Adopting from Albania: Factsheet, Page 3

ALBANIAN DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS:

• A written request clearly stating the reasons why he/she/they want(s) to adopt a child
• Birth certificate, marriage certificate of the adopting parent(s), divorce decree and former spouse's death certificate as applicable.
• Police records of the adopting parent(s).
• Personal, family, social and medical information on the adopting parent(s).
• Home Study (An evaluation study on the adopting family made by a social worker)

All the above mentioned documents are submitted to one of the adoption agencies accredited by the Albanian Adoption Committee.

U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS

An Albanian child adopted by an American citizen must obtain an immigrant visa before he or she can enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident. There are two distinct categories of immigrant visas available to children adopted by American citizens.

A Previously Adopted Child . Section 101(b)(1)(E) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act defines an "adopted child" as one who was adopted under the age of 16 and who has already resided with, and in the legal custody of, the adoptive parent for at least two years. Parents who can demonstrate that their adopted child meets this requirement may file an I-130 petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (USCIS) having jurisdiction over their place of residence. Upon approval of the I-130 petition, the parents may apply for an immigrant visa for the child at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana. American citizens who believe this category may apply to their adopted child should contact the U.S. Embassy in Tirana for more information.

An Orphan . If an adopted child has not resided with the adoptive parent for two years (or if the child has not yet even been adopted) the child must qualify under section 101(b)(1)(F) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act in order to apply for an immigrant visa. The main requirements of this section are as follows:

• The adoptive or prospective adoptive parent must be an American citizen;
• The child must be under the age of 16 at the time an I-600 Petition is filed with the USCIS on his or her behalf;
• If the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent is married, his or her spouse must also be a party to the adoption;
• If the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent is single, he or she must be at least 25 years of age;
• The child must be an orphan, as defined by U.S. regulations. Although the definition of an orphan found in many dictionaries is "A child whose parents are dead," U.S. immigration law and regulations provide for a somewhat broader definition. Children who do not qualify under this definition, however, may not immigrate to the U.S. as an orphan even if legally adopted by an American Citizen. The Department of State encourages Americans to consider if a particular child is an orphan according to U.S. immigration law and regulations before proceeding with an adoption. A detailed description of the orphan definition used by USCIS can be found on USCIS's web site at http://www.uscis.gov.
  
  

Credits: U.S. Department of State