Japan DCF experience

[takoyaki66 0]

Hopefully this will help someone.

Here is a short summary of our experience with the Toyko Embassy for the initial DCF filing of our I-130. Overall it was a surprisingly good process where they made you feel like people rather than case numbers. We were approved on the spot in under an hour.

The line

Arrive early for your appointment. We arrived one hour early and due to the long line were worried that we might not clear security in time. You wait outside so be prepared for the elements, especially if you have little ones with you. They tell you this on the webpage.

Security check

It is similar to an airline screening. You cannot bring in liquids, computers, cameras, cell phones, electronic dictionaries, etc. You leave them at the front and pick them up later. Overall the screening was not too bad and they treated you as people not criminals. It was a good first impression.

Inside

The people with appointments file into the waiting room after security. You get a number from a touch screen computer. Look for the computers when you enter the room.

Initial submission

When your number is called you go up and slide your documents to a kind, Japanese staff member who is VERY well versed in the details of the process. She was very professional but also put us at ease. A good second impression.

One point on the documents, it is best to complete everything rather than leave a blank. For example, one form asks for the address of your intended residence. Since we do not have our house yet we only put the city. We were told to just put a street address even if you do not intend to actually reside there. YMMV but it seems that a complete form was important.

You do not need to submit the Japanese marriage certificate since that information is already provided on the family registry. This point was not clear on the homepage but we were specifically told this information at the counter. Again with any of this YMMV.

Interview

After they process your papers (about 15 minutes in our case) you are called to another window for an interview with an American consulate officer. He asked us some basic questions like how did you meet, where do you call home, recent trips together, etc. Although it was an interview it felt more like a conversation with a person. It was a very good third impression of the process.

The people who had more questions seemed to be dealing with the financial aspects of the application. I could not hear much but I think there were questions about assets, etc.

At the end of the short (5 minute) interview we were told that our I-130 was approved and that the next stage would be an FBI check for the sponsor. Following that they would contact us for the final interview.

Final stage

After a few more minutes waiting you get called back to the first window where they return your original documents (passports and such) and answer questions about the process. I asked when the 2-year period from the marriage is calculated and was told that it is the date of entry into the US not the date the visa is issued. You might take this into account if your 2 year anniversary is close to your intended date of entry.

Overall it was a surprisingly pleasant experience. Hopefully it goes as well for future VJ applicants.

[ufc_cat 0]

Congrats...it looks like we are in the same boat!! We had our I-130 approved 4-9-07 and we received our noa2 the following week.Then, that same week received a letter from the Tokyo in English and Japanese.

So...i guess we both just need to have the FINAL interview for the visa.

[MaydayDas 1]

Congratulations!

[iluvmymac 0]

That's exactly my experience as well. We have the final interview on the 7th and we're all set.

It seems that doing DCF in a country where there is no USCIS office (such as Japan) is easier than in a country where there is one (such as the UK).

USCIS and the State Dept. should really work to simplify and standardize these processes!

[takoyaki66 0]

Thanks for the kind words!

We are now working on the medical and police clearance (yes, it turns out that you can do these before you get the official approval of the I-130 on paper).