Finishing the Adoption in Thailand

You have now accepted the match with your prospective adoptive child. Again you need to wait for the Thai government to process additional paperwork. This time the paperwork does not involve you. Your social worker will need to get things in order for you to pick up your child. Most importantly, the Child Adoption Board must sign off on the placement. For adoptive parents residing in Thailand, placement can occur before the interview with the CAB. We picked up Luke from Pakkred Babies Home three weeks before our interview.

Once you pick up your child, you will be assigned a date to meet with the Child Adoption Board in Bangkok. This is where you will be issued the "To Whom It May Concern" letter, indicating that you have the Board's permission to take custody of the child. This letter gives you legal custody of your child, but it does not finalize the adoption.

You will need to have three home visits from your local social worker over the next six months which include favorable reports to the Child Adoption Center. Once these reports are received and everything is in order, you will be issued a letter giving you full custody of your child. However, the adoption is not yet final. You must take the letter to your local district office and register the adoption. The adoption registration must be done at the district (tambon) office where you live. It cannot be done at the provincial office. After registering the adoption at the district office, you must then go back to the local DSDW office and declare that the adoption is complete according to Thai law.

CONGRATULATIONS! You have made significant progress and your Thai adoption is complete in Thailand.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you may now proceed with your application for an immigrant visa.

Return to the Adoption Home Page