All Japan Filers

[Anonymous 57 0]

M&C - you do have to pay a fee, but it's not $400. I think it's something like $130. It's an interview fee. However, you also can not pay it in cash, they require you to use a payeasy ATM. There's instructions for exactly how much and how to do it on the Fiance Interview checklist on the Embassy website, where it talks about the payeasy receipt.

http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-niv-kchecklist.html

Akiko - Congrats on your biometrics date~ I got my NOA1 October 28, hoping to get mine soon too. Let us know how everything goes!

[osakalove 0]

Hello all, I'm a new member here

I'm American, and I met my gf while I was living in Japan. We have been dating for over 3 years. I returned to California in August 09 to continue my education, and she remained in Japan. We talked about marriage, but never set anything in stone because her parents weren't supportive of a marriage while I am in grad school. She is visiting me now in the US on a tourist visa, and will be staying for 2 more months on it.

Now that we are with each other again, the thought of her returning to Japan is unappealing to both of us. We have come to a point where we are both willing to risk having her parents angry and do what we want to be happy: get married. From what I've gleaned so far from different sources, it seems like it IS possible to get married with her on a tourist visa and then file for the adjustment of status, so long as she did not enter the country with the intent to marry.

We don't need a big wedding, and are ready to go through the procedural process of things as soon possible. I've tried searching for this topic, but it seems like most information is advising about how coming with intent to marry can constitute visa fraud. Can someone point me in the right direction of information for those who did not come with intent to marry, but simply decided while in the US that marriage was indeed the course to take?

During this process, would we have the burden of proving that she did not come here with the intent to marry? Or would that be assumed? Could the length of our relationship and the fact that we had contemplated marriage end up being used against us to assert that she came here to get married? What kind of evidence could we present to rebut this?

Thanks in advance! We wanna get hitched!

[vny 0]

Hello all, I'm a new member here

I'm American, and I met my gf while I was living in Japan. We have been dating for over 3 years. I returned to California in August 09 to continue my education, and she remained in Japan. We talked about marriage, but never set anything in stone because her parents weren't supportive of a marriage while I am in grad school. She is visiting me now in the US on a tourist visa, and will be staying for 2 more months on it.

Now that we are with each other again, the thought of her returning to Japan is unappealing to both of us. We have come to a point where we are both willing to risk having her parents angry and do what we want to be happy: get married. From what I've gleaned so far from different sources, it seems like it IS possible to get married with her on a tourist visa and then file for the adjustment of status, so long as she did not enter the country with the intent to marry.

We don't need a big wedding, and are ready to go through the procedural process of things as soon possible. I've tried searching for this topic, but it seems like most information is advising about how coming with intent to marry can constitute visa fraud. Can someone point me in the right direction of information for those who did not come with intent to marry, but simply decided while in the US that marriage was indeed the course to take?

During this process, would we have the burden of proving that she did not come here with the intent to marry? Or would that be assumed? Could the length of our relationship and the fact that we had contemplated marriage end up being used against us to assert that she came here to get married? What kind of evidence could we present to rebut this?

Thanks in advance! We wanna get hitched!

Hey Osakalove,

Welcome to VJ. You will find a lot of information here. If you didn't already, go to the Forums page (link way up at the top), scroll down and you will find a Forum on Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas.

From what I've read here on VJ previously, seems like yes, the onus will be on you to show that she did not enter with the intent to get married. Being that you had 3 year history, may be tough, but I'm sure there probably is a way. From what I've read, seems like she will have to show that she still had ties in Japan (e.g., job, home, etc.) that she was planning to go back to when her tourist visa expired. It is possible though and you will probably find a lot of info in that forum.

Just make sure to do your research before you commit to anything because you don't want to be accused of visa fraud and have something like a 10 year (or even a lifetime) ban.

Good luck and here's wishing you the best.

vny

[Chris&Kirara 0]

Well the fiancee had to get one shot and the cost for all at the Tokyo British Clinic was 33,762yen and took 30 minutes, in case someone is still curious on the cost. Also she has not received the packet yet, so I called the embassy. Well I thought I was calling them. I dialed some 877 number on the Tokyo website. Well that was a waste of money. I had to really struggle to communicate. I know that I am spoiled because my fiancee has been living in the states for 5 years while going to school and she has great english skills. The real kicker was that they would contact me in 3 or 4 days with information on my case . Hindsight is 20/20, but I wouldn't call unless it has been a really long time waiting.

[Akiko 0]

Well I just got home from my biometrics appointment. It was fast, took only about 10 minutes.

[vny 0]

Well I just got home from my biometrics appointment. It was fast, took only about 10 minutes.

Wow!!! They actually can do some things fast in immigration. lol. Akiko-san Omedetougozaimasu!!! Another step closer!!!

Edited November 14, 2009 by vny

[Akiko 0]

Well I just got home from my biometrics appointment. It was fast, took only about 10 minutes.

Wow!!! They actually can do some things fast in immigration. lol. Akiko-san Omedetougozaimasu!!! Another step closer!!!

Hahaha thanks!

Some people who have also filed for the AOS around the time I did have been getting approvals for their EAD. So I'm just waiting on mine.

[Barry and Ami 0]

I'm gonna propose in December when my girlfriend comes to visit me again. We want to get married in the end of summer, but neither of us know what to do about the visa...There's a guide on here, but I still think we'll get lost...I don't know what do at all!

[Justin and Masako 0]

I'm gonna propose in December when my girlfriend comes to visit me again. We want to get married in the end of summer, but neither of us know what to do about the visa...There's a guide on here, but I still think we'll get lost...I don't know what do at all!

You'll do ok. Read the guide through as many times as it takes and anything you have a question on has probably been answered somewhere here. Also don't be afraid to ask questions, even ones that seems silly. There is a lot of silly ( other words apply here too, but I'm being PG rated. ) things with immigration so there are plenty of really valid silly questions. The first thing you will want to decide is what type of VISA you are going to apply for, I-129 (Fiance) or I-130 (Spouse), as the type changes a lot of things including how long until you can be together.

Good luck and welcome to VJ!

[Chris&Kirara 0]

It is very confusing at first and it seems overbearing, but after a while it will start to make sense. On a positive note, my fiancee has an interview on 12/14.

[Justin and Masako 0]

Hi all!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[Chris&Kirara 0]

Anybody have problems quitting a Japanese job?

[M -and- A 3]

Sign-in failed today

Hoping for a speedy RFE-free case complete and transfer to the US Embassy, Tokyo. From there, I'm still optimistic that Sachie can get a December 14th interview date, either through my calling NVC sometime over the next couple of days, immediately after they officially "complete" the case, but before the schedule an interview, or by getting on the Japanese version of the embassy website after NVC schedules the interview, and try to reserve a December date. Does anyone have any experience with this (expedited interview). Thanks.

[Akiko 0]

Hi everyone.

I just got my EAD approved today. Hopefully it comes in the mail soon so I can start working!

Good luck to everyone else out there and hope everyone is doing well.

[osakalove 0]

Thanks for the info

Anybody have problems quitting a Japanese job?

Yes, my fiance did. I've heard multiple stories about it being "difficult" to quit Japanese jobs. They don't really have the idea of 2 weeks notice like here in the US.

The hotel she was working at basically told her she couldn't quit. I told her that quitting can be as easy as just not showing up to work. She told her boss that she was being considerate by giving him a months notice, and that she didn't want to resort to just not showing up, but that if he wasn't willing to acknowledge the fact that she is allowed to quit whenever she wants, she would. She was able to quit when she wanted.

The key is to be assertive, and remember that the one quitting holds ALL the power. Any "negotiation" is really just a courtesy to the employer.