Physical presence in the USA requirement for the Naturalization.

[malina]

Hello, everyone!

I have a question about the Naturalization. I am the 10 years GC holder through marriage to the US citizen. We filed the joint petition to wave conditions on my GC on Sep,07, and I received my 10 years GC on January, 08. We still live together and everything is fine. i want to apply for the Naturalization through marriage now. I traveled to my native country on July, 06 for 10 days only, and on Jan, 08 for four months. (3 Jan, 08-3 May, 08)

I saw the naturalization eligibility requirements on this site at https://www.immihelp.com/us-naturalization-eligibility/

I meet all the requirements, but not sure about "Physical presence in the USA requirement", in my case it requires 18 months of physical presence. Since I was out from the USA to my native country for four continuous months(3 Jan, 08 - 3 May, 08); my question is:
-1-. Do I have to wait for another 18 months physicaly present in the USA after my last travel to apply for citizenship, or I am good to apply now, since this 4 months travel was a single travel, except for 10 days in July, 06, in my 3 years of permanent residence.
-2-. How long time does the Naturalization process take (6 months?, 1 year? or more)?
-3-. Do I have to stay in the USA all the time during the Naturalization process before I get the Citizenship, or I can travel to my native country while it is pending?

I am very thankful for your comments; this info is very important.
Sorry for the long thread

[C4us]

The naturalization process was estimated at 15-18 months when I last checked for SIL.

You need to look at this to understand the process:

https://www.immihelp.com/usa-citizen...aturalization/

[indianium]

1. You are OK to apply. The immigration law states that:
If you are currently married to and living with the same U.S. citizen for the past 3 years and have not leaved US for 6 months or more then you can apply US citizenship.
2. There is no time frame for Naturalization but will take somewhere around 4-12 months.
3. You do not need to stay in US all the time but do not stay outside of US longer than 5 months 29 days.
For more info read M-476, A Guide to Naturalization @ https://www.immihelp.com/usa-citizen...aturalization/

[CronoC]

-3-. Do I have to stay in the USA all the time during the Naturalization process before I get the Citizenship, or I can travel to my native country while it is pending?

You mean you don't have to stay in the US the entire time your application is being processed?