u/pasta_hater88

Had my B1/B2 visa interview appointment last week in the Auckland embassy. Planning to visit the US to visit my partners family there and spend christmas and new years with them in SC and NY.

As soon as I get through security I had my biometrics collected and I got told my photo didn't fit the required format which I had realised a few days before so I handed them physical copies of ones that would.

Waited in line afterwards for the interview booths which took forever and also very nerve-racking since I could see everyone doing their interviews and seeing who gets accepted/rejected and there were tons of rejections that day.

My turn then came and I got to the booth and the interviewer was a younger looking guy which calmed me down quite a bit since we look similar in age. Got asked the mandatory questions about me having experience mistreatment in NZ or Indonesia (where I'm from and currently hold passport) and if I'm afraid of going back or not which i said no to both.

Then got asked about what my job is, what my plans are in the US which I answered truthfuly that I'm working as a chef and I'm visiting my partners family for holiday. Questioned about my partner and our relationship afterwards and where we met, told them we met in NZ while she was an exchange student and she's currently here on a work visa.

Then I got questioned if I was planning to immigrate to the states which I said not anytime in the near future as we are planning to get residency here in NZ. Last question was just him asking my travel history and which country had been my favourite, I just replied Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore. And NZ has been my favourite so far.

He smiled and told me congratulations your visa is approved.

I made a post a few months ago and everyone in this sub told me that I basically had zero chance on getting my visa approved due to me being young (23 y/o), not a permanent resident in NZ (here in a work visa), having a US partner and also me being a chef. But in the end my visa got accepted and the interview only lasted less than 3 minutes.

All I can say to everyone that's applying here is that as long as you've got a legitimate reason and you carry yourself well during the interview you'd still have a chance on getting your visa approved. Be honest, dress up well, and give a good first impression to the officer. Because in the end, it all comes down to who's interviewing you and how you can get them to believe you're being truthful or not.

Hi everyone! Finally got a slot for an interview at the Auckland embassy for a B1/B2 visa and just wanted to ask for advice for my interview there.

I'm a 23 y/o Indonesian citizen, currently in NZ on a work visa and has been here for 6 years (2 years of studying, 3 years of open work visa and has been on a sponsored work visa ever since which will expire in 2030 but planning to apply for residency in August)

I work as a chef and will be visiting my partner's family in NY and South Carolina during my Christmas break from work for around 2 weeks. My partner is a US citizen but she is here on a working holiday visa and staying with me for the meantime as we apply for residency together in August.

Travel history :

- Thailand (January 2026)

- Indonesia (November 2024 - Jan 2025)

- NZ for the rest of the time

Let me know if anyone knows what sort of questions i should expect! And any advice would be much appreciated!