U.S. Embassy in Albania

Step 1 – Qualifying and Applying for a Returning Resident Status

Under provisions of immigration law, to qualify for returning resident status, you will need to prove to the Consular Officer that you:

• Had the status of a lawful permanent resident at the time of departure from the United States;
• Departed from the United States with the intention of returning and have not abandoned this intention; and
• Are returning to the United States from a temporary visit abroad and, if the stay abroad was protracted, this was caused by reasons beyond your control and for which you were not responsible.

Applying for a Returning Resident Visa

If you wish to apply for a Returning Resident (SB-1) immigrant visa, you should apply well in advance of your intended travel (at least three months in advance, if possible) to permit sufficient time for visa processing. As part of the visa application process, an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate is required. Follow the steps shown below on how to schedule your appointment date at U.S. Consular Section, Tirana, Albania.

Schedule an Appointment Date to Determine Returning Resident Status

You must visit this https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-al/iv/, and follow these steps:

1. Click on “Register”; (Note: make sure you’re viewing the immigrant visas content. Look in the bottom of the page to change it from non-immigrant to immigrant visas, if necessary.
2. Click on “I am a returning U.S. Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) and require re-entry authorization to the United States.”;
3. Create an account;
4. At this point follow the instructions to schedule an appointment. Please do not pay any visa fee. The fee is paid at the time of your appointment inside the consular section.

If for any reason you are not able to schedule your appointment online after you create an account, please contact the call center, as explained in this website, to schedule your appointment by asking the “Returning Resident” trip purpose. Please save your account details for later use.

Required Documentation for Each Applicant

At the time of you scheduled appointment to determine Returning Resident status, you will need to bring the following:

• Form DS-117 (PDF 55.8 KB): Application to Determine Returning Resident Status;
• Form I-551 (Green Card): Your Permanent Resident Card;
• Your Re-entry Permit, if available: For information on how to get a Reentry Permit, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) guide “Get a Reentry Permit” (PDF 667.32 KB)
• Application Fee: $180.00 This fee is processed only at the time of your interview inside the consular section. Cash only (U.S. dollars or Albanian Leke). Please do not pay this fee online or at any bank.

Very important: You must also bring documentary evidence of continued intent to maintain U.S. residence which may consist of, but is not limited to, the following:

• Dates of travel outside the United States (examples: airline tickets, passport stamps, etc.);
• Proof of your ties to the U.S. and your intention to return (Examples: tax returns, and evidence of economic, family, and social ties to the U.S., evidence of children’s enrollment in a U.S. school, evidence of property ownership, whether real or personal, in the United States, a driver’s license showing the same address as in I-94 form, etc.);
• Proof that your protracted stay outside of the U.S. was for unforeseen reasons and beyond your control (Examples: medical incapacitation, employment with a U.S. company, etc.). Any document not in English language must be translated in English.

Please check carefully the qualification criteria based on immigration law before you apply. Failure to submit good evidence may result in refusing your application for Returning Resident (SB-1) status.

A consular officer will review your application and supporting documents to determine whether you meet the criteria for Returning Resident (SB-1) status. If you do, you must be eligible for the immigrant visa in all other respects in order to be issued a Returning Resident (SB-1) immigrant visa.

Required Fees

The following are the required fees:

• Application for Determining Returning Resident Status, Form DS-117, fee of $180.00.  The fee is subject to change.  Select Fees for current Department of State fees. Additionally, if you are approved for Returning Resident (SB-1) status, the following fees will be required based on the immigrant visa processing explained below:
• If found qualified:
  • Form DS-260 application processing fee of $205.00.  The fee is subject to change. Select Fees for current Department of State fees.  This fee is processed only at the time of your interview inside the U.S. Consular Section. Cash only (U.S. dollars or Albanian Leke).  Please do not pay this fee online or at any bank.
  • Medical exam and vaccination fees.  Paid at the panel physician’s office.