OldUser

Finally approved on 3/21/23 without an interview. 
 
Took almost 4 years!

It is not just about physical presence, but proving you did not abandon your status during those numerous lengthy trips. 
 
Regarding VAWA, as @Mike E and @OldUser mention, they will very likely question you on that matter during interview, and probably request some evidence.
 
People tend to forget that during the naturalization process, the USCIS reviews the applicant's immigration path as a whole. 

It's unlikely you're going to see any difference in speed.
 
However, N-400 under 5 year rule is a much easier case for you to file, as less documentation is needed. It's also easier to review and approve by immigration officer. 
 
If you're eligible, don't think twice - file under 5 year rule.
 

For three times a year I’d definitely say it’s worth it. Honestly, the last time I entered the US before GE, the line at immigration was approximately three hours long, and the first time after, I was through in five minutes. Two extremes, but even if I never used it again (which I will, but nvm) I still think it was worth $100 and a couple hours of PTO from work. 

Good news.  My status updated yesterday to card has been produced, so things seem to be moving along now.
 
 

3 months!  Wow!!!   Congratulations......wife just got her passport, and we just booked her a trip to Taiwan!!!

The OP got GC through WAVA.
 
5 year is the path to go, unless OP wants to deal with physical presence and difficulties associated with obtaining GC through WAVA.
 
Am I right to assume the OP would essentially have to reprove all marital stuff and answer uncomfortable questions under 3 year rule filing?
 

18 months. More precisely (366 + 365 + 365) / 2 = 548 days.
 
But that is merely the necessary amount of time. It might not be sufficient.
 
This case had an RFE because the applicant was averaging 160 days per year of absence in the 5 year period:
 
 https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/793074-n-400-notice-of-continuance-how-to-prove-immediate-family-remained-in-the-us/
 
Your other potential problems are:
 
* where is your spouse during these 5 month trips abroad? The 3 year rule requires you to be living in a marital union for 3 years with a U.S. citizen.
 
* you need to be residing continuously in one state for 3 months before you file N-400, and the same must be true when you interview and again when you take oath. Spending the majority of those 3 months inside your state is convincing evidence of continuous residency
 
* by law you must also be continuously residing in the U.S. between date of filing and date interview. 
 

I'm from the Atlanta field office as well. I just got this same email with the same thing as OP. This is the official notice we received.
 
Your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status does not include a completed and signed Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.
 
Please submit a completed Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.
 
Civil Surgeons and the Form I-693
A USCIS civil surgeon must complete and sign the form, and you must also sign the form. If the civil surgeon refers you to a specialist, the specialist must include his or her medical exam results and complete the proper sections of the Form I-693 before the civil surgeon may sign the form.
 
Important: Only a designated civil surgeon authorized by USCIS to conduct medical examinations is qualified to complete the Form I-693. The civil surgeon must sign and date the Form I-693. Signatures by a nurse, physician’s assistant, or a doctor not designated as a civil surgeon are not acceptable. You must sign and date the Form I-693 when instructed to do so by the civil surgeon. The original completed Form I-693 must be sealed in a separate envelope by the civil surgeon. The sealed envelope must be returned, unopened, to this office.
A list of designated civil surgeons can be obtained by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283, or via the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov and using the MyUSCIS Find a Doctor tool at my.uscis.gov/findadoctor. You will need to provide your zip code or address. If you are hearing impaired, please call the USCIS Contact Center TDD at 1-800-767-1833.
Civil surgeons must use the current edition (07/19/2022) of Form I-693. You can find the current edition of Form I-693 on USCIS’s website at www.uscis.gov. In addition, the civil surgeon must ensure that all parts of Form I-693 were properly completed.
Important: All Forms I-693 signed by civil surgeons on or after October 5, 2022, must use the 07/19/2022 edition of Form I-693. USCIS will not accept the 09/13/2021 version (or any previous editions) if the civil surgeon signed the Form I-693 after October 4, 2022.
Reminder: Effective October 1, 2021, applicants subject to the immigration medical examination must complete the COVID-19 vaccine series before the civil surgeon can complete an immigration medical examination and sign Form I-693. This applies to Form I-693 signed by civil surgeon on or after October 1, 2021.
Additional: If your application is based on your marriage to a United States Citizen (USC) or a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), and you or your spouse have not yet submitted evidence of the bona fides of your marriage, you may submit this evidence at this time to accelerate the processing of the decision on your case.
If you wish to submit supplemental documentation, you may do so by bringing the documentation to the Atlanta Field Office. You may drop the documents off on Saturday, April 15, 2023, or Saturday April 22, 2023, from 09:00 am to 01:00 pm. Our address is as follows:
USCIS Atlanta Field Office 
2150 Parklake Dr. NE
Atlanta, GA 30345
Please include a copy of this e-mail with your Form I-693 to help us identify your case.
If your application is based on your marriage to a USC or an LPR and you would like to submit evidence of the bona fides of your marriage, please submit that evidence, with a copy of this notice, either:
o   To the field office address above, or,
o   If available, online by uploading the evidence through your USCIS account.
 

Looks like you got the email version of the I-693 courtesy notice, which is safe to ignore for AOS from K1 cases with completed DS-3025 and I-485 filed within 1 year of the visa medical.  As long as it's not an RFE, no need to worry.
 

If it was a notice for an interview, would you be back in time?
 
 

You file the full adjustment package

This may be helpful.
 
Good Luck!
 
 

@RambaCat you're right. I wouldn't be suprised if new design is causing delays 🤣

Right, but the green card is expired. The website doesn’t mention anything about an extension notice. As somebody who’s been denied boarding at the gate because of the green card plus extension notice combo, I’ve become extra careful with all requirements(not traveling to Jamaica, but Mexico)

Nope, you’re golden as you already have a green card. Gather all important documents now and put them somewhere safe or with a person you trust. You can file a divorce when out of the residence so there’s no screaming match why you did it. Have all communication go through a lawyer. 

I'd say there is a way request it, but whether the combo will be given depends on many factors.

Thank you that's helpful

This. OP can reduce the risk of being suspected of abandoning resident status by applying for an I-131 reentry permit, even if the stay is shorter than 6 months:
Note: Obtaining a re-entry permit from USCIS before you leave, or a returning resident visa (SB-1) from a U.S. consulate while abroad, may help show that you planned for this to be a temporary absence. It's not a 100% safeguard, but better than nothing, especially if combined with evidence that OP has maintained strong ties to the US. The caveats for naturalization still apply, and she could still be found to have broken continuous residence which would reset the N-400 timer.

Thank you for the answer. Putting aside the naturalization, do you know if I take trips of 4 or 5 months and then come back to the US for only one month and travel again for 4 or 5 months, would that put me at risk of losing my green card? or to be admitted in the US?

Absolutely. 
 
You will definitely be questioned by CBP and depending on their findings, they could consider you abandoned your permanent resident status. 

Agreed. I applied on December 27 last year and just had my oath ceremony today. Super easy under the 5-year rule.

It's unlikely you're going to see any difference in speed.
 
However, N-400 under 5 year rule is a much easier case for you to file, as less documentation is needed. It's also easier to review and approve by immigration officer. 
 
If you're eligible, don't think twice - file under 5 year rule.
 

I just want tell everyone to not get discouraged if you receive your extension letter! I got a notification in the app that my "my card is being produced" on March 17th and I received my extension letter in the mail on March 18th. I doesn't mean they push you in a corner once they send the extension letter 🤗 Hang in there! ☀️🤞

Hmm now that you mention it, I did see something recently about them updating the green card - might be that causing the delays in production. Especially considering it took them a while to send out the new extension letters and this was released at the same time;

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-redesigns-green-card-and-employment-authorization-document
 
Definitely going to hope it's that causing the extended delays but...it's also USCIS. 😂