Cogratulations on the CSQ. I will answer you base on my knowledge and experience with the federal system.
1. no. Federal stage will take some time and having a job helps ease the waiting game
2.yes but you can completely stay in middle east if you have a job there. You are completely safe with your csq and the vo handling you will consider your current state. All you have to do it communicate via email.
3. You could do that but if you feel sad and want to go home but if you would like to continue working, you could do so. You could even change jobs like what i did. The key is constant updates via email in business style writing
4.yes, there are times CIO will transfer your file to another vo if there is some sort of congestion like what happened in new delhi vo wherein some applicants got transferred to warsaw
Congratulations brother! Ill be expecting you in CA by 2016