All Japan Filers

[Naes 12,205]

@ypsirccim Me again! and anyone who can answer to this question pleaseee

 

I am sorry I have one more question about the post, because the embassy is not being helpful about the address change...

does the packet 3 envelope from the post had a writing on anywhere "転送不要"??

 

Cause if not they seem to redirect it to my new address... but if it does, then I need to find a way for them to correct my old address... 

 

[ilovethisprocess 5]

Any idea the meaning of this?

 

Currently over a week since interview (was told we were approved) and CEAC case status has changed from "Ready" to "Admin. Processing" , case created date has changed to 5/1, and the status now shows as a Non-Immigrant visa application (previously was categorized as Immigrant visa).  

 

It's been difficult to find Tokyo-specific information on the web for similar occurrences, at least that I can find.   Thanks

[Naes 12,205]

8 minutes ago, ilovethisprocess said:

Any idea the meaning of this?

 

Currently over a week since interview (was told we were approved) and CEAC case status has changed from "Ready" to "Admin. Processing" , case created date has changed to 5/1, and the status now shows as a Non-Immigrant visa application (previously was categorized as Immigrant visa).  

 

It's been difficult to find Tokyo-specific information on the web for similar occurrences, at least that I can find.   Thanks

Change to non-immigrant is good  it usually changes to that before it changes to issued

[ilovethisprocess 5]

1 hour ago, Naes said:

Change to non-immigrant is good  it usually changes to that before it changes to issued

Wow thanks naes, you know your stuff!

Sure enough, found out it was issued this morning.  

[Naes 12,205]

16 minutes ago, ilovethisprocess said:

Wow thanks naes, you know your stuff!

Sure enough, found out it was issued this morning.  

Congrats  I’m so happy you were able to schedule earlier! It was probably golden week causing it to take a bit. 

[Yuilicious 65]

Hello everyone! 

I am a K1 filer waiting for my NVC case number after receiving NOA2 last week.

I have a question regarding Koseki Shohon (戸籍抄本). I just called the US embassy in Tokyo, but I still want to get advice from you guys!

 

I went to get my Koseki Shohon last summer (August in 2017) and got five of them. I sent one of them with I-129F. I still have four Koseki-Shohon left with me now.

My question is if I can use this Koseki Shohon when I have an interview with the embassy in Tokyo. If everything goes smoothly, I am hoping to have my interview in/by July, 2018 (I know I am really optimistic lol).

 

1. Does anyone know if Koseki Shohon that was issued 10-11 months ago would still be valid for the interview in Tokyo..? When I asked this question to the operator of the US embassy in Tokyo, she said there is not the exact rule for this, but they (as US embassy in Tokyo) always recommend people to bring any paperwork that is issued within 3 months. Is this what you guys are following?

 

Also once I enter the states with K1 visa, get married within 90 days, and start filing for green card, what I know is that I will need at least 3 Koseki Shohon. One for getting marriage licence, one for applying for Japan Embassy that I get married in the states so they can change my statues in Japan, and one for applying for green card. So the total is three Koseki Shohon.

 

2. Am I correct about this? If not, please provide the number of Koseki Shohon I will need!

3. Also do you know if Koseki shohon needs to be issued within certain amount of time for these steps?  (Like should be issued within 3 months, 6 months, or a year...?)

 

I am thinking that since it is getting very close to be one year after issuing my current Koseki Shohon, I should probably just get the new ones before going to the states. So by the time I get to the states and start applying for these steps, my Koseki Shohon is issued only one or two months ago instead of almost a year ago. (And if you think my current Koseki Shohon is too old for the interview in Tokyo, then I will get the new ones once I find out my interview date!)

 

I re-read and edited this post a few times, but I think what I wrote here is still confusing lol Sorry about that.

But I hope it makes sense to you! Please let me know what you think/know about this:) Thank you so much!

[ilovethisprocess 5]

9 hours ago, Naes said:

Congrats  I’m so happy you were able to schedule earlier! It was probably golden week causing it to take a bit. 

Thanks - hope they can pick up the pace for you!

Police and medical were finished faster than expected (Completed both before even receiving the embassy packet - just showed them NOA2 and NVC letter and it was fine). Then called UStraveldocs (english line was found to be more helpful) to request earlier appointment and surprisingly it worked out.  

[Naes 12,205]

9 minutes ago, ilovethisprocess said:

Thanks - hope they can pick up the pace for you!

Police and medical were finished faster than expected (Completed both before even receiving the embassy packet - just showed them NOA2 and NVC letter and it was fine). Then called UStraveldocs (english line was found to be more helpful) to request earlier appointment and surprisingly it worked out.  

Were there any extraordinary circumstances that you were able ask for earlier appointment or you just made a request on the phone?

I'm somehow trying to figure it out because I am a long term resident but my residency will barely make it to the interview...

[ypsirccim 40]

On 5/1/2018 at 4:40 AM, Naes said:

@ypsirccim Me again! and anyone who can answer to this question pleaseee

 

I am sorry I have one more question about the post, because the embassy is not being helpful about the address change...

does the packet 3 envelope from the post had a writing on anywhere "転送不要"??

 

Cause if not they seem to redirect it to my new address... but if it does, then I need to find a way for them to correct my old address... 

 

Sorry im just now seeing this! I will ask my Fiance as soon as she wakes up (Tokyo time). Hold tight! 

[ilovethisprocess 5]

On 5/2/2018 at 8:27 AM, Naes said:

Were there any extraordinary circumstances that you were able ask for earlier appointment or you just made a request on the phone?

I'm somehow trying to figure it out because I am a long term resident but my residency will barely make it to the interview...

Made request over the phone.  That sounds like a super-legitimate reason to get an expedited date though, worth a try for sure.

[Naes 12,205]

36 minutes ago, ilovethisprocess said:

Made request over the phone.  That sounds like a super-legitimate reason to get an expedited date though, worth a try for sure.

Thank you! we did and got a really early date, but now the packet3 is still not around. So I'm praying it will reach us this week before the interview..

[heykatydid 3]

I'm hoping someone can stop me from spiraling into a huge panic attack.

 

My husband had his interview this morning, and I've already left Japan. He said at step one, the paperwork step, they told him he was missing a signature from my mom as a co-sponsor. But the email I received from the NVC never said anything about missing a signature! So he didn't have that paperwork. Then they said that if the guy at step three, the interview, didn't say anything, then it was okay. And the guy at step three didn't say anything about it.

 

So my husband got to the interview and it was a non-native Japanese speaker but doing all of it in Japanese, so my husband said the interviewer was confused by the Japanese several times and my husband would have to explain the terms in English. At the end, they took his passport and Letterpack to send it back, and the interviewer said something about one week but that's all my husband could understand in the bad Japanese before the next person came in for the interview.

 

I'm super worried now that something went wrong. My dad kept copies of all their paperwork and said that no, both of them were joint co-sponsors and they both signed everything, so he doesn't know what signature they could be missing. And they took my husband's passport, which means he's fine? He'll get it with the visa in a week? Do they ever keep the passport without issuing the visa?

 

Also, what is this website that everyone is using to check the issuing status? The only website I was sent to logged me in as a non-immigrant visa and was useless. I'm so nervous and anxious right now that something was messed up and he won't be able to come over, I'm a complete wreck because I had to leave before him.

 

This process has honestly taken twenty years off my life and I'm barely keeping it together right now, but we should be fine, right? They took my husband's passport and said something about in one week, so he should get the passport back with the visa, right? Help.

[heykatydid 3]

Nevermind on the website, I finally found the correct website. Our case has already changed to "Administrative Processing" so now I guess I have to wait and see if I hear back. My husband said he asked three people after the interview if he was done or if he needed additional information, and they all said that he was finished and should go home.

[Sendug 0]

Just got emailed our NOA1: Nebraska seems to be where everyone is getting routed.

 

In case it helps someone else filing from Japan, they require you to take your physical My Number card to the post office for international money orders and have increased the processing fee up to 5,000 yen.

 

The biggest hassle I had though was on the address. The post office insists you give an address when getting a money order, but I didn't see one posted on the USCIS site for Department of Homeland Security. In the end, it didn't matter: the address is just for the paperwork, after which they give you a blank check to fill out yourself. I gave the Chicago Lockbox address for the paperwork, but just left the address portion on the check itself blank.

 

Our journey begins! Time to start on this I-864... 

[heykatydid 3]

Hey all- wanted to give an update. My husband got his passport back a record-breaking two days (48 hours) after completing his interview at the Tokyo embassy. We are thrilled that he'll be joining me soon! I think maybe they are trying to hurry cases through now, because our total time was about 15 months due to the incredibly long and delayed wait on the first step with the I-130 (9 months to be approved). But our total time after sending files to the NVC was a very short wait, and I'd expected more (3-4 weeks once we sent out packet in, then 5 weeks til the scheduled interview). This might be just for CR-1 filers, but I think they are trying to go quicker since that first step is elongating those "in process" overall times by sooooo much, but I might be wrong! Anyway, best of luck to everyone, and see you all in 2 years when we have to file to get the conditions taken off his green card lol. <3