered to me by post office" and gave a USPS tracking number. The USPS tracking website shows, however, that the mail was delivered in Washington DC. I am currently in Tokyo and certainly did not receive anything from the USCIS yet. Plus, I did not list any DC address in my application. Has anyone had a similar problem before? In which case, how did you handle the problem?

Any advice will help. Thank you very much!

If DC is not your US address anyways, then it should be returned to the sender i.e. USCIS

I would first call USPS and check its current location then ask them to send it back to sender (if they accepted).

And call USCIS immediately, they should be able to send you a replacement to Tokyo.

PS You have a re-entry permit and not AP so its their fault if you chose to send it to Tokoy. Good luck.

Hi,

Did you receive RFE or interview notice from your local field office?

thank you..

none

I am telling you this from experience and similar to what previous post mentioned.

Apply for re-entry permit ask for two years and you can come back whenever you want of course before the two years pass.

Do the biometrics in usa before leaving and ask uscis to send you the document to your country if a us consulate is close to you.

Good luck.

Hi,

My family and I are moving to my husband's home country. Is there anything we need to do in regards to his green card or anyone we need to contact about the move, besides changing our address with USCIS? We are not sure how long we will be there, but in case it is less than two years for some unknown reason, is it worth it to do a reentry permit?

When we come back to the US for a visit, should he attempt to enter with his green card, or should he just enter as a tourist (we will be returning in June for a wedding, for example)?

If we ever return to live in the states, will we have to began the K-3 process all over again?

Thank you!

I can confirm it.

I entered USA with expired permit and even expired GC but with an extension letter.

They let me in.

In case they asked tell them you applied for a new re-entry permit and waiting for fingerprinting.

Regarding "where do you live": this is a tricky question and never been asked to me. They usually ask "are you working out side USA" and I say yes but my home is USA and I intend to come back to USA when I finish my temporary job assignment.

Just an advice if you can get a second re-entry permit it is better then coming back to USA every one year. It's worth to get one.

Good luck,

Thanks newacct.

Can someone confirm this? It would be great if this was the case but then I don't even need a reentry permit as I'm close to the border and I can make a trip once a month to renew the 1 year limit. Don't I need to establish domicile in order to reset that 1 year duration? Also, when at the border, the first question asked is "where do you live". I usually answer Toronto as that is where I've been for the last year albeit have gone into the US every few months....so what should I answer instead ie. the USA?

I wonder if we should discard the expired conditional green card or keep it (after we received the new one of course) ?

Finally somebody agrees with me.

I tried to say the same in other threads, and always got people to say you will loose residency if you work outside USA.

Everything you said makes sense and happened with me exactly.

You can apply for ROC while you are overseas, we did it. You have to return for biometrics which is about a month to six weeks after you send your application in. No choice there.

You can re-enter without question inside of 6 months and they hassle you a little bit if you have been out of country for longer than 6 months but they will usually let you in. I believe I would suggest you file mid-march and plan to be back in the US around mid to end of April. You won't trigger any interest on a trip like that.

When you submit your application your receipt notice allows you an automatic 1-yr extension on your green card. You can fly back and forth on that extension. Don't lose it.

Make sure you have a rock solid address in the US. Address, vehicle, utility bills, bank account, credit cards, everything and keep it current. You don't want the slightest sniff of an impression that you are on anything but a temporary overseas adventure.

Your extended leave is called a travel document. There is no point applying for a travel document, which expires when the green card expires, on a conditional card.