Adoption Of Thai Step-daughter For Iqama

[schmitonian]

Hello people folks,

Firstly, thanks to the contributors at ThaiVisa. After almost making the mistake of trying to get a visa for my TGF after only knowing her for 3 months and armed only with a letter saying what a great fella I was for her, events conspired against us and we weren’t able to apply for tourist visas to Australia for nearly 18 months. In that time, I managed to find out how woefully inadequate my original application would have been using info from ThaiVisa and rectified the situation. Result was 12 month multi-entry tourist visa (3 month stays) on first attempt, so thanks .

But back to the topic. I currently live and work in Saudi. I will be marrying my TGF of 2 years in September, and had hoped to bring her and her 3y.o. daughter with me to Saudi so we could start being a real family together. Not the most friendly place around, but TGF has said she would support me wherever we end out, and the money is pretty good here. Here is the clincher: if this was Australia, I would have a heap of trouble getting the wife spouse visa (with my work and her child, it is very hard for us to stay together in the one place for long periods of time, as required on the spouse visa), but her child could quite easily be added to her visa. In Saudi, it is very easy to get the spouse visa for my TGF through my work, so long as we are married, but as her daughter is not mine, it is nigh on impossible to get her into the Magic Kingdom and onto my iqama (work permit).

The following solutions are available to us:

1. Leave the kid in Thailand (unacceptable to me – the kid needs to be with her mother).

2. The wife and kid stay in Bahrain, with me traveling to and from work in Saudi everyday (not acceptable to her – she is sick of being propositioned by young Arabs thinking she is a working girl).

3. Rock up to Bahrain with wife and kid in tow, and lie through our teeth to the Saudi Embassy that the kid is mine, and that we have lost the birth certificates and previous passports from when she came to Australia (this is the Company’s preferred option, with no guarantees).

4. Adopt the kid and see if that satisfies the Saudi authorities (hence my post).

5. Quit my job here, try and find another job in a more accommodating country, like Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore (last resort, but high on the agenda).

So, what would I need to adopt her daughter? How long does the process take, and will the papers be recognized in Australia and Saudi? My TGF has said she would gladly get all the paperwork together in Thailand that says she has sole custody of her daughter, or that her daughter is legally mine and hers. The Thai father is still alive but apart from trying to make her miscarry and sending a couple of thousand baht when the child was first born, he has had no interest in his daughter. When my TGF ran into him 4 months ago, he was still too interested to get in her pants than to ask about his daughter. My TGF has threatened dire consequences if any form of extortion is involved on his behalf.

Somehow, I think a new job is in order…

[thaihome]

Are you sure the Saudi's will not add a step daughter to your visa? What are you basing this on? I would go ahead and try and besides, if your company is willing to put you on family status isn't it their problem to get the daughter a visa?

TH

[schmitonian]

Uggghhh! It is just messy. Might be different if I was working for Aramco (or US Consulate) - they practically are the government and can get *anything* through Saudi customs and immigration.

I thought the step-daughter was going to be a problem as she isn't mine and Saudi is extremely male oriented, hence I voiced my concerns to the company to see how they would approach the situation. The option of trying to bluff Saudi officials is the recommendation from the company's govt relations administrator, the guy that handles all the expat visas on a regular basis. This was not the company response I expected - defrauding and bribing public officials

The missus was practically in tears as I told her what the likely options will be. Under no circumstances will she stay in Bahrain - she is sick of being looked and treated like an animal. At least in Saudi, she can hide behind the abaya and not have every man and his dog soliciting her, and I know quite a few young ladies with young children in the compounds for her to mingle with.

You're right about it being the company's problem - essentially that will be the ultimatum given to them. The kid comes or I go. We have had more than our fair share of resignations over poor expat visa management, so I am not extremely confident that the company is competent enough to resolve this issue. We'll just have to wait and see.

[rcalsop]

Uggghhh! It is just messy. Might be different if I was working for Aramco (or US Consulate) - they practically are the government and can get *anything* through Saudi customs and immigration.

I thought the step-daughter was going to be a problem as she isn't mine and Saudi is extremely male oriented, hence I voiced my concerns to the company to see how they would approach the situation. The option of trying to bluff Saudi officials is the recommendation from the company's govt relations administrator, the guy that handles all the expat visas on a regular basis. This was not the company response I expected - defrauding and bribing public officials

The missus was practically in tears as I told her what the likely options will be. Under no circumstances will she stay in Bahrain - she is sick of being looked and treated like an animal. At least in Saudi, she can hide behind the abaya and not have every man and his dog soliciting her, and I know quite a few young ladies with young children in the compounds for her to mingle with.

You're right about it being the company's problem - essentially that will be the ultimatum given to them. The kid comes or I go. We have had more than our fair share of resignations over poor expat visa management, so I am not extremely confident that the company is competent enough to resolve this issue. We'll just have to wait and see.

Get your wife as the sole gardian of the child the bio father must give her up and sign his rights away ( therefore any financial obligation ) The local government office will give your wife sole guardianship of the girl . Have the documents translated into English and Notarised . Showing you understand them . The sole guardian of the child is your wife and no othre male involved ... this is quick cheap and easy . and should work

[Mossfinn]

Get your wife as the sole gardian of the child the bio father must give her up and sign his rights away ( therefore any financial obligation ) The local government office will give your wife sole guardianship of the girl . Have the documents translated into English and Notarised . Showing you understand them . The sole guardian of the child is your wife and no othre male involved ... this is quick cheap and easy . and should work

This is certainly a good starting point, but you might not need for him to sign his rights away if he will be awkward, just prove that he has no contact and provides no support for the child.

That is how our step-daughters mother got sole rights without him actually signing anyting.

Moss

[schmitonian]

Thanx guys, I believe this will be close to the missus' first point of business upon return to LOS (along with the house extension, wedding plans and all). I have instructed her to get sole guardianship first, so she can then get an uncontested passport for her daughter and to simplify any future paperwork involving the child.

My big problem is that only her name will appear against the child, and not mine. Saudi is extremely strict on its visas, and if the applicant doesn't have a Saudi sponsor (business, or family for maids), or is not directly related to an Iqama holder, no visa will be granted. My friend tried this with his in-laws: no problem getting visas for his parents, but he cannot get a visa for his in-laws as he is not "related" to them.

So even though she may be the sole guardian for her child, and the daughter would be destititute otherwise, the daughter cannot come in. And extending my logic above, it would appear any relationship by contract (in-laws, adoption etc) will also not be recognised - marriage will be the only contract relationship recognised.

Work is making the decision SOOOOOOO much easier - today we had internet based email access removed. Just a shame all my applications were going through my hotmail account...