I'm looking for some help and advice.

My wife and I are happly married and living in Ireland.

My wife's niece who is 14 is living with my wife's parents in Thailand.

We would like to bring her to Ireland for her education.

What's the best way to achieve this ?

To start we have applied and got her a holiday visa so she can come and visit.

Get used to the weather the language and the culture.

Can my wife takeover custody of her niece obviously with approval from her own mother ?

How would this be handled in Thailand?

What are the chances of getting her a visa for Ireland ?

All help and advice would be very welcome.

Thanks

What about the Student Visa - the one that all the chinese come over on.

Take a look at http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/WP07000018

This seems to have provision for Guardians' permission.

I suspect the only 'custody' that would be valid in Ireland is Adoption - in thai การรับเลี้ยงบุตรบุญธรรม - according to my [thai] missus Intra-Family adoption is very common in Thailand and easily achieved in the "Sam Nak Ngan"

Your niece will need the consent of both parents.

You and her aunt can look after her temporarily as a private foster care arrangement. You will need to notify your local health board who will visit and guide you. It is a straightforward procedure.

I understand this needs to be arranged before she applies for the visa.

Edited June 22, 200719 yr by RalphUK