how hard is the K1 interview in Albania?

[emmaline_g 2]

My fiance and I are waiting for an interview date at the US embassy in Tirana. We have filed for the K1 visa; I'm the USC and he's Albanian, so he is the one who will take the interview.

I have already stalked every "Albania" member on VJ and read their interview experiences, as well as scouring the guides over and over, but I am dying to have all the inside info I can. As one of the members told me, Tirana is not an easy embassy to go through so I am starting to worry.

My Questions

- Did they really ask the Albanian citizen to recite phone numbers, parents' birthdates and addresses? What sort of questions do they ask? I know that there is a list of "sample interview questions" on VJ but that is a general list meant to apply to all countries, not an Albanian-specific list.

- What sort of evidence did they want to see? Will they really look at each card and boarding pass, etc.? The bulk of our evidence is 3 years of love letters, my phone bills, and tons of photos from me visiting him, especially when I visited him in Albania and met his family. I was hoping that was enough but now I'm thinking I should quickly mail some more things over. What else can I send? It seems like during the interview the CO only looks at one tiny thing out of the whole pile.

- I have a job where I am well over the poverty guidelines, but this is only reflected on 2008's tax return. On 2006 return I was a student, and in 2007 I was a student for half the year and started working my job in the second half so I did not meet the poverty guidelines for those years. Is that a problem for the embassy? I have included my pay stubs, bank account info and a letter...aghh!

I think my case is really straightforward without any red flags that I can think of. My fiance already knows everything about me possible because we live 15 hours apart and all we can do is blah blah talk on the phone all day. I am just worried that they will catch my fiance on a stupid technicality (like, "what did you write on page 3, line 27" "Uh, I don't know" "FAIL!") and deny him the visa. I suppose I am asking for advice and reassurance at the same time, if anyone is willing to give it

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My fiance and I are waiting for an interview date at the US embassy in Tirana. We have filed for the K1 visa; I'm the USC and he's Albanian, so he is the one who will take the interview.

I have already stalked every "Albania" member on VJ and read their interview experiences, as well as scouring the guides over and over, but I am dying to have all the inside info I can. As one of the members told me, Tirana is not an easy embassy to go through so I am starting to worry.

My Questions

- Did they really ask the Albanian citizen to recite phone numbers, parents' birthdates and addresses? What sort of questions do they ask? I know that there is a list of "sample interview questions" on VJ but that is a general list meant to apply to all countries, not an Albanian-specific list.

- What sort of evidence did they want to see? Will they really look at each card and boarding pass, etc.? The bulk of our evidence is 3 years of love letters, my phone bills, and tons of photos from me visiting him, especially when I visited him in Albania and met his family. I was hoping that was enough but now I'm thinking I should quickly mail some more things over. What else can I send? It seems like during the interview the CO only looks at one tiny thing out of the whole pile.

- I have a job where I am well over the poverty guidelines, but this is only reflected on 2008's tax return. On 2006 return I was a student, and in 2007 I was a student for half the year and started working my job in the second half so I did not meet the poverty guidelines for those years. Is that a problem for the embassy? I have included my pay stubs, bank account info and a letter...aghh!

I think my case is really straightforward without any red flags that I can think of. My fiance already knows everything about me possible because we live 15 hours apart and all we can do is blah blah talk on the phone all day. I am just worried that they will catch my fiance on a stupid technicality (like, "what did you write on page 3, line 27" "Uh, I don't know" "FAIL!") and deny him the visa. I suppose I am asking for advice and reassurance at the same time, if anyone is willing to give it

Look at the consulate reviews, at the top of the home page for feedback on the consulate.

[emmaline_g 2]

Thanks for the answer, Gary

I guess I should not have asked a seemingly repeat question, but I have read the consulate reviews for Albania many times. There are only 2 or so and they are not recent.

I know there are not as many people with Albanian partners on here as some other countries, but if one of them has even a tiny piece of info that would help me a lot.

[TBoneTX 46,195]

Emmaline: What are the chances that YOU could be in Tirana during his interview? Even if you aren't allowed in the interview itself, or perhaps even on the consular premises, you could hand him your passport to show the CO. THAT would score some big points.

Your current salary would likely mean more than those of your past situations would.

One thing to consider is to collect "testimonial letters" from those who are aware of the validity of your relationship. If I find the relevant thread in the U.S. Consulate forum before you do, I'll bump it for you. Keep the faith, si man.

[Creel 0]

First off relax.....everyones interview is different and things have changed a lot recently. Three years ago when my husband got interviewed I was there. They wouldn't let me in until 2 pm and my husband actually refused to be interviewed when they called his name until I could come in as a US Citizen. After I got in we waited until they had interviewed everyone else and then they interviewed him. Back then they interviewed you at the window and everyone could hear and see what you were asked. That also meant the interviewers could see my husband and I interact for over an hour as we cuddled, kissed, and waited. I think that me being there was in our favor, but it is pretty hard to do as they don't actually encourage it. His interview was quick. They wouldn't let me stand at the window but I sat about 4 feet away in a waiting room chair. When they started asking my husband questions in English he said he didn't undertsand and so they asked how he talked to me. I butted in that we both spoke Italian (luckily they didn't ask me to, because mine is awful). They asked him how we met and he launched into a 10 minute explanation of our beginning story together, then they looked at a couple pictures and approved us. Seeing my reaction and hearing my shout for joy once we got out the door could only have confirmed that we had a real relationship.

All that said, I do know someone who was denied and one of the questions asked was what is the fiancee's phone number and address and the fiance could not answer as he had never written and they talked over the internet. They reapplied, it took another year, but he is here and they have been married for over a year.

Just relax, and answer honestly. Most have been approved no problem and if you are not you can fight it. You seem to have a lot of evidence and proof that you have been there so I am sure you will be fine.

[Creel 0]

I forgot to mention that I was a student when I applied for my husband so in 2005 my income was less than $4,000 and we applied in Spring 2006 when I still had no job so I had no income at all. By the time of the interview I had returned to the US and submitted proof that I had a good job and my income would be above the limit and we got approved no problem.

[ilovebangladesh 1]

Creel- thanks so much for sharing your experience.

[Anisa 0]

if anyone has any questions for Albanian embassy feel free to contact me.