Closure of Sydney Embassy and potential move to NZ

[NikNush 3]

Hi, I am a New Zealand Citizen living in Australia and my partner is the US Citizen living in the states. We have applied for a K1 visa and had our NOA1 on 29 March 2021. We recently got NOA2 and were transferred to NVC about a month ago but now have realised that due to Sydney being closed and not taking any more applications we are stuck at this stage. NVC said they cannot give us the invoice to pay our fees and proceed until sydney says they will take more applications as they are still working through the backlog when they reopen. 

 

What I am wondering is - does anyone have any idea of the timeframe to reopen? As I am a New Zealand Citizen, I could also move back to New Zealand and do my interview there. Another question I have is what do I need to do to prove 'residency' in New Zealand. the auckland embassy says they will not accept my application until I actually move countries to NZ and am resident there but are very vague as to what evidence to provide to show residency. 

 

Has anyone made a move like this before? What did you provide? 

 

Also does anyone have any general advice for us on whether to stay put in Australia and wait for Sydney or actually quit my job, give up my home, car etc, and move to NZ and live with my parents waiting for an interview there. 

 

Thank you, 

 

Anushka

[Verrou 1,962]

If I were you I will stay put in Australia, earn income while waiting for the slot to be open. That’s my opinion though. Unless you know for sure if you move to NZ, it will be faster to

get the visa compare then if you wait in Oz 

[JeanneAdil 6,509]

get the criminal report from NZ and plan the interview in Australia

 

NVC does not invoice for the K1

only do they invoice for the 2 CR1 payments

 

the monies are not due until embassy has the packet and the ds 160 is done

 

how the embassy accepts payment varies 

some embassies accept the payment directly

some make u pay at a bank or other vendor