@Greg **********

and what I'm trying to say is that based on my personal experience presenting it, and in accordance with the new Thai Immigration order put out last February, the issue regarding verification no longer exists. Not for Americans anyway. We are able to self verify. Cheers!

@Greg **********

not the case anymore.... Sorry if broken record...

@Greg **********

you are not getting the visa based on being the father, you are getting it based on being sole support for a Thai child. I can't say with any certainty whether it would also be applicable, but it's possible you could get one based on being sole support for wife's child from prior marriage/relationship. Understand the advantage to sole support visa is you are able to show much less monthly or keep much less in the bank compared to retirement and marriage visas.

If anyone wants a cleaner copy send me a message and I'll send for you. When I presented it to the little girl who works the front desk she took it back to a Captain, who in turn shared it with 2 others. They then spoke to her and she came back and told me that I could self verify my Social Security Verification letter, same as you sign any copies you supply them with. Cheers!

@Greg **********

more info to share with one with all. This is genuine and works like a champ... I used it here in Ubon at the University Immigration.. Keep a copy, it's gold!

@Ome ****

Greg is correct. You likely can not get a long stay visa based solely on a birth certificate. If you get DNA done do not touch it. Leave it in the hospital until the court sends a request for it. At that point it will be sent directly to the court. Patrick and I did our DNA test in Khon Kaen. It sat there for about 8 months waiting for the court to formally request it. I have never see the test, I just know what the result was. The court has the option to but likely will not accept a translated version of the DNA used for American citizenship. Mine wouldn't.

@Greg **********

that's open and depends on you having a bank account here in Thailand for at least 12 months. If so you can use the 40k monthly deposit into your account which is what I did. I switched over from retirement to sole support. Also be prepared to have Immigration police visit your home and talk to a few of your neighbors, they will take affidavits from them. There's another form needed. I'll check in the morning and update.

@Joe *******

nice thing to say Joe... Thank you! I've gotten so much more from Patrick than I've ever given. I can't imagine life without him in it.

As the father of my son, born in Thailand and raised solely by me, meaning birth mother absent from the picture from the time he was 4 days old, I feel somewhat qualified to comment on the thread. Sooooooooooo...

I wasn't present when my son was born (Samut Prakan). Because I wasn't, the hospital refused to put my name on his birth certificate. I first met him when he was 4 days old at Ekamai bus station.Took him and mother home (we'd broken up when she was 4 months pregnant because I found out that she had cheated on me) to Jomtien where I worked as a teacher. She stayed about a week, said she had to leave for work and would be back in 2 weeks to get him and after we would share custody. She never came back. For the purpose of the post, further details unnecessary.

He's 10 years old now. First 7 years I lived in Thailand as a teacher on a work visa. Including school, medical etc.. because I managed to care for him without, never gave much thought to changing situation. When I decided to retire early I understood that I would do so losing 25% of my Social Security. Big but... If the son I'd been caring for was indeed mine (no doubt in my mind) he would be entitled to 50% of full bump on my SS. So retiring early made sense, as did finally going through the process of legitimizing him as mine. Long story short, I paid a bit over 50k baht to go through the DNA process which took place at American Embassy in Bangkok, progressed to an approved lab for testing stateside and ended with Patrick being declared an American Citizen born abroad. From there, went through the whole process of getting him a Social Security number in Manila which many know handles SS for a huge number of Asian countries and ultimately adding him as a recipient of my Social Security. Between the 2 of us we get 125% of full bump.

Regarding Thailand.. I decided next step was Thai legitimacy. A whole different ball game. With help from Government agency in Sarakham, including free Attorney, I began the process. Without going into too much detail, I had to go to court a few times, get DNA done here (Khon Kaen) and jump through hoops trying to satisfy the court. Trust me, if you decide to do this, be prepared to jump many hurdles, get used to silently saying WTF, and scratching a bald spot in your head. You want more details, ask.. As is now, I have been awarded sole custody, changed my visa over to the one based on being sole support for a Thai child and have full unimpeded say in which direction my son's future takes. The only one I have any trouble with now is America. He has an American passport, never used, ready to expire, which means I'm going to have to apply for a new one, as America does not renew minor passports. I'm going to have to contact birth mother in Finland and get her to make another form giving her permission for him to obtain a passport without her being present. Bullshit!

Anyway, that's my father/son story. Any questions or comments pos or neg are welcome... Cheers!!!