Adoption - Guardian - Sponsor?

[samuie]

Please can anyone help me on the following:

We (my husband and myself) are trying to make (our son) legally ours by adoption or be guardians or sponsor - he is 30yrs old! I know an adult - but the thing is he was abandoned at 4months by his mother his grandma looked after him until sadly she died (he was 7yrs old) from then he was on his own his parents are also dead! There is nothing bad in what we are trying to do - he is the son we have always wanted and could never have naturally - He has had very little schooling but is willing to learn and when we first met him he could speak no english (he now chats away in english) he also speak Thai. We have been to lawyers here in Thailand and they say they cannot help as he is Burmese (he has all his legal paperwork and passport) we have done all the correct and legal procedure for him - now we would like him to be part of our family! It just seems that who ever I talk to I hit a brick wall and I am told why would you want to help a guy of 30yrs old? because we care and he is a good person and deserves a chance in life and if that is the one thing we can do - then that's great for us all and our family is complete! I say our son because to us he is already part of our family.We have been very lucky in our lives that we have been able to live and work overseas (with my husbands work) all we are trying to do is to make our son secure and safe for the rest of his life!

Any help would be much appreciated

Samuie

[Mario2008]

I think your lawyers were right. You say he is Burmese, so you probably would have to proceed under Burmese law for an adoption. Further more this is an international adoption, so you would also need to find out if your own countries law would allow adopting an adult.

Parenthood of course can be in different ways; legal, biological and social. Of these social parenthood is the most important and I would say you are already his parents, although not legal (or biological).

If you want the name of a good lawyer in Thailand specialised in family law I suggest you contact Isaan lawyers.

[samuie]

I think your lawyers were right. You say he is Burmese, so you probably would have to proceed under Burmese law for an adoption. Further more this is an international adoption, so you would also need to find out if your own countries law would allow adopting an adult.

Parenthood of course can be in different ways; legal, biological and social. Of these social parenthood is the most important and I would say you are already his parents, although not legal (or biological).

If you want the name of a good lawyer in Thailand specialised in family law I suggest you contact Isaan lawyers.

Just an update:

Lawyers said try British Embassy in Bangkok - British Embassy Bangkok said speak with British Embassy in Yangon - British Embassy in Yangon said speak with British Embassy in Thailand!

I did go back to British Embassy Bangkok and they were helpful they suggested I talk with immigration and state our case and see what options were open to us (so our son can stay with us in Thailand) Sadly the person we talked with at immigration just laughed and said there is on section for a sponsor on change of visa! and why would you want to sponsor this guy? if you want him to have a yrs visa - just get him a Thai wife and walked away and left us!

Any suggestions?

Samuie

[Mario2008]

I can't give you more advise then you already have.

If you want him to stay here in Thiland you might want to focus on getting aproper visa for him first. Adoption will be a lenghty process, if it is possible at all. Also it might not give him your natonality.

If he goes and study here, even a Thai language course, would give him a right to stay here. Finding him a job will do the same.

[samuie]

I can't give you more advise then you already have.

If you want him to stay here in Thiland you might want to focus on getting aproper visa for him first. Adoption will be a lenghty process, if it is possible at all. Also it might not give him your natonality.

If he goes and study here, even a Thai language course, would give him a right to stay here. Finding him a job will do the same.

Many thanks Mario 2008

We have started the process of his visa - he has to go back to Myanmar first and we are also seeing a lawyer in Yangon with regard to adoption-guardian's-sponsor etc....

Thanks again for an excellent forum - appreciate your advise.

Regards

Samuie