Hyperinflation
Junior Member
I am posting this for my sister in law who is Thai. Her English is not very good. About 2 years ago she was working at a restaurant in Bangkok and met an American man. She is 29, he is in his 50's, divorced and is a research scientist who works with insects in Bangkok. His employment is apparently part of a US government sponsored research program. I do not know whether he is actually a government employee or merely working for a firm that contracts with the US government.
She has been living with this man in Bangkok for about 2 years. They are not legally married. Last week they had a child. Now things are getting ugly. Of course, I sincerely hope they can work things out and there is no issue, but the discussions are getting particularly worrisome. He is indicating he doesn't wish to take care of the child. He says he has already raised his children from a previous marriage, and doesn't want to do it again. He is also saying he will provide very little in the way of assistance for the child. He has offered only 5000 baht per month (about $150 USD at current exchange rates.), and of course even this would not be legally binding. He could stop any time he wanted. Given his salary and the fact that they have been living in a $3000 USD per month condo paid for by your tax dollars this seems somewhat insulting.
The problem is, Thai law is simply ineffective at dealing with this situation. There is little to no legal recourse that she has under Thai domestic regulations. Unless you happen to be wealthy and can bribe the judges and police (which she isn't) there is very little that can/will be done. She can always go back to being a waitress. I'm not worried for her sake. She supported herself before and she can do it again. But now there is a baby involved, and it seems criminal to simply abandon him to a life of poverty. Complicating the problem is that the American father is black, and black children are discriminated against in Thailand where every other ad is for skin whitening creams. Unless the baby can attend a private, international school with more cosmopolitan outlooks, his life will not be a pleasant one.
My/her question is, is there any protection offered under US law that would be relevant to this situation, and if so, how could she go about investigating that path? She herself is not an American, nor has she ever visited there.
I hope my sister in law won't need to use it, but any advice is appreciated.
She has been living with this man in Bangkok for about 2 years. They are not legally married. Last week they had a child. Now things are getting ugly. Of course, I sincerely hope they can work things out and there is no issue, but the discussions are getting particularly worrisome. He is indicating he doesn't wish to take care of the child. He says he has already raised his children from a previous marriage, and doesn't want to do it again. He is also saying he will provide very little in the way of assistance for the child. He has offered only 5000 baht per month (about $150 USD at current exchange rates.), and of course even this would not be legally binding. He could stop any time he wanted. Given his salary and the fact that they have been living in a $3000 USD per month condo paid for by your tax dollars this seems somewhat insulting.
The problem is, Thai law is simply ineffective at dealing with this situation. There is little to no legal recourse that she has under Thai domestic regulations. Unless you happen to be wealthy and can bribe the judges and police (which she isn't) there is very little that can/will be done. She can always go back to being a waitress. I'm not worried for her sake. She supported herself before and she can do it again. But now there is a baby involved, and it seems criminal to simply abandon him to a life of poverty. Complicating the problem is that the American father is black, and black children are discriminated against in Thailand where every other ad is for skin whitening creams. Unless the baby can attend a private, international school with more cosmopolitan outlooks, his life will not be a pleasant one.
My/her question is, is there any protection offered under US law that would be relevant to this situation, and if so, how could she go about investigating that path? She herself is not an American, nor has she ever visited there.
I hope my sister in law won't need to use it, but any advice is appreciated.