Kids To Australia

[malt25]

Hi all.

I've been reading the forum for some time now. Lots of informative & entertaining stuff.

I'll provide a little background on my situation. I married my girl in BKK in April of 2009. I applied for a tourist visa as well as a spouse visa the day after we married. She accompanied me to Oz 3 weeks after our marriage on the tourist visa. Seven weeks after arriving here she returned to BKK, had her interview & was granted spouse visa. As soon as the 2 years were up we applied for her permanent residency visa, it's in the system now & my calls to Immigration Dept confirm all is well & should receive permanent visa within a month or so. Apparently only a certain number of permanent visa's are granted each month.

My wife has 2 kids back in LOS from a previous relationship, don't they all. I get on famously with the kids & we would like to bring them over ASAP. Main problem is that the kids father won't sign the necessary papers for them to apply for a visa. He & my wife never married. He provides no financial support whatsoever, I do. The 2 girls are 13 & 15. I understand there is some process whereby my wife can apply at her local Amupr for "papers" without the father's signature to let them apply for a visa ????? Apparently if she takes 3 witnesses, of good standing, to the Ampur to verify that the father doesn't provide support for the kids & their lifestyle here in Australia would be greatly enhanced is sufficient for the appropriate "papers" to be provided. My wife is thinking of school teachers & an elder from her village. The kids have always lived with my wife's parents. Initially I thought the kids could travel on their mother's passport but apparently this is incorrect.

Sorry for the long post but I figured that a little extra info better than not enough. I would appreciate any advice or info that will help getting the kids over here.

Cheers.... Mal.

[gburns57au]

She will require sole custody from the Thai courts.

[malt25]

She will require sole custody from the Thai courts.

Latest update. Didn't need to go to the courts. As we were advised my wife went to the local ampur with her father & one of the kids school teachers. They signed to confirm the father doesn't support the kids & that they have always lived with my wife or her family. My wife was granted sole custody same day. She has applied for visas to Oz & informed they will be ready to collect in about 5 to 7 days.

Hope this is of some assistance to others. My wife is the third that we know of to obtain sole custody by this means.

Cheers.... Mal.