US Immigration from Australia

I will apply for the IR-1 visa - Spouse Visa. Married for 13 years to US Citizen. We have 1 Child who could be approved for US Citizenship / US Passport. I have previously held a Green Card but relinquished it due to moving back to Australia for an extended period. My question is I just reapply again using the IR -1 and this gets approved and allows me to enter the USA then a Green Card is issued shortly after arrival in the USA if I've read and understood correctly?

I believe the average timeline for approval is 10 months or more?

Do you have to apply outside the USA? Is there a way to enter the USA and apply for the Green Card?

My other question is if I apply for the I-130 (Green Card) and while the application is processing can I travel to the USA to visit on a tourist visa or is it better to not try to do so?

Has anyone had a similar experience?

So after much anxiety over getting an appointment, one has finally been scheduled. The date that has been set is after the expiry of the original petition, so my question is should we take any preemptive action in requesting an extension of the original petition? It's also later than we were hoping for, has anyone had any luck with requesting an earlier appointment? If so, what steps did you take for that?

HI there - my spouse I am petitioning has a current ESTA that expires this May 2020. My PD is late September and is at Nebraska so not expecting anything until the Fall. We want to make a trip this summer - and we're looking to get tickets now... Can we try to renew her ESTA now or do we need to wait?

There is a time in everyone's long distance journey where someone sacrifices something in order to be together long term.

DISCLAIMER: I apologize in advance if I sound whiny or complain too much but I just thought I would express my raw feelings on the first morning of 2020.

My fiance and I have came to harsh reality that we might not see each other for another six months. His interview is scheduled on Feb 5th but his sisters wedding is on June 29th (in AUS) leaving us no time to get accepted for a green card or advance parole in time to go back to Australia for the wedding. We both know it is the mature decision for him to stay in Australia even after the interview and wedding. This has been extremely hard because I know this is the right decision in the long run but I am having such a hard time dealing with it in the short run. This decision took me awhile to process last night but hit me so hard this morning and couldn't stop crying if I tried. Anyone in long distance knows how hard it is to be apart for so long, but today it just hit me like a ton of bricks.I know our relationship is very strong and will not break within this waiting period but I cant help but feel depressed at the fact I was counting down until February to possibly see him and now I may have to wait until June. I work and go to school full time so it so hard to drop everything and fly to Australia like I wish I could.

We have been doing long distance for almost 2 years now and I dont know how to cope with it anymore (other than staying busy like I am now). I feel so drained and hopeless and cant seem to go on with my day without crying or getting out of bed. If anyone has any advise on this situation it would really benefit because we both feel helpless.