Hi, I managed to resolve this issue (I think, fingers crossed!) so I'll answer your questions and let you know what I did.
1.) Yes, all mail correspondence (including NOA1, NOA2, etc) does not get delivered abroad because... reasons. The vast majority of applicants are based in the US and they see no reason to change it. (The agent I spoke with regarding this was super apologetic.)
2.) Correct!
3.) Also, correct.
The helpful agent I spoke with the first time told me that if after filing the AR-11 (which by the way is meant to be filled out by the beneficiary not the petitioner and it also does not include a field for 'country') or completing the process online (which you and I have both tried to do and failed because it forces you to enter a state), the address change did not take (he said to give it a month to receive paper confirmation at the new address), to call USCIS and that the agent on the phone (Tier 2) could do it over the phone and when they ask for your old address, use the old street address but use the call center's ZIP code. He said some agents may refuse to do it, but that they absolutely can and often do as a last resort. He said to make sure they include notes in the call log about why the street address is foreign but city, state and ZIP are in the US.
Knowing all this, here is what I did:
1.) Set up a Google Voice number using my mom's cell phone number and Google account. (I chose to use her account because mine has a 2-step security method that is a pain in the ###.) I did this with my mom while video chatting on Google Hangouts. I chose a number in California because that is where I'm from and where my mom is based, but you can choose any state you want.
2.) Added $10 credit to the Google Voice account.
3.) Installed the Google Hangouts Dialer on my phone and signed into my mom's Google account.
4.) Used the Hangouts Dialer app to call USCIS as soon as they opened in PST. The USCIS phone line can tell where you are calling from and treat your call accordingly; whenever I tried to call before 8am PST, it would tell me to call back during 'normal business hours', FYI.
5.) I told the tier 1 agent on the phone that I needed to change my address and requested to have my call escalated.
6.) After they escalated my call, there was an automated message telling me that they had a high volume of calls and that I could call back later OR schedule a call back. I scheduled a call back to the Google Voice number, but just FYI, unless you call within an hour or so of them opening for your 'time zone', you will get an automated message telling you to call back later and there will be no option for them to call you back. (I learned this the hard way... twice.)
7.) When they did call me back, I explained to the agent exactly what my problem was and told her that I wasn't sure what to do because it's vital that I receive my paper correspondence from USCIS. Immediately, she changed my address in the system using the method I mentioned above (using the call center's ZIP code), and I received an email confirmation regarding this about a week later. The email notification I received said it takes an additional 7-10 business days to receive paper confirmation at the new address, which puts the deadline for that at June 15th, so I'll be happy to update this thread then.
You don't need to use Google Voice to do this, I chose it because the phone app makes it incredibly easy and affordable. You can't sign up for it from your computer unless you are using a VPN, because Google's web services will detect your location and not offer you the option to create a Google Voice number, which is why I had my mom do it on her computer while we were video chatting. Skype also has VOIP thing where you can get an American number, but their service was a little more expensive. Also, something hilarious: even though I was required by the Google Hangouts Dialer app to put a minimum credit on the account ($10), because USCIS is a toll-free number, it doesn't actually use any of the credit. It's $10 that gets stuck in limbo basically; however Google does offer a refund of account credit if you haven't used it. I haven't put in for a refund since we are not done with this process. It's also important to make sure that if you are using an app on your phone to receive the call, that you have all the options set up properly; for Google Voice I had to turn off the 'call screening' option (via the website), turn off call forwarding to my mom's cell phone and make sure that the app was set to receive calls.
I hope that was helpful; if something isn't clear let me know and I'll be happy to clarify
It is not an official policy- hence not everyone gets it- but there is strong anectodal evidenced from our members here for the last 3-4 years. See these threads:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/357465-usc-petitioner-living-abroad/
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/546437-expedite-when-filing-from-abroad-split-topic/
1- Yes
3- Yes, but many (NOT all) petitions filed abroad will get auto-expedited. Not as quick as DCF, but not the "over a year" processing time US based petitioners face.
