green card based on spouse's citizenship

[pahadi]

Hi,

I am married to a US citizen. In the first week of March 2000, I applied for a green card (GC) based on marriage. I filed I-130 and I-485, along with I-765 for employment. I got my EAD (based on I-765) within a month and a half. I got an 'A' number and I was told that the current wait for GC processing is 20 months.
1) I would like to hear from anyone who has gone through this process.
2) It is almost 15 months now since I applied. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to expedite the matter?
3) If I wanted to travel abroad, do I have to get an advance parole for that. Is that complicated, and does my GC processing get stopped for the duration that I'm out of the US?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!

[immihelp]

1. ?
2. I-485 takes time. Can't expedite it.
3. What is your visa status currently? Are you on H1 visa etc? If you have no valid non-immigrant visa, you will have to get Advance Parole, Form I-131. Information is there on our web site. When you travel with Advance Parole and come back, it does NOT stop your GC processing.