Albania Post Adoption Requirements
After Adoption
Obtaining Travel Documents
The final court decision and the child's travel documentation cannot be issued until 13 days after the court date. The child must remain in Albania during these 13 days, although s/he may reside with the adoptive parents during that time. Please remember: when traveling to the U.S. with your newly adopted child, since the child is an Albanian citizen, s/he will need to obtain a transit visa from the embassy of the country of transit in order to be permitted to travel through. The country of transit cannot issue this transit visa until the child is issued a passport. In many cases the transit visa application may take several days or more to process. (Note: this procedure is separate from the U.S. immigrant visa process.) Therefore, prospective adoptive parents should be prepared to arrive in Albania a day or two before the court date and to remain afterwards for approximately three weeks.
What resources are available to assist families after the adoption?
Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. Take advantage of all the resources available to your family -- whether it's another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.
Here are some good places to start your support group search:
Adoption Services Support Groups for Adopting Persons
North American Council on Adoptable Children
NOTE: Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents.
Contact Information
U.S. Embassy in Albania Address: Elbasani Street, No.103, Tirana, Albania Tel: ++355 (0)4 224 7285 Fax: +355 (0)4 223 2222 Email:TiranaUSConsulate@state.gov Internet:U.S. Embassy in Albania
Albania's Adoption Authority
Address: Adresa: Rr : Mine Peza, Pallati 87/3, Shkalla 2, Tirana, Albania
Tel: +355 (0)42 227 487; :+355226465
Fax: +355 (0)42 227 487;
Email: kshb@komitetibiresimeve.com.al
Internet: Albania Adoption Authority
Embassy of Albania
Address: 2100 S Street NW, Washington D.C. 20008
Tel: 202 223 4942; 202 2234942
Fax: 202 6287342
Email: embassy.washington@mfa.gov.al
Office of Children's Issues
U.S. Department of State
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: AskCI@state.gov
Office of Children's Issues
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about immigration procedures, call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC)
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
SOURCE
Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs. U.S. Department of State Country Information [1].