US Immigration from Philippines

Hi, my wife will be doing her N-400 online soon and we wanted to make a post here incase we need questions answered along the way. Our first question is about the 3 & 5 year routes.

We got all the documents uploaded for applying based on marriage for 3 years before we learned that it is considered easier to just file based on her living in the US for 5+ years.

My question is: does applying on a basis of being a permanent resident for 5 years carry less weight than a marriage basis?

Thx in advance for any information.

My (now) wife and step-daughter arrived in the US and we've since been married but haven't filed any forms.

Both my wife and step-daughter want to change their names but I'm confused when and how to do this.

From what I'm now reading I think I messed up in that I should've requested SS cards as soon as they arrived and if what I've read is correct my wife should've signed the name she wants on the marriage certificate??? Which confuses me since I thought it was a legal document and she had to use her current legal name????

I haven't filed the i-485 or i-765 or requested SS cards and I'm so confused as to what I should do first to get names changed and get the next steps going.

I just don't want to screw anything up,

Thanks for help.

I paid my parents green card on first week of September, is over 2months now but we have not received it yet.

I called and I was being told that I have to wait after 90days so they can answer my questions.

Does anyone have idea on how to expedite the process.

What would be normal timeline for Green card process.

Tia

I'm an expat in the Philippines and I've been living here with my wife of 7 years since 2018. I saw that people in my position typically have trouble proving intent to reestablish domicile. In order to prepare concrete evidence of intent to reestablish domicile, I am considering buying a condo in the US where we intend to settle and to also valuate our house here in the Philippines and post it for sale. The thing is, I am reluctant to spend a bunch of money on a condo (or fly out ahead of my wife and sign a long term lease) unless I feel like there's a really good shot at the IR1 being approved. We have joint sponsors so that won't be the issue, and I intend to do an affidavit outlining my plans to reestablish domicile for the NVC, but I read people say the offers in he Manila embassy want the American spouse to be IN America during the interview.

So my question is this: at what point can I consider that IR1 visa is a 99% sure thing? After I-130 approval? After DQ? Literally the only weak spot in our application is my domicile. We are super obviously a legitimately married couple for love and we meet the financial requirements.

I have a question which form should my mother use, is it i864a or i864?

the petitioner is my sister which she fill up i864 then her husband fill up i864a they filed their taxes jointly.

Which forms does my mother will use?

they live the same address and my mother has separate income and my sister didn't include them in their taxes as other dependent.

just confused with this.

Thank You Guys