Dependent visa question (can my younger sister be my dependent?)

Legal Visa & Residency
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I’m heading back to Taiwan next April for a job, and I’ve been thinking about legally adopting my younger sister after she turns 18 because the living situation with our parents isn’t good. She cannot financially support herself and my parents prevent her from doing anything to try and become independent. They’re emotionally and mentally abusive and I just want to get her out of this situation.

Would I be able to apply for a dependent visa for my sister after she’s 18 if I’m named her legal parent/guardian? If so, I know there’s a rule that children under the age of 20 can be claimed as dependents, but what happens after they turn 20?

Thank you for your help.

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Sorry to hear about the situation with the younger sister.
Maybe a bit more information about whether you and/her are Taiwanese nationals, or citizens of another country, and your coming back to Taiwan is under a job/work visa.
Good luck!

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Oh sorry! Yes I’ll be coming from America on a work visa for a school, not a buxiban this time. Neither of us are Taiwanese.

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Full legal adoption or just being recognized as the person on whom she depends financially? Full adoption would be impossible in Taiwan without a significant age difference, iirc, though that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t do it in your country of origin.

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If she’s gonna be 18, she could likely also just study in a Taiwanese university too. No?

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Doing this would also give her the opportunity to work part time, and help with her independence.

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She’s a high school drop out with no ability to get her GED at the moment due to our parents, so chances of being accepted into a Taiwanese college are slim to none notwithstanding the cost.

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Full legal adoption when she turns 18 so she would become my dependent child. I’ll be 25 by the time my job starts.

We’re just in a tough situation and lots of issues make it really difficult to find a way out for her, short of me adopting her and coming to live with me as a dependent in Taiwan, though I’m unsure of what kind of visa she would even be able to qualify for after her 20th birthday.

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A post was merged into an existing topic: Bad advice

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My daughter is 18 and getting her GED here in Taiwan. Once she’s 18 she can do it all on her own. They even have a testing center here in Taipei. She self studies with all the free GED resources online. The GED is accepted at almost every University in place of a High School diploma. I have no say in whether she takes it or not because she’s 18.

Edit: GED can also be taken online these days.
My daughter prefers going into the testing center though.

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  1. I’m already happily married.
  2. I’m not interested in her being illegally in a country which is why I’m wanting to do this above the board.
  3. I think her getting her GED and studying at a language school may be the best chance of her getting into the country.
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I didn’t know GED’s were a thing in Taiwan honestly. It’s good to know they are. I’m not sure I could get my mom to agree to allow me to adopt my sister before she turns 18 sadly.

I know she wants to get her GED but it’s been extremely difficult for our parents to agree on a day to take her.

I’m honestly just hoping to get her away for the two years between 18 and 20 since I know she has to figure it out on her own once she turns 20.

I think she has a fantastic shot at becoming a very successful college student if she’s given the right resources. I might try to contact my local consulate here and see if I can get her as my dependent even at 18.

I appreciate the answer. It’s very helpful. Thank you so much.

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@TaipeiGuy2000

Suggestions to break the law are not allowed here.

As for Swedish marriage law, you are technically correct, but just barely.