Albanian Marriage Visa

[DANUBE]

Hi All

I have persistently been reading updates from members on this site awaiting marriage visas from the uk embassy in Tirana. After 12 months months of careful thought, preparation and stress, my partner and I have decided to get married in Albania and go ahead to apply for the marriage visa! Through this very informative and supportive site I have managed to understand all the necessary documentation required in order to support a marriage visa application.! However, I am seeking some last minute help and would be greatly appreciative if someone could help. Here's my story....................
I have been with my partner for 2 years who came to the uk illegally 2 years ago.
So far this is what we have

40 photo's of us together, mainly tourist photos, london, theme parks & family photos including receipts of the tourist trips, train tickets etc.
6 months banks statements & an income and expenditure prooving I have more than £94 per week.
a letter from out local council stating that the fact my partner lives with myself and my mum is not a breach of tenancy. (we live with my mum in council accomadation)
A supporting letter from my mum confirming we have residence with her
supporting letters from my brothers.
6 months paylsips
copies of my certificates which allow me to practice as a mortgage advisor (although i am not currently working in this profession due to the credit crunch) but looks good for future work
joint gym membership cards
copy of my mums tenancy agreement
print outs of work available in my local area which my partner could apply for (tip picked up from one of your members!)
And of course the certificate of no impediment etc in order to get married
a letter from my mum outlining our rooms & facilities in our house.
three albanian translation books and a hand held electronic albanian to english dictionary
photos of me and my partner which have been printed from my friends facebook account

Ok - sorry to babble on, I'm nervous already!!!!!!!!!!!!
can anyone suggest anything else which i may be missing or may help ?
I was thinking of writing to my local mp for support - anyone have any joy with local mp's support ?
Does anyone have any idea as to what the marriage visa success rate is ??? Don't suppose this kind of information is published ????

Any help would be so very helpful

[Wanderer]

The figure is 105 pounds a week, or maybe a little more now. Did your partner use deception to gain entry to the UK, ie false papers, another's passport or posing as a Asylum-seeking Kosovan as Albanian illegals often do?

[DANUBE]

Hi Wanderer

Thanks for your reply !

He did not use false id to gain entry in to the uk although he did not enter legally either, he actually came over though illegal transit - he entered the uk hidden in a lorry. He is not and has never claimed/claiming kosovan asylum.

Thanks for the info about the required disposable income - had no idea it had changed

I look forward to your response.

Many Thanks

Danube

[DANUBE]

Just thought - in addition to what I have for the application it seems that if you live with your parent/parents you need to proove the house is not overcrowded ! It is not anyway becuase just myself, mum and my partner live there - could my mum write a letter to support this fact ? I've read that some people are taking pictures rooms in their home along with measurements - should i do this ? Is it a likeley cause for concern at the embassy ?

[hignfu]

My Husband and I went through the Spouse Visa process just over 2 years ago.

I would suggest taking everything you have and more, I took photos of our home and we probably went over and above what is actualy required but the more documents/evidence you have the better, the more prepared you both are the less stressed you will be when you are there and going through the whole process.

Accomodation was a big focus during the interview at the embassy.


All the best!

[DANUBE]

Hi Hignfu

Thanks for your message !!

I am going to take photo's of our house & submit them to the embassy now you say that. Thanks !!!

Can you tell me how long you waited for your appointment after submitting the docuemtns and how long it took the embassy to make a decision after the interview had been conducted. Did you attend the embassy with your husband for the day of the interview ?

[hignfu]

Hi

It was approx 2-3 weeks from submitting our online application to get a date to hand in our supporting documents to the embassy, and then from there it was another 3 weeks for an interview date.

I went back out again for the Interview which was good for us as you do need each other for support, they also asked me a few questions but I don't think this is the norm.

We ended up getting the Visa the same day and we came back to the UK the following day!!!

[DANUBE]

Hignfu......you and other members on this forum give us hope!!!!

Just about the application itself...........can you only make that on-line or can you make a personal 'walk in' visit to the embassy to make the application then await the appointment ?

[DANUBE]

Also, while i'm on the subject of the visa application, does anyone know the current waiting time for appointments ?

[DANUBE]

Hi All

Does anyone know of any cheapish airlines or hotels to use for tirana.
The latest figures on spouse visa waiting times suggest that the majority are processed within 3-5 months !!! I will need to visit my partner as much as poss and show the embassy proof of this!

Most flights seem to be quite costly and there does not seem to be any package holidays to tirana from the main tourist operators or the non main one's for that matter.

Any suggestions would be great

Thanks in advance

[hignfu]

When we applied we had to apply online, then we had a date to submit documents....and then an interuiew date.

Flights to Tirana during the Summer are expensiue, we normally fly BA as they are direct flights, i think Albanian Airlines fly out of Stansted other that that its non direct flights (i think)

There are a few hotels in Tirana but its not exactly a tourist destination but pop it in google and should come up with some.

Sorry not much help really!

[DANUBE]

Thanks for the info Highfu.... ba is certainly coming out the cheapest on direct flights.

While i'm on I have another query if anyone can help ?

Basically my latest six months bank statements show that I have had two pay day loans in march and a further one in may. two were taken due to large car repairs coming in the month of march and the other was taken this month due to general overspending (minimul loan amount 80.00) My question is although these loans will all be paid of end of this month and even if they were not I would still have the minimim weekly income requirement for the visa, they will still show as being deposited in my account. My question is will the embassy use this against me due to the fact that I have had to rely on short term cash/payday loan for two months close together ? When we submit the application I will actually have proOf they are cleared off but I'm just concerned that they are so picky.

[lizbizme]

hey guys, my boyfriend and i have been together for over a year and living together for a year in january,

we want to get married next year so in january he is going back to albania to apply for a marriage visa,

can anyone tell me what paperwork i will need as his partner to help with the process when i go over to albania?

he has been here 11 years on and off with a work visa,
we are currently renting a flat that is in both our names, has started his own buisness over here and has an accountant,

hopefully it will all go smoothly so i wont be living by myself for to long!!

any replys or advise would be very greatfully recieved

thanx guys

[PaperPusher]

If he has a work visa why the need to apply from Albania?

What sort of work visa is it?

[lizbizme]

he has put in an application to become a uk resident from over here but its taking forever,

we were hoping to get married next summer sop the sooner we get it done the better