Obtaining Police Certificate in Japan - URGENT

[celiothrkn 0]

I understand that you need to wait for Packet 3 before going to the police department to obtain the certificate. Exactly what form do we need to bring? Is it just a set of instructions? If so, I have a wild request. Is there anyone who can scan/email a copy of it for me by the end of August?

Here is my situation. My fiancee will be moving from Japan to China on Aug 30. In theory, she was supposed to receive Packet 3 before the end of the month and start the process for obtaining the police certificate. Domestically, it would take 3 weeks, and she would not need to pick it up in-person. They said that she can just have a friend pick it up for her (and mail it to her in China).

Here is where Murphy's Law kicks in. I received a letter (via snail mail) from the US embassy in Tokyo three days ago, which said that our I-129F is expired - which is incorrect because our approved I-129F says the validity is 7/26/08 to 11/26/08. They did allow me to renew the petition as long as I reaffirm my intention to marry her, etc. I sent a letter back (via snail mail) reaffirming the intent, but I'm afraid this incident has cost us enough time. Snail mail takes close to a week between US east coast & Japan.

When I was in Japan a few weeks ago, my fiancee and I did try to obtain a police certificate by bringing our approved I-129F to the police department, but they couldn't read the English (we are in Hokkaido. maybe Tokyo police can handle this sort of things better) so they refused to process the certificate until we show them some proof in Japanese.

Of course, it is possible for her to process the police certificate in the Japanese consulate in Beijing or Shanghai, but that would take 2-3 months as opposed to 3 weeks in domestic Japan. So I'm hoping it will not come to that.

[YuAndDan 153]

Japan can be a nightmare to get a police cert after leaving the country, DO IT NOW before leaving.

Police Certificates

Available. Japanese police certificates will not contain information about criminal convictions when:

1. The period of suspended sentence has ended;

2. The penalty of the crime was a fine, and the crime occurred more than five years ago;

3. The term of the prison sentence ended more than ten years ago; or

4. The conviction was vacated or the criminal was subject to a pardon or amnesty.

Persons convicted of crimes in Japan may obtain court conviction records indefinitely. The headquarters' records section of the Metropolitan or Prefectural police issues certificates which include a nationwide criminal records check.

Applicants Physically Present in Japan: Foreign nationals holding legal resident status and Japanese citizens must apply in person at the Metropolitan or Prefectural police headquarters having jurisdiction over their present place of residence in Japan. Processing time: approximately 3 weeks.

Applicants Outside of Japan: Former legal residents, former illegal aliens, and Japanese citizens, should apply at the nearest Japanese Consulate. Processing time: Two to three months.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciproc...ocity_3591.html

A good post: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30229

If you are thinking of moving K-1 case to China, then you will want to use "A Candle for Love" as a resource. http://candleforlove.com

[noemi 0]

The "proof" that the Japanese police requires is the "Visa Instructions" that is sent from the U.S. Embassy in Packet 3. From what I have heard, the police are very picky and accept only that particular sheet as proof.

It's a 1-page set of instructions in English (with a Japanese translation on the reverse side) with the visa applicant's name and case number scribbled on top. At least that's what I received.

When I applied for the police certificate, they just took a look at the sheet and handed it back to me.

You're absolutely right in wanting to apply domestically. I doubt if this is possible but could you call the Embassy (even if it means paying the extra fee) and have them expedite the mailing of Packet 3? You lost valuable time because of their mistake (i.e., correspondence regarding I-129F validity), you should have the right to push them a little and if wouldn't hurt to try.

I suppose there's no possiblity of your fiancee postponing her move to China?

I hope things work out for you and your fiancee.

[noemi 0]

I wrote earlier but just wondered how the whole process was going to work for your fiancee.

If she's moving to China soon, wouldn't it be better if she got the Packet 3 from embassy/consulate in China? Instructions may differ between the China and Japan. For example, the designated hospitals for medical exams would obviously be different.

[celiothrkn 0]

Yes, that Japanese/English "Visa Instructions" sheet is all we need! If only someone could send me that... The police are picky indeed.

I've called the US Embassy in Tokyo twice already, and I requested that instead of mailing me the Visa Instructions in Packet 3, maybe they could email it to me? They said they will get back to me within 3 business days (but it's weekend as of this posting, so they are not working). But I do know that the US Embassy in Thailand lets you download the Packet 3 materials off their website.

I don't really think there is any chance of postponing her move to China though. There is always the possibility of transferring the case from the Tokyo embassy to the Guangzhou consulate (in China). But even if we did, she would still need to obtain a police certificate from Japan - so transferring the case has nothing to do with this.

Edited August 23, 2008 by celiothrkn

[celiothrkn 0]

Hmm. If the name and case number are scribbled on top, that could be a slight problem. I guess it would be easy to photoshop it out or something. Ideally the embassy in Tokyo would fulfill my request, but if they do not, I guess we're stuck with getting the police certificate from a Japanese consulate in China.

[Moto-zutto 0]

Hmm. If the name and case number are scribbled on top, that could be a slight problem. I guess it would be easy to photoshop it out or something. Ideally the embassy in Tokyo would fulfill my request, but if they do not, I guess we're stuck with getting the police certificate from a Japanese consulate in China.

I would send you a copy of my fiance's but she turned it in already.

http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/foreig...koue.htm#tokyo2 <----- maybe some information you might need

[tinyrosie 0]

I applied for Police Certificate in Tokyo when I was there for a short visit in June. Just gave them a copy of NOA1 and completed I-129F (fiance scanned them into PDF file and I just printed them out), and they gave me the Police Certificate a week after. I also do recommend you to get the certificate while you're still in Japan. Takes long time to get it from the embassy.

Good luck