All Japan Filers

[Anonymous 57 0]

netsatwork : Um... do you mean she overstayed for over 180 days and was deported?

I don't have any good lawyer recommendations, but there can't be that many practicing US immigration lawyers in Japan. I wouldn't think that they are in very high demand. The only advice that I can give is to contact more than one lawyer and go with the consensus advice. I personally was given very, very bad advice by a immigration lawyer and had I thought to talk to more than that one, I probably wouldn't be in this whole K-1 application mess either.

Maybe you should talk to the guys on the waiver forums too.

And if you're in Japan and don't want to get stuck in AP and have to deal with the you-know-what that comes with having an application that's not completely perfect, you might want to consider marrying and staying for six months and direct filing for CR-1 at the embassy. It only takes about a month or so and you only have to deal with the embassy the whole time. If you are going to have to file a waiver, it might be easier that way than to send in your application and get stuck in background checks up the wazoo because you have an overstay on your record. Note that I'm just mentioning that it's a possibility, it's something that you might want to ask your lawyer about once you get one.

Akiko : Thanks for the reply... I guess I better just call them and see what's up. Maybe they'll get a-movin' if they know that I've got my eye on them.

[netsatwork 0]

It was a 65 day overstay on a B1/B2 visa. I have lots of questions about that problem in other threads.

Mainly looking for a lawyer in the US who has experience with waivers on Japanese K1 cases.

I can't move to Japan because I have a 3 year old son here, so I'll have to go the K1/CR1 filing route once we figure out what is what.

Any other tips specific to Japan for this whole process would be greatly appreciated. There are lots of pages in the this thread, so I'll try to read through it.

[DerekJ 0]

Hi all,

We're thinking of finally tying the knot when I go to visit Fumie in September. In order to prepare, I have downloaded the Single Affidavit For Marriage that I will have to have notarized at the consulate in Fukuoka. Two questions about the form: I presume as I will only be on vacation when we marry that I can use Fumie's address for the "local address" on the form? Secondly, as I was married previously, would I use my ex-wife's maiden name or married name on the form?

Thanks.

Derek

[Anonymous 57 0]

Derek - Yeah, I would use Fumie's address when you fill out the form. I personally would list the ex-wife's name as it appears on the filed divorce papers, which by the way, you have to bring with you when you go to the embassy, and according to the embassy, the Japanese government will request to see them as well when you turn in the marriage papers. When I went I argued with the guy at the embassy about it and he said that because they had some idiot come in who thought that he was divorced but really wasn't, which resulted in a huge mess, they now insist on seeing the divorce papers even if it has been a while since the actual divorce occurred.

Don't worry too much about how to fill out that paper. They have copies of the papers there too, of course, so even if you totally mess up you can just ask for a new one. When I went to the local embassy in Osaka, I was one of five people there and they weren't really busy at all. They'll help you if you get stuck.

[vny 0]

Hi all,

We're thinking of finally tying the knot when I go to visit Fumie in September. In order to prepare, I have downloaded the Single Affidavit For Marriage that I will have to have notarized at the consulate in Fukuoka. Two questions about the form: I presume as I will only be on vacation when we marry that I can use Fumie's address for the "local address" on the form? Secondly, as I was married previously, would I use my ex-wife's maiden name or married name on the form?

Thanks.

Derek

Hey Derek,

Think I was in same situation as you. Was previously married, except that my ex didn't change here name back. S--t!!! But I think I just put her name and maiden name in parenthesis or something. I think they'll understand anyway. And yes, you can use your fiance's adress as long as she will be staying there until the VISA is approved. Since you will be marrying in Japan, she won't really be able to come to the US until your VISA is approved, except she can come on the VISA waiver for 90 days, like my wife did after we were married. But she'll have to go back until the VISA is approved. They kindof gave her a little of a hard time at immigration when she came for the 90 days asking her questions of why she is coming for that length of time and how she will support herself (credit card, of course) and stuff like that, but they eventually let her in. But then she had to go back and wait until the VISA was approved (thankfully, it has been now and we just received her GC yesterday!!! Hooray!!! Took long enough.)

Anyway, good luck to you and if I can be of any help, don't hesitate to ask. This site had been so helpful when we were going through it and I just hope I could be of some help to someone too,

Later,

vny

[Anonymous 57 0]

An update... so after waiting until last Friday (in Japan) with no word from the embassy, I called the $20 ripoff line and talked to an extremely unhelpful person who spoke very little English and seemed to almost deliberately misunderstood everything I said. I was shocked, to say the least, because I called them several times three years ago during the first visa application process for my ex and never, ever had any problems with them and the people I spoke to were always very nice and had accurate information. At first she just told me that she wasn't going to do anything to help me and that I just had to wait, but after I basically refused to let her off the phone until I got something, and putting me on hold to talk to a supervisor, she forwarded an inquiry to the embassy about my visa.

She claimed that the processing can take basically as long as they feel like it should take, and when I told her that most people got letters from the embassy a week after the NVC sent their stuff over, she just said that some cases take longer than others to review.

The one thing that you and Ken have in common, Akiko, is that you both lived here in America before. My theory is that's why this whole process has been taking so long for us, and took so long for you. It makes me really angry that they would suspect people who lived here legally before because if you guys were interested in breaking the law, you'd probably already have been able to get fake green cards and just overstay indefinitely, it certainly wouldn't have taken as long as this whole process, instead of going back and waiting for your visas.

So now I have to break the news that they're still reviewing the case to Ken. I feel so bad, he was so hoping that he would magically somehow get the letter today.

[Akiko 0]

An update... so after waiting until last Friday (in Japan) with no word from the embassy, I called the $20 ripoff line and talked to an extremely unhelpful person who spoke very little English and seemed to almost deliberately misunderstood everything I said. I was shocked, to say the least, because I called them several times three years ago during the first visa application process for my ex and never, ever had any problems with them and the people I spoke to were always very nice and had accurate information. At first she just told me that she wasn't going to do anything to help me and that I just had to wait, but after I basically refused to let her off the phone until I got something, and putting me on hold to talk to a supervisor, she forwarded an inquiry to the embassy about my visa.

She claimed that the processing can take basically as long as they feel like it should take, and when I told her that most people got letters from the embassy a week after the NVC sent their stuff over, she just said that some cases take longer than others to review.

The one thing that you and Ken have in common, Akiko, is that you both lived here in America before. My theory is that's why this whole process has been taking so long for us, and took so long for you. It makes me really angry that they would suspect people who lived here legally before because if you guys were interested in breaking the law, you'd probably already have been able to get fake green cards and just overstay indefinitely, it certainly wouldn't have taken as long as this whole process, instead of going back and waiting for your visas.

So now I have to break the news that they're still reviewing the case to Ken. I feel so bad, he was so hoping that he would magically somehow get the letter today.

I'm sorry to hear about that.

I was actually really afraid throught my visa process because I lived in America, basically my whole life. But I was under my parent's names at that time. This was the first visa that I've applied on my own. So eventually, I knew it was going to be okay.

Its nonsense that they suspect everyone because of their past. At the interview, I was asked certain questions regarding my previous stays and visas. Such as... what visas have I entered the US with, have I overstayed after the age of 18 and what not.

I really hope Ken receives the letter soon. You two will be in my prayers.

[Normc 0]

Just wanted to say hi and wish everyone luck. In a few weeks, we'll be celebrating our first anniversary and shortly after that we'll be going to our AOS interview. We're a little nervous but at the same time we can't imagine any issues that may arise.

Thanks to many of the advice posted here, we were able to fill out our paper work and record a lot of our interactions.

Best wishes to all and good luck again.

[netsatwork 0]

Does anyone who has dealt with Japanese K1 and waivers have any suggestions on which US Consulate to go through? Actually, I'm not sure if you can pick, but my fiancee is living with her Aunt in Osaka now, so obviously the Osaka US Consulate is closest, but would it be better to go through Tokyo for the K1 and waiver (212 maybe 601) since they are probably bigger and deal with more complicated cases more often? I wonder if Tokyo is slower or maybe they are all the same. I am really just getting started with this part of the process, so any consulate-related info is welcome.

Thanks.

[Anonymous 57 0]

Net - Immigrant visas can't be processed in Osaka (it would make our life much easier too if they could) the nearest embassy that can process your application is Tokyo. You really don't have much of an option. At least they're not as bad as some of the other embassies that you hear about here on VJ.

Akiko - Thanks for the reply. We actually got our letter and a RFE from the embassy last Friday. They wanted evidence of our relationship and a timeline of events (probably because I started dating him the day that I legally seperated from my ex). Luckily, he's had all of the stuff that he needs to complete his part of the application since NOA2, so he sent them the requested evidence by rush mail on Monday. And this is funny... he called the ripoff $20 visa line on Monday to ask about how to get the police certificate, and got the same EXACT person that I did when I called, who apparently also spoke poor Japanese. After telling him that she basically knew nothing about how this whole process was supposed to work, he gave up. He tried to bring his packet 3 to get his police certificate and they told him that it didn't say 'fiance' on it, so they wouldn't accept it. To which he again pulled out the NOA 2 that I sent him that had been refused by the police before and said, "This one says fiance". Then the police were like, "That's the paper we need!" Um... yeah, it was the same exact paper that they had rejected a week or two ago.

So now that we've got the police certificate and packet 3 taken care of, we just have to get packet 4 for the medical check and we're good to interview. Finally

Hope everything's good in Hawaii.

[Akiko 0]

Net - Immigrant visas can't be processed in Osaka (it would make our life much easier too if they could) the nearest embassy that can process your application is Tokyo. You really don't have much of an option. At least they're not as bad as some of the other embassies that you hear about here on VJ.

Akiko - Thanks for the reply. We actually got our letter and a RFE from the embassy last Friday. They wanted evidence of our relationship and a timeline of events (probably because I started dating him the day that I legally seperated from my ex). Luckily, he's had all of the stuff that he needs to complete his part of the application since NOA2, so he sent them the requested evidence by rush mail on Monday. And this is funny... he called the ripoff $20 visa line on Monday to ask about how to get the police certificate, and got the same EXACT person that I did when I called, who apparently also spoke poor Japanese. After telling him that she basically knew nothing about how this whole process was supposed to work, he gave up. He tried to bring his packet 3 to get his police certificate and they told him that it didn't say 'fiance' on it, so they wouldn't accept it. To which he again pulled out the NOA 2 that I sent him that had been refused by the police before and said, "This one says fiance". Then the police were like, "That's the paper we need!" Um... yeah, it was the same exact paper that they had rejected a week or two ago.

So now that we've got the police certificate and packet 3 taken care of, we just have to get packet 4 for the medical check and we're good to interview. Finally

Hope everything's good in Hawaii.

Its so good to hear you got your packet 3! Its about time. Sorry to hear about the RFE though but I'm glad you two got that cleared up. So I guess you can request your interview date soon? I hope its a smooth process from here on.

Bronson and I are getting married tomorrow. Then we're going to start working on my AOS. Haha just when I thought the k-1 was over, theres a whole new journey ahead of us!

[redglasses 1]

Akiko

Congratulations on your big day!

I wish you the best

[vny 0]

Bronson and I are getting married tomorrow.

Congratulation Akiko (and Bronson). Best wishes in your life together!!!

vny

[Anonymous 57 0]

Congratulations Akiko! :star:

I hope everything went smoothly at your wedding!

Good luck with your AOS packet. At least you're together for this one, it won't be nearly as bad as K-1.

[Anonymous 57 0]

Okay, so now I have a question for all the K-1 filers.

I was just reading the FAQ about the US Embassy in Japan here on VJ and it states that there is no actual packet 4, that they send you an e-mail or something?

What exactly happens? How will I know that I can schedule an interview?

Oh, and where do you get the documents for the medical? Do they have them available at the hospitals listed on the embassy website?

Thanks for you help, everyone.

Edited August 2, 2009 by Lauraandfrogger