Questions for those from Japan and New Zealand

[ashenflowers 5]

Hi everyone,

Hope you don't mind me crashing your regional threads.

A friend of mine from back home in Canada is wanting to move to New Zealand to live and teach. She is starting the immigration process for that, and is understandably a bit overwhelmed, so I'm trying to help as much as possible. I'm sure I'll add more questions to this later... lol

For now though, I'm wondering if any of you know the best way for her to get a police check for Japan? She lived and worked there (teaching) for about 3 years. I did a quick search on VJ here and it seems like it's a big hassle and will take a few months?? eww... Is that true?

Also, if any of you actually immigrated to NZ as well and can point me to some good websites about that, or just have some general information, I'd greatly appreciate it! Thank you, and good luck in your own journeys!

[kaffy 2]

Have her contact her local Japanese consulate or embassy.

[usmcwife 3]

She has to go to her local Japanese consulate. I went to the one in toronto. They will fingerprint her and the police check takes at least 1.5 months. So make sure she goes quite a bit before she needs it. Mine took just under 7 weeks.

I asked about getting someone back in japan to get a police certificate for me, if that might save time but it ends up taking about the same time as you need to fill out forms, some sort of power of attorney, and mail them to whoever in Japan is willing to do it for you with your passport. Then wait 3 weeks+ for the police certificate to be finished then have whoever mail it back to you. So i thought it would be way to much hassle for the same amount of time or longer.

Edited June 8, 2010 by usmcfiance

[redglasses 1]

Here is the embassy of Japan website mentioning about police certificate.

As others say, your friend has to go to a nearest Japanese embassy/consulate to obtain one.

It can take 2-3 months.

http://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/canada_e/Visa/police_certificate.html

[Darnell 8,478]

EnZed has comprehensive web portal covering immigration matters.

Have you or yer friend seen it ?

[tokyo.lovers 6]

you could try calling the embassy or just do some research online see what other people do. it will probably take awhile either way.

it takes 2 weeks to get the PCC if you are a japanese and live in japan, i can't imagine how long it takes for a foreigner abroad...

[ashenflowers 5]

She's going to drive to the embassy in Toronto this week or next to apply there. Thanks everyone!

Thanks for the tip re: EnZed Darnell. I will forward that on to her

[Darnell 8,478]

ashen - ya - I had applied to EnZed and Australia right as I was leaving Singapore, but had some business contracts finally signed in USA, so I came back to Houston ...

I was applying on the points system, then, for both countries.

I can't remember what the heck I did, for the paperwork or fees, but remember both countries 'application process' to be dead easy. This was back in early 2005, before I met my wife.