Naturalization requirement clarification

[4Runs]

My mother became a permanent resident in June end 2006. She completes 5 years of US residence in June 2011. She has had continuous residence in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years and has been been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the 5 years.

As you can file for citizenship 3 months before, we would like to file for US Naturalization for her by end of March, 2011. She is going to India in Jan for a month and will return mid-Feb 2011. Need some clarification regarding the requirement: "Have lived within the state or USCIS district with jurisdiction over your place of residence for at least 3 months prior to the date of filing Form N-400."

- Does this requirement mean that she be physically present in the state of jurisdiction for at least 3 months prior?

- As she is going to India for a month and not returning till mid-Feb, can we not file by March end? Or now do we have to wait till mid-May (3 months after her arrival) to file for Naturalization?

Thanks for your help.

 

[BigJoe5]

8 CFR § 316.2 Eligibility.

(5) Immediately preceding the filing of an application, or immediately preceding the examination on the application if the application was filed early pursuant to section 334(a) of the Act and the three month period falls within the required period of residence under section 316(a) or 319(a) of the Act, has resided, as defined under §316.5, for at least three months in a State or Service district having jurisdiction over the applicant's actual place of residence, and in which the alien seeks to file the application;
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8 CFR § 334.2 Application for naturalization.

(a) An applicant may file an application for naturalization by filing a completed Form N–400 signed in the applicant's own handwriting, if physically able to do so, and by including any other documents required by parts 316, 319, 324, 325, 327, 328, 329, and 330 of this chapter, as appropriate. An application prepared for a person physically unable to write shall be signed by the preparer, in the space marked “Preparer's signature.” The applicant shall include the fee as required in §103.7 of chapter B of this title, and a photocopy of the applicant's Alien Registration Card (Form I–551).

(b) An application for naturalization may be filed up to 90 days prior to the completion of the required period of residence, which may include the three-month period of residence required to establish jurisdiction under section 316(a) or 319(a) of the Act.
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Yes, INA 334(a) actually says 3 months rather than 90 days but it is rarely an issue for 99.999999% of applicants.
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SO, did she already live in the State or USCIS Office jurisdiction for 3 months already at time of filing the N-400? If yes, then it is OK to travel after filing.