Dogberry

OK,cool. You're going the adoption route then. I was stopped in my tracks when we found out it may take three years to process... yikes. My wife talked to her lawyer today and discussed the pure guardianship route. He said it will require a court order and a few thousand baht but easy enough to do. The childs dad is in jail and cannot take care, his family cannot take, and the childs mother is married with another kid and cannot take care... all are willing and able to to sign whatever needs to be signed to relinquish claims on the child. My wife told me the name of the process in Thai which translates roughly to guardianship but cannot write Thai language here to tell you...but in the end she'll (the childs grandmother) be the legal guardian and... as far as the rest of it goes we'll need to get the lucky 5 year old a Thai passport, translate the custody documents, and apply for visa which should be a rubber stamp affair as far as I can see. And of course this which we have already covered: One of the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must have a valid B1/B2 (Business/Tourism) visa at the time of the child’s application

I've recently asked the same question here. I was hoping you might have an update on what you found out.

I've recently posted a similar question here. Not seeing any replies to your question I was wondering what you were able to find out.

Hi folks. First off, it seems I rarely visit ThaiVisa unless I need something but I promise to make a few contributions to the dialog during my current stint here. Just saying I appreciate and will try to give some back... Ok here's the story: I am married to a Thai national and she has a current B1/B2 with 5 trips to the USA in good standing. We have a 5 year old (her daughters daughter) that we are raising. My wife and I want to make a another trip and take grandchild with us. My wife and I were actually persuing adoption of said child but it was getting very complicated with me being a foreigner. We've semi given up on the process but it may be in fact the only way to get this to happen. If this is the case then I'll be back on a new topic ???? The US visa application website is pretty clear: One of the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must have a valid B1/B2 (Business/Tourism) visa at the time of the child’s application. So what IS legal guardianship in Thailand? Is it a letter from parents giving permission? Adoption, or some other process I'm not aware of?

Yes, In my name only.

I want so much for this to be as you described. I have everything needed to apply for the extension. It'll just come down to any nit-picking that may be brought into play. I would rather leave the country than be forced into using an agent. In my 9 years in Thailand I've not encountered a problem like this and in my stupid naivety it's gotton away from me. But I'm on a rally starting about an hour from now. Thanks for the reply, the encouragement and... wish me luck!

Yeah. It sucks and I'll do my best to avoid up till the last moment. Thank you and regards. Dogberry

Much appriciated. Thank you.

Joe, I didn't have the confidence that I was correct doing what you just suggested at immigration today. I believed when I went in there today that the outcome would be an extension. I was told No. No time, Thai Holiday, Something Something, and offered an alternative I'm not happy to accept. Also, while I was gone to the USA I continued to support my Thai spouse with less than the 65,000 THB monthly requirement for a non OA retirement but more than the 40,000 THB required for marriage. In otherwords I have a full year of deposites into my Thai band account of 40,000+ monthly. Unless the monthly method has been eliminated shouldn't this meet immigrations own requirement of sufficient income?

I am working at this on my own of course as being spoon feed information is not my style. But it's so easy to get behind on what's what isn't it. Anyway, It was "interesting" to say the least what I was told at immigartion today. And no I won't say outside private conversation.

I returned to Thailand on July 4th after seeing my sister pass and then settling her affairs. I was gone for 4 months, weeks longer than I intended, and I believe I made a mistake about my permission to stay. I obtained a re-entry permit before leaving and utilized that on my return. My current permission to stay is the second year of a non OA and it expires on July 14. Ladies, Gents, I just have no recollection of what my options are or even if they would be correct if I did under the current rules. I should have tried to enter on a regular tourist visa but then again I don't know if the immigration official would stamp me in that way seeing as I still had a current non O-A and re-entry stamp. In all my years here I've used the monthly income method and really don't want to get involved with the whole 800,000 THB on deposit thing. I am married to a Thai national. I live in Lamphun northern Thailand. Are land borders open? Are land crossing under different rule than air travel ? Sheech. Does Vientiane still require appointments? Suggestions are appreciated! Regards, Dogberry