[ChrisGoldstein]

OK How about doing this
Since you do not want to live here for whatever reason, Why don't you send the mother of the boy 20K to 50K baht a month and she can keep the boy in school and stay at home and be there for him.
If she works in the fields she probably makes 150 baht a day, that is average for field workers and a private school runs between 20K to 80K a year depending if it is a Thai govt school with boarding or a fully private school, but these figures cover the board of the student for full time stays. Neither of which he seems to be attending because of the fact that he is at home.

These options will mean that the boy is raised in his culture and around his own people and not dragged off to a foreign country where he will be away from his culture, which I know that you think very highly of.

And the money that you spend to take him away from his family and culture will be more than contributing to his welfare here..

[Uninkipsyncp]

The Thai Embassy website -- [URL="http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/con_info/adoptn/docreq.html"] -- has complete information on adoption.

Best wishes.

[euylvaygdq]

My wife and I want to formally adopt our grandson. His parents both work in south Thailand in agriculture, and they work very long and hard. Even though we have been sending money for him to go to a private school, whenever he is sick or cannot go to school, he must go sit while his mother works. The mosquitos feast on the little guy and sometimes it rains all day. We all believe it would be best if he comes to stay with grandma and grandpa in America. However, in order to apply for a visa for a relative, the person must be an immediate relative. Thus, we will have to adopt him formally in order for him to qualify for the visa. We have already discussed this topic with his parents (my stepdaughter and her husband) and they agree that it is the best way. The problem is, I have no idea how adoption works in Thailand or where to go to formalize the process. Any experience or links to information would be greatly appreciated.

[pageup85]

While I can't offer any advice for adoption to you, I do want to just say that I admire both your and your wife for taking on the responsibility of caring for your grandson and making sure he grows up healthy and happy, and for the courage of your stepdaughter and her husband for being able to stay strong and confident and send their son to grow up with his loving grandparents. If only there were more families like yours in the world!
I hope the adoption goes smoothly and timely for all of you! =)

[euylvaygdq]

I got the phone number for the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in Thailand. We are hoping that, because my wife is the boy's natural grandmother and the parents are willing to yield custody, the process will be less complicated than when prospective parents are unrelated to the child being adopted. I will ask my wife to call the Child and Youth Welfare Division to get more information.