Adoption of my (Thai) wife's daughter. Advice needed.

[Hupaponics]

Hi there,

 

I'm looking for advice where to go to make the adoption legal.

The background is that my wife and daughter lives in Thailand, myself is still legally registered (home of stay) in my home country Sweden. 

One of many reasons (no need to list them all) for adoption is that she can get a Swedish passport that opens the doors for university studies in the EU. She is a very good student and I do believe that an European university grade will boost here future in Thailand, unless she finds a boyfriend "over there" and stays:)

 

After research in my home country I was told that adoption within family ties should be done where the mother and child resides, in this case Thailand. So where and who do we have to contact regarding this?

Anyone with experience in this matter? I'm curious about the process (who to contact) and time frame.

 

Thanx for your replies.

[Kwasaki]

Start with enquiring at the government province main office at where they live.   

[Monomial]

You need to start at the Swedish embassy in Bangkok. This will be an intercountry adoption. The procedures are quite different than a local adoption, and only the Swedish embassy can get you started properly.

 

If you do a Thai adoption, it will almost certainly not be recognized by Sweden.

 

[ChangMaiSausage]

I can only provide you with information based on my experience (as a UK passport holder) all other circumstances are the same (kind of)

 

It took a while for the adoption of my wife's daughter to go through due to the countries I lived/worked in during the adoption (Qatar and Taiwan) each of the countries had their own issues that prevented us to complete her adoption.

 

The adoption had to take place in Thailand, Thai adoption is recognized in the UK as of / after January 03rd 2014.  I would imagine this is the same for Sweden.

 

The first point of contact should be:

 

Inter country Adoption

Child Adoption Centre

Thailand 

+660 2306 9909

 

Once you talk with them they will assign a case worker who will provide you with a list of required documentation.  One of these items will be provided (letter) from your embassy in Bangkok.  The UK embassy was not very helpful as its nothing to do with the Embassy (I believe it will be the same for the Swedish embassy). they can provide you with a letter stating that you eligible to adopt.

 

The adoption took an age for us due to work locations and issues, but it was resolved in the end.

 

Good luck

 

Edited June 14, 2018 by ChangMaiSausage

[pieeyed]

In recent years Thailand has made it more difficult to adopt children. It is a long draw out affair.

[pieeyed]

Here are a few docs to head you in the right directions.

Adoption - Thai - Child Adoption Act 1979.pdf

Adoption - Thai - Ministerial Regulations No 9 - 2000 (1).pdf

Adoption in Thailand Brochure (1).pdf

[cooked]

The first place to should be the local Family Courts in your wife's (and yours, otherwise it ain't going to happen) province. The Thai father will have to give permission or you will have to give proof of abandonment.

A long process, involving money especially if the Thai father gets a sniff of what's happening.

Good luck.

[cat handler]

Why bother, she can still go to wherever and live as a permanent resident or on a education visa and attend University, after a set period she can apply for a passport.

Then if you spilt up with your wife you won’t be slugged for child support.

[Krataiboy]

You don't say how old the girl is, but bear in mind the very lengthy adoption process (it can take a year or even two) needs to be completed before her sixteenth birthday.

[Mister T]

28 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

You don't say how old the girl is, but bear in mind the very lengthy adoption process (it can take a year or even two) needs to be completed before her sixteenth birthday.

Not accurate, my daughter is 17 and we a one year into the process, they said two years is the norm now.

[Kurtf]

First let me say I have never gone through this process but a close friend of mine has. It was a long drawn out procedure that required several trips to Bangkok. (He lived in Chaing Mai). Apparently when a farang wants to adopt a Thai child the mother has to give up all legal connection to the child even though the farang that wants to adopt is married to the Thai woman.

Be sure that your Thai wife understands this and is willing to do that before you waste any of your time and money.

[Billthekiwi]

Kurtf.

That is such a weird thing isn't? Why can't you share the child with the mother?

 

I have a little girl in my life who calls me daddy but I can't adopt and disposess the mother.

 

Perhaps the regulations are deliberately like this to stop adoptions.

 

I want this little girl to have opportunities in my country.

 

She is 2 1/2 and I love her to bits.

Edited June 14, 2018 by Billthekiwi
Inproving the grammer.

[xylophone]

16 minutes ago, Billthekiwi said:

I have a little girl in my life who calls me daddy but I can't adopt and disposess the mother.

 

Perhaps the regulations are deliberately like this to stop adoptions.

 

I want this little girl to have opportunities in my country

Similar situation Bill, but my little girl is now 17...…..how time flies.

 

Loves her mother and me (not my genetic daughter) and to her I'm the only Papa she has ever known, and I would love to take her to NZ at a later date, but only for a visit as Thailand is her real home.

 

I have and will continue to provide for a good education for her here, and I realise that her mother is her anchor, so I have to be satisfied with that arrangement as it is in her best interests I believe.

[thailand49]

I did my adoption here in Thailand 11 years ago. There is a road just off Monument that contains all the major government office.  I don't know the address but even now I can walk and find the building.  I think post #4, he gave a phone number this might be the place?  All the people that work there speak excellent English some of the best I've encounter living here.

Although many things have changed, when I did the adoption I first hired a guy through wives friends so and so because it said they knew but as soon as the process started I realized the guy was learning as we went. This type of stuff happens when we come and a bit naive. Bottom line if your wife suggest this tell her nicely if you can I rather look around unless you can actually confirm they have and done many. In the end, a 3rd of the way into the process I was told by the Thailand government agency to get rid of the guy I did and the process went real smooth and they did it all for free since my adoption was to keep the kid in Thailand and I was making Thailand my home.

In the final interview I realized there were two types of adoptions those who were going to keep the Thai child in Thailand which I found out is a bit rare. Majority of those being interview were adoption babies and taking them out of the country to live elsewhere.

The requirements are tough, first I needed to show I reside in Thailand for 6 month before they would even consider the application. They want to see income, where the child is living now etc etc..you child being 17, now sure might make it tough. In your situation I suggest you speak to a lawyer to discuss your situation. I know the language I now know a great lawyer large firm that charges very little for a consultation to get the correct information. They are Thai, born raise and education in America and now own a big firm across the road from the U.S. Embassy. They have done a lot of work for myself and friends. I've been told my family and friends their Thai women are very happy they use them because they exactly explain in Thai and then in perfect English to you. If you are interested send me a private message and I will forward her information.

Just a opinion if this is your reason (education) there might be a better and quicker way of doing it and getting them both to Swiss than a adoption? 

When you speak of education and not knocking you but if I got a baht each time I hear the line " she is smart "  I would be not rich but pretty well off.  Unless, she is going to a International School and I speak for the U.S. many of the courses she has taken in Thailand wouldn't even be accepted in a City community college. 

Example, my brother daughter smart as a whip goes to a semi private Thai school, where she got it surely not here in Thailand, she has drive and goals 4.0 plus grades, English is fairly good wants to be a Doctor. A family member said when she is ready can get her into Stanford University, not to be negative said good luck with that?  Big reason courses in Thailand not acceptable plus she would be lost in the classroom unless here English is much better.  I put her in a one on one classroom situation with myself having her pick the subject, I got a book on the subject and like a teacher read it out to her then ask her to write one paragraph on the subject.  The sheet of paper was blank! and I know she is smart!  As far as I'm concern don't get me wrong but it will be tough real tough!

I wish you luck your intention are great but if I could get her out now the faster the better and get her to a Swiss school and catch up why wait for 2 years for a adoption unless it is the only way she can get into the country.  Once you get her out adopt her in Swiss?  Good luck!

Edited June 14, 2018 by thailand49

[Krataiboy]

8 hours ago, Mister T said:

Not accurate, my daughter is 17 and we a one year into the process, they said two years is the norm now.

Then I was misinformed or the rule has changed since I tried to adopt my Thai stepdaughter.

[Hupaponics]

Thanx a lot for all the inputs.

Valuable info. 

I’ll go through the links and come back here again. 

 

Cheers