Thailand Adoptions

The Kingdom of Thailand (called Siam until 1939) is the only country in southeast Asia never colonized by a European country. The British ruled Burma and Malaysia, the Dutch ruled Indonesia, and both Spain and the U.S. ruled in the Philippines, but through a series of maneuvers befitting a chess grandmaster, the kings of Thailand maintained dominion of their nation.

Thailand has maintained its independence throughout a long and storied history. A bloodless coup in 1932 converted the nation from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. During World War II, Thailand sided with the Japanese. (Thailand is home to the real "Bridge on the River Kwai.") However, at the conclusion of the Second World War, Thailand befriended the U.S.

Today's Thailand represents a continuous society with an archeological record dating back well over 5,000 years. Renowned for its amazing natural beauty (orchids grow lushly wild in the countryside), fabulous ancient temples, flawless palm-fringed white sand beaches, and unfailing hospitality (Thailand isn't known as the "Land of a Thousand Smiles" for nothing!), Thailand is home to more than 62 million people.

Thailand draws more tourists each year than any other south Asian country. Unfortunately, despite the booming tourism trade, many people in Thailand are desperately poor. For this reason, some families are simply unable to care for their children and abandon them at orphanages in hopes that their children will someday have a better life with an adoptive family. In 2002, Americans adopted 67 children from Thailand. Some of the children available for adoption from Thailand are in foster care, while others live in orphanages.

What's Involved in Adopting a Child From Thailand?

All adoptions in Thailand must be processed through the Child Adoption Center of the Department of Public Welfare (DPW), which is the sole governmental social welfare agency responsible for adoption of Thai children. Four non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are licensed to deal with DPW's Child Adoption Center in cases where a child is to be placed abroad, but only three of these NGOs process cases for prospective adoptive parents who reside in the United States. These three NGOs are:

Holt Sahathai Foundation
850/33 Sukhumvit 71
Bangkok 10110
Mailing Address: P. O. Box Nana Nua 1478, Bangkok 10110
Tel. (66)(2) 381-8834

Thai Red Cross Foundation
Chulalongkorn Hospital
Corner of Rama IV Road and Rajdamri Road
Bangkok 10300
Tel. (66)(2) 252-8181 or (66)(2) 256-4178

Pattaya Orphanage
Pattaya City, Chonburi
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 15, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20151
Tel. (66)(38)422-745

Upon completion of your application, homestudy, and dossier, your adoption agency will forward everything to the Thai DPW. If everything is found to be acceptable, the Thai DPW (or one of the licensed NGOs) will match you with a child. Once you accept the child referral, the Thai Child Adoption Board (CAB) will review everything again.

If the CAB agrees that you are suitable adoptive parents, you will be invited to appear before the DPW for an interview (you will be given a specific date and time for your interview). The interview with the DPW is essentially a formality - you won't be invited to travel to Thailand only to be told, "Nope, sorry, you can't adopt this child." During the interview, the members of the DPW will ask you about why you chose to adopt from Thailand and what plans you have for schooling your child.

Following your interview, the DPW will issue your child all the document he needs to travel to the U.S. (including a Thai passport). Once you return to the U.S., your adoption agency will have to file three post-placement reports (one report every two months) over a six-month period. When your post-placement reports are completed, you will need to complete adoption of your child in your home state. And once the adoption is completed, you will need to register your child at a Thai Embassy in the U.S. (the Thai Embassy closest to you will send you an invitation to register your child). Yes, your adoption will be valid without completing the registration at the Thai Embassy. However, if you skip this last step, you will only be making it more difficult for future Thai adoptions to happen.

• Children Available: Healthy children, age 1 to 6 years are available for international adoption from Thailand. Older children and special needs children are also available for adoption.
• Parent Requirements: Couples must be married at least three years and be at least 25 years old. There may be no more than 40 years age difference between the younger parent and the adopted child. Parents must be at least 15 years older than the child to be adopted. No more than one divorce is permitted per parent. Single women may adopt special needs children.
• Travel Requirements: Both parents must travel to bring home their child. The average trip lasts seven to eight days.
• Time Frame: From the time you submit your initial application until you bring your child home takes an average of 12 to 18 months.
• Number of Children Adopted by Americans in 2002: 67
• Additional Information: Some of the children available for international adoption from Thailand are in foster care, others live in orphanages. There are more boys than girls available for adoption from Thailand. Childless couples and families who already have a daughter must be open to adopting a child of either gender. If there are already children in the family, the youngest child in the home must be at least two years old at the time you apply to adopt from Thailand. Post placement reports and supervision are required for six months.

Credits: Excerpted from "International Adoption Guidebook," by Mary Strickert