U.S. Adoption Procedures Overview Introduction U.S. citizens wishing to adopt a child from Thailand should be aware that such an adoption is a complex and lengthy process which may take up to two years to complete. This information sheet provides an overview of the entire process. However, procedures are subject to change, and all prospective adoptive parents should contact Thai and U.S. Immigration and Consular officials regarding their specific circumstances.
Thai law stipulates strict requirements and procedures for adoption of children in Thailand.
While some of these requirements are currently under review, the U.S. Embassy is not aware of any completed adoption to date in which these basic requirements have been waived. Consequently, inquirers who do not meet the following criteria should contact the DPW before pursuing the matter further. Parents adopting from Thailand for a second time may request that a DPW social worker escort the child to the U.S. instead of appearing before the Child Adoption Board as outlined below. All costs of such travel are the responsibility of the adoptive parents. DPW advises that it is extremely unlikely that an abandoned child under the age of one year would be available for foreign adoption.