Does anyone have experience of adoptions in Thailand? We've raised a cousin since she was 6 and she's now 21. She wants to be our daughter legally. My (Thai) wife has adopted her but she can't take our name (only my wife's maiden name, which would be odd) because I've not officially adopted her. How can I adopt her so that we can all have the same name?

I have an adopted Thai son, age 6, and I have been told by a lawyer that I can get a Non-O dependent visa with a Thai family member. Today I was unsuccessful, and told this visa is not available in adoption circumstances. They said I had all the correct paperwork, but they do not give this visa for adoptions.

Does anyone have any experience with this, or know if for some reason the law has changed? All official websites still say this is a possible Non-O visa—with a Thai dependent through adoption. Right now I have enough time to do it in-country, or I am willing to leave the country and apply nearby. But I am curious if anyone has experience with this type of visa.