US Immigration from New Zealand

Hi everyone! Thanks to @Greenbaum s DHL tracking hack, I ve been notified that our case has arrived at the US Consulate in Auckland. Now, for those who have gone through this process already, do you know how long it took before the consulate contacted the beneficiary? And also, has anyone scheduled a K1 interview there lately? Was there any backlog due to COVID-19? Thanks!

Just checking the processing time in albuquerque.

Just checking the processing time KC.

Hi guys,

I'm a newbie and just trying to wrap my head around this process and hoping to get some insight from a few people further along in the process. Some quick background, I'm a US citizen living in New Zealand with my kiwi partner. I've been here 3 years on a partnership based residency visa. We are hoping to move over to the US in about 12 months. We currently aren't married but planning on it.

My main question as of now is if there's any thoughts about if it'd be quicker to apply in the US or overseas (in NZ)? Tossing up between moving home and getting married right away (Can my partner come over on a tourist visa waiver and lawfully wed or would we have to get a K-1 first?) and apply for a spousal visa in the U.S. OR if we should get married and apply for a spousal visa from NZ?

Really unsure the best route here, my main priority right now is getting back to the U.S. as quickly as possible so worried if we apply here we won't be allowed to leave NZ until the green card comes through (Unsure if we can go early with my partner on a tourist visa waiver while it's processing - thoughts?) Alternatively, if we apply from the U.S. is my partner allowed to remain there while the visa is processing? Assuming he'd have no working rights which we can afford but it's not ideal.

Also, what's the difference between IR1 or CR1?

Any thoughts or advice welcomed.

Hi Everyone,

I just checked the processing times on the USCIS website for Employment Authorisation and it says it's taking 28.5 - 37 months at the NBC - does anyone know why this is? Until recently, processing times have only been 4 - 7 months

Thanks!