All Japan Filers

[raydamon 3]

Hello everyone.

New Japan filer here. I posted in the K-1 forum and gonna post it here as well.

I am a US citizen and currently working abroad in Japan where I met my girlfriend. We've decided to get married in the US through the K-1 visa which is usually quicker.

We don't have problems with evidence and filing it from the US. It is just that I do not want to be in US while the K-1 is being processed. I have a full-time job here and I would very much like to be with her for the following months.

My questions:

1. Can I have just have someone send in the application for me in the US? Of course with a US check and all the docs.

2. Is it required for the petitioner to be remain in the US while the application is being processed?

3. In the form I-325a, I need to fill in my address for the last 5 years. Should I put my current address as the one in the US to "pretend" I am living in the US or should I just put my address in Japan?

For now these are the questions I need answered before I can actually send out my application.

Any input is appreciated.

-R

[DJWS 4]

Anybody managed to convince Osaka Japan Police  to STAMP/SIGN the fingerprinted form that needs to be sent outside of Japan(i.e. Hong Kong)?  They'll fingerprint you, they just won't sign the form which makes it useless.

 

We are filing for CR-1 spousal visa and my wife is a Japanese citizen.  Since my wife lived over 1 year in Hong Kong, she also needs a Hong Kong police certificate.

Hong kong Police can't accept fingerprints if the form is not officially signed/stamped.

 

It seems like Tokyo police will also not sign/stamp fingerprints for outside Japan use from what I've googled.

I can think of other options but it would be difficult for my wife with our new baby:

1.  Travel to US Embassy in Tokyo for fingerprinting service.  Available only on Fridays.  (Osaka consulate does not offer fingerprint service)

2.  Pay a notary 20,000 yen to come with my wife to the police station and act as a witness.

3.  Fly to hong kong to the hong kong police to get fingerprinted and request a hong kong police certificate.

 

This could all be easily resolved if the police can simply sign/stamp the fingerprinted form!  She already has to go to the osaka police station for the japan police certificate.

Edited March 28, 2017 by DJWS

[TheSuzukis 0]

On 3/28/2017 at 4:46 AM, DJWS said:

Anybody managed to convince Osaka Japan Police  to STAMP/SIGN the fingerprinted form that needs to be sent outside of Japan(i.e. Hong Kong)?  They'll fingerprint you, they just won't sign the form which makes it useless.

 

We are filing for CR-1 spousal visa and my wife is a Japanese citizen.  Since my wife lived over 1 year in Hong Kong, she also needs a Hong Kong police certificate.

Hong kong Police can't accept fingerprints if the form is not officially signed/stamped.

 

It seems like Tokyo police will also not sign/stamp fingerprints for outside Japan use from what I've googled.

I can think of other options but it would be difficult for my wife with our new baby:

1.  Travel to US Embassy in Tokyo for fingerprinting service.  Available only on Fridays.  (Osaka consulate does not offer fingerprint service)

2.  Pay a notary 20,000 yen to come with my wife to the police station and act as a witness.

3.  Fly to hong kong to the hong kong police to get fingerprinted and request a hong kong police certificate.

 

This could all be easily resolved if the police can simply sign/stamp the fingerprinted form!  She already has to go to the osaka police station for the japan police certificate.

Hello! First, good luck with everything.
2nd, this whole process should be labeled "Bleeding Cash" if you can't get the police office to help you, call the Embassy and ask them for advice.
If you're still getting nowhere, then choose the lesser of your 3 evils listed above.  Difficult isn't impossible, so help your wife with the baby if she needs a day off to do what needs to be done. This process is super stressful, but doable. Ganbatte!!!!
I'll cross my fingers for you that the Embassy has good news.   Here is a phone number that should reach them!
050-5533-2737

[Ling Ling 22]

I've been out of the loop for almost 10 years. Glad the LingChe Guide has survived...but I'm not up to date on the process. Good luck though. 

[Ling Ling 22]

BTW, we're celebrating 10 years in October. GO Visa Journey.

[heykatydid 3]

Hello, everyone. I'm an American married to a Japanese citizen, and we are working on the I-130 now, about to send the packet in (hit a few snags with finding correct sized passport photos here, as they are all the wrong size in the booths). I'm trying to work ahead to make sure we have everything that we need, and either I'm going crazy, or we need to eventually get my husband's immunization records. His mother gave me a small book with many stamps in it for all the shots he received, and he says that medical clinics don't keep information for more than 5 years, so his information has been long purged. If this is true, will a translation of the book and stamps suffice? They are all official stamps, with inkan next to them and the clinic's name plus the date, but I am unsure because it seems like a strange way to get immunization records for something this big and important. Do the translations really not need to be certified? We got our marriage certificate translation notarized because the DMV and my stateside bank wouldn't change my name without it, so we are including that, but back in Japan it's harder to get those notarized translations done without trekking to the U.S. Embassy (and paying $50).

 

I've also asked my husband several times about a birth certificate, knowing we will need one. He keeps telling me that Japan doesn't have those, and instead got a koseki tohon from the city office. This forum mentions that we need a koseki SHOHON not a TOHON (individual rather than family)? Has anyone filed recently who can confirm that it's the one we need? We'll need to translate everything, so that's why I'm trying to get things early. I've asked him to find something about this process online in Japanese from other Japanese spouses who have gone through this, but he is insisting that he can't find anything (thus, I'm doing all the research). I've scoured through this thread, but have found conflicting information. Any help would be appreciated!  I'm running myself ragged basically trying to do this all myself.

 

(Honestly, I'm so anxious and stressed over this entire thing. I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders to do everything right and get everything that we need. Has anyone else felt this complete drowning sensation? I feel like I'll never get everything!)

[GreenPaddy 3]

3 hours ago, heykatydid said:

Hello, everyone. I'm an American married to a Japanese citizen, and we are working on the I-130 now, about to send the packet in (hit a few snags with finding correct sized passport photos here, as they are all the wrong size in the booths). I'm trying to work ahead to make sure we have everything that we need, and either I'm going crazy, or we need to eventually get my husband's immunization records. His mother gave me a small book with many stamps in it for all the shots he received, and he says that medical clinics don't keep information for more than 5 years, so his information has been long purged. If this is true, will a translation of the book and stamps suffice? They are all official stamps, with inkan next to them and the clinic's name plus the date, but I am unsure because it seems like a strange way to get immunization records for something this big and important. Do the translations really not need to be certified? We got our marriage certificate translation notarized because the DMV and my stateside bank wouldn't change my name without it, so we are including that, but back in Japan it's harder to get those notarized translations done without trekking to the U.S. Embassy (and paying $50).

 

I've also asked my husband several times about a birth certificate, knowing we will need one. He keeps telling me that Japan doesn't have those, and instead got a koseki tohon from the city office. This forum mentions that we need a koseki SHOHON not a TOHON (individual rather than family)? Has anyone filed recently who can confirm that it's the one we need? We'll need to translate everything, so that's why I'm trying to get things early. I've asked him to find something about this process online in Japanese from other Japanese spouses who have gone through this, but he is insisting that he can't find anything (thus, I'm doing all the research). I've scoured through this thread, but have found conflicting information. Any help would be appreciated!  I'm running myself ragged basically trying to do this all myself.

 

(Honestly, I'm so anxious and stressed over this entire thing. I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders to do everything right and get everything that we need. Has anyone else felt this complete drowning sensation? I feel like I'll never get everything!)

 

Hi heykatydid,

 

Good job you are doing a lot of work! I feel sorry your husband is not so cooperating with you.

 

Anyway....

I've heard (I recall it's from a immigration law office ) that you don't need SHOHON translation to be notarized, as long as you have it translated by a third party, and the third party signs for attestation doc that he/she translated.

 

And you want to go for a SHOHON, because TOHON will be a lot longer as it includes all his family.  TOHON will be much expensive if you hire a translator.

But someone of your friend can translate it for you and sign the translator affidavid.

 

Many people here, including me, would be able to give you a template for English SHOHON.

 

 

[heykatydid 3]

Quote

Anyway....

I've heard (I recall it's from a immigration law office ) that you don't need SHOHON translation to be notarized, as long as you have it translated by a third party, and the third party signs for attestation doc that he/she translated.

 

And you want to go for a SHOHON, because TOHON will be a lot longer as it includes all his family.  TOHON will be much expensive if you hire a translator.

But someone of your friend can translate it for you and sign the translator affidavid.

 

Many people here, including me, would be able to give you a template for English SHOHON.

Thank you so much, Greenpaddy! My sister is actually a translator (she got her MA in Japanese/English translation) so I can shoot it off to her for a much smaller fee, and I believe the translation template is available on the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo's website. But thank you for the clarification - my mother-in-law brought us the koseki tohon, so we will need to go pick up the shohon (but we have time, as that comes after the I-130 is processed).

 

Do you have any idea about the immunization records? I wonder if it's possible to bring the records I have to the doctor's office just to get them re-filed in an official way or something, although this was all done quite far away from our current city.

[GreenPaddy 3]

3 minutes ago, heykatydid said:

Thank you so much, Greenpaddy! My sister is actually a translator (she got her MA in Japanese/English translation) so I can shoot it off to her for a much smaller fee, and I believe the translation template is available on the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo's website. But thank you for the clarification - my mother-in-law brought us the koseki tohon, so we will need to go pick up the shohon (but we have time, as that comes after the I-130 is processed).

 

Do you have any idea about the immunization records? I wonder if it's possible to bring the records I have to the doctor's office just to get them re-filed in an official way or something, although this was all done quite far away from our current city.

 

Wonderful that your sister could help you!

It took me like 30 min to get TOHON translated so you should be fine. Not that difficult.

This info on notarization is what I heard from my law attorney in Tokyo. I prepared all the translation docs in that way and had no problem with the process.

But, if you want to make it absolutely sure, you might want to consult with a immigration lawyer too.

 

Yes it's good to bring immunization records as much as you can when you visit an Embassy-designated doctor in Japan in the second stage.

It is a lot cheaper to have shots in your local clinic than having it in a designated hospital.

I just asked my mother about my Chicken Pox history, I had it in a toddler year, just told it to a designated doctor and she documented it.

It would be great if you could collect your records from your previous doctors.

 

There are other immunization like tetanus that you absolutely need updating, according to the Embassy.

If you need, I think it's best you get one shot at a time and make it documented in a local clinic. The shots will interfere with women's pregnancy so good timing might be needed.

 

I had medical checkup in Tokyo. If you need I can list up which shots you need. I think there were 3 or 4 including tetanus.

 

[heykatydid 3]

Quote

Yes it's good to bring immunization records as much as you can when you visit an Embassy-designated doctor in Japan in the second stage.

It is a lot cheaper to have shots in your local clinic than having it in a designated hospital.

I just asked my mother about my Chicken Pox history, I had it in a toddler year, just told it to a designated doctor and she documented it.

It would be great if you could collect your records from your previous doctors.

 

There are other immunization like tetanus that you absolutely need updating, according to the Embassy.

If you need, I think it's best you get one shot at a time and make it documented in a local clinic. The shots will interfere with women's pregnancy so good timing might be needed.

 

I had medical checkup in Tokyo. If you need I can list up which shots you need. I think there were 3 or 4 including tetanus.

Wonderful! I will see what we can do - we have his stamped records from when he was a baby, and we can update the rest. A list would be very helpful, and then he could get it done nearby the house for much cheaper (and see about getting the older ones officiated). Thank you very much for all your help! Your responses have really eased my mind.

[TheSuzukis 0]

9 hours ago, heykatydid said:

 I've asked him to find something about this process online in Japanese from other Japanese spouses who have gone through this, but he is insisting that he can't find anything (thus, I'm doing all the research). I've scoured through this thread, but have found conflicting information. Any help would be appreciated!  I'm running myself ragged basically trying to do this all myself.

 

(Honestly, I'm so anxious and stressed over this entire thing. I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders to do everything right and get everything that we need. Has anyone else felt this complete drowning sensation? I feel like I'll never get everything!)

You sound like me when I started! I know exactly how you're feeling, right down to the husband who swears there is no info to be found in Japanese, ANYWHERE!  If you look back over the last 10 pages or so you'll see my "freaking out" posts. We ( I )  still got everything done and visa in hand within a year.
My advice:  Don't rush yourself, there is loads of time between each stage, at least 45 days, just focus on each one as they come.

 

The Marriage certificate can be easily translated using the template the Embassy offers, just get someone who is not you to sign off on it.

So can the Shohon, I have a microsoft word doc that I made to follow the flow of the Japanese city hall doc exactly with a space for the translator to sign at the bottom, I can clear out the data and attach the file if you like.

 

As GP said, as far as the immunizations go, you have the golden book, so don't worry!
Double check the page from the embassy with the list, and know that if your spouse is over a certain age 1/2 of them don't even matter. Your local clinic should be able to check out the list and his book and tell you what you may need. (Or maybe our clinic doc was just awesome) but don't worry about it, as they can do a mixer of shots at the official health check in Tokyo/Kobe wherever you choose to go.  My husband's mom threw out his book, so we were REALLY stressed. But, He only had to get a blood test and 2 shots in the end, and they were done no problem.

 

And the photos, we totally used the ones from the machines that most closely matched the size they wanted and I just trimmed them down a tiny bit. (They were a 2-3mm short on one side but it didn't matter) 

 

Remind yourself that you are dealing with the US government, NOT the Japanese one, so they aren't so fussed about things being EXACTLY the correct size etc.   Just keep your self organized, and make a copy of all your forms for yourself. I used some binders from the 100¥ shop to keep myself straight.

ALSO!!!  DON'T download & fill out all the forms now!   If you want to have them for a rough draft fine, but download each one as you need it before sending it in.  I really f-ed us over on the sponsor finances stuff because they released a new form AFTER I had downloaded it about a month or so prior. SET-BACK! >.<
 

[gaiaslastlaugh 1]

7 minutes ago, TheSuzukis said:

The Marriage certificate can be easily translated using the template the Embassy offers, just get someone who is not you to sign off on it.

So can the Shohon, I have a microsoft word doc that I made to follow the flow of the Japanese city hall doc exactly with a space for the translator to sign at the bottom, I can clear out the data and attach the file if you like.
 

FWIW, I translated all of my wife's documents and signed off as the translator. Not sure if I unknowingly broke some sort of rule, but no one during the entire process batted an eye at this. Just FYI for anyone who goes through the process and speaks Japanese themselves that I don't believe you need the additional expense of hiring a pro translator if your Japanese is advanced enough.

[TheSuzukis 0]

2 minutes ago, gaiaslastlaugh said:

FWIW, I translated all of my wife's documents and signed off as the translator. Not sure if I unknowingly broke some sort of rule, but no one during the entire process batted an eye at this. Just FYI for anyone who goes through the process and speaks Japanese themselves that I don't believe you need the additional expense of hiring a pro translator if your Japanese is advanced enough.

I read that it can't be "you" so since I was the one doing all the work I had a co-worker sign off on them.  I agree there is no need for the additional expense of  hiring someone or getting things notarized. During the whole process the only thing we notarized was for the Japanese marriage paperwork!  

[heykatydid 3]

Quote

ALSO!!!  DON'T download & fill out all the forms now!   If you want to have them for a rough draft fine, but download each one as you need it before sending it in.  I really f-ed us over on the sponsor finances stuff because they released a new form AFTER I had downloaded it about a month or so prior. SET-BACK! >.<

Haha, I actually encountered this already - had the forms printed and sitting in the binder waiting for the I-130 so we could start filing in April, and then in February they released a whole new set of I-130 forms - 12 pages instead of 2! I was so annoyed, but it's alright, we got the new one filled out and ready to go in a week.

 

Thank you so much for your reply! I feel better just knowing there are other people who have done all this stuff. I've been advised that this first wait is the longest since everything goes to the Chicago Lockbox, but after that it goes faster between stages. That's fine, because we aren't planning to leave before April of 2018. I figure giving us a year is alright. But I'll definitely have him take that book in to a doctor and see if everything ends up looking okay! Phew, a stress off my shoulders.

 

(Are they even correct about this "no info in Japanese" thing?! I figured he just didn't search very thoroughly.. lol)

 

Quote

I read that it can't be "you" so since I was the one doing all the work I had a co-worker sign off on them.  I agree there is no need for the additional expense of  hiring someone or getting things notarized. During the whole process the only thing we notarized was for the Japanese marriage paperwork!  

That's what we have notarized right now, too, so that's good to know. My sister can easily do the rest and sign off on it (she did our joint-lease translation, too, for the I-130 relationship evidence).

 

You guys have been wonderful, thank you so much for responding. Haha, I've been trying to do this virtually on my own for a month and it's practically making my hair fall out from stress! -___-; 

[TheSuzukis 0]

On 4/1/2017 at 7:24 PM, heykatydid said:

Thank you so much for your reply! I feel better just knowing there are other people who have done all this stuff. I've been advised that this first wait is the longest since everything goes to the Chicago Lockbox, but after that it goes faster between stages. That's fine, because we aren't planning to leave before April of 2018. I figure giving us a year is alright. But I'll definitely have him take that book in to a doctor and see if everything ends up looking okay! Phew, a stress off my shoulders.

 

(Are they even correct about this "no info in Japanese" thing?! I figured he just didn't search very thoroughly.. lol)

 

You guys have been wonderful, thank you so much for responding. Haha, I've been trying to do this virtually on my own for a month and it's practically making my hair fall out from stress! -___-; 

This site was a big help and stress-relief for me too.   

As for there being "no Japanese info" My husband stubbornly sticks to his "Japanese people don't usually leave Japan, so there is no info."  But I have the feeling that you and I are more correct with the whole "Didn't search hard enough" suspicions.

Good luck with everything and enjoy your last year in Japan!  We miss combini and healthy food (as we live in the Midwest everything is BURGERS) If you need to vent or just have things you want to  double check we're here for you!