Seeking information and/or advice....

[Elmedico 2]

Hello. I am here seeking information /advice on several subjects. Hopefully, I'm in the right place. First, let me give you the backstory. I'm a US citizen married  to a Thai wife and I have 2 step-daughters. We got married in 2022 and are still going thru the immigration process. [ it's taking awhile ] I think I know the answers to my questions but I would like clarification from someone that may have already gone thru this process.

1. I want to adopt the daughters and give them my last name. Is this easier to do here in the USA or in Thailand? And is it better to do a name change in Thailand before they arrive or after arrival?

2. I have been supporting them since even before we got married. Can I claim them on my taxes without them having social security numbers?- I dont think they get SSANs until they arrive in the USA. I also want to add them as my dependents [ for work ] is this possible without ssan? I was told the passport number works in place of ssan, but not sure about that. 

Thanks in advance for any info/advice

[pushbrk 12,998]

2 minutes ago, Elmedico said:

Hello. I am here seeking information /advice on several subjects. Hopefully, I'm in the right place. First, let me give you the backstory. I'm a US citizen married  to a Thai wife and I have 2 step-daughters. We got married in 2022 and are still going thru the immigration process. [ it's taking awhile ] I think I know the answers to my questions but I would like clarification from someone that may have already gone thru this process.

1. I want to adopt the daughters and give them my last name. Is this easier to do here in the USA or in Thailand? And is it better to do a name change in Thailand before they arrive or after arrival?

2. I have been supporting them since even before we got married. Can I claim them on my taxes without them having social security numbers?- I dont think they get SSANs until they arrive in the USA. I also want to add them as my dependents [ for work ] is this possible without ssan? I was told the passport number works in place of ssan, but not sure about that. 

Thanks in advance for any info/advice

Easier and best to adopt in the USA.  They and your wife need social security numbers to be claimed on your tax return.  Google W7 IRS for the procedure.  Hopefully you filed three petitions, not just one.  In your case they each need their own I-130.

[Elmedico 2]

pushbrk,     3 petitions filed. Thanks for the info