Permanent Residency, no problem
Eric Takabayashi
spouse visa was going to expire (they told me I should
have applied at least six months before my visa was to
expire), I was notified to go to Immigration, and today
I picked up my Permanent Resident Visa stamp.
Unlike that Kansai ben Indian DJ (or was it the cook)
on Koko Ga Hen Da Yo Nihonjin, who says it took him
2000 pages of documentation and all sorts of trouble,
all I did was bring in about nine documents, including
the pages of the application itself, and wait. They
didn't even bother to come inspect the house, or call,
to interview us after requesting a hand drawn map of
the area and building. I doubt they bothered checking
up on my employment or finances, either.
It seemed exactly the same as applying for the spouse
of Japanese national visa.
I also saw a dead body while walking today, in a
parking lot off Routes 2 and 313 near my house, less
than 100m from the main police station and Fukuyama's
largest shopping center. It appeared some man simply
expired leaning back in the driver's seat while
preparing to drive his car off one of those overhead
parking lifts. Empty cars were blocking one lane of
Route 2 waiting to park, while police were waving
pedestrians on and taking photos. It was strange that
an ambulance had not yet arrived from one of the
numerous nearby hospitals.
Then I ate a melon pan and drank a salty dog while
sitting in the shopping center. That was a mistake.
Grapefruit just didn't go well with the melon pan.
--
If Gibson decides to make his next film about Rasputin
or that Utah hiker who had to cut off his arm after it
got trapped under a boulder, it might be time for him
to seek professional help.
- Jon Niccum, Entertainment Editor
http://www.mercycorps.org/
http://www.mercycorps.org/items/1398/
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>
>Unlike that Kansai ben Indian DJ (or was it the cook)
>on Koko Ga Hen Da Yo Nihonjin, who says it took him
>2000 pages of documentation and all sorts of trouble,
>all I did was bring in about nine documents, including
>the pages of the application itself, and wait.
Might have something to do with the fact that your last name is Takabayashi?
.
----
Triangle Man hates Person Man
They have a fight,
Triangle wins.
Chris Kern
>About a month after applying, and one month before my
>spouse visa was going to expire (they told me I should
>have applied at least six months before my visa was to
>expire), I was notified to go to Immigration, and today
>I picked up my Permanent Resident Visa stamp.
>
>Unlike that Kansai ben Indian DJ (or was it the cook)
>on Koko Ga Hen Da Yo Nihonjin, who says it took him
>2000 pages of documentation and all sorts of trouble,
>all I did was bring in about nine documents, including
>the pages of the application itself, and wait. They
>didn't even bother to come inspect the house, or call,
>to interview us after requesting a hand drawn map of
>the area and building. I doubt they bothered checking
>up on my employment or finances, either.
I notice your last name is Japanese -- I assume you look Japanese and
speak Japanese well. Might this have had something to do with your
ease of attaining permanent residency status?
-Chris
Declan Murphy
There are plenty of horror stories doing the rounds, but anecdotally I
know a few people who got PR quickly. A blue eyed/red headed kiwi friend
of mine just got his 5 weeks - translator, married, kids.
--
"Oh don't give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit/ No, don't you give
me none more of that Old Janx Spirit/ For my head will fly, my tongue
will lie, my eyes will fry and I may die/ Won't you pour me one more of
that sinful Old Janx Spirit"
Matthew Endo
> I notice your last name is Japanese -- I assume you look Japanese and
> speak Japanese well. Might this have had something to do with your
> ease of attaining permanent residency status?
Nope, unless he was on a Nikkei visa, which I don't think he was. It's
his outstanding character and history of serving the community in his
area, methinks.
Japanese discriminate even more against their own kind compared to the
regular Western gaigin. Just be glad we're not SE Asian...
--
Matt
ma...@gol.com
Ryan Ginstrom
"Eric Takabayashi" <eta...@yahoo.co.jp> wrote in message
news:406D7667...@yahoo.co.jp...
> About a month after applying, and one month before my
> spouse visa was going to expire (they told me I should
> have applied at least six months before my visa was to
> expire), I was notified to go to Immigration, and today
> I picked up my Permanent Resident Visa stamp.
Congrats Eric.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Dave Fossett
> About a month after applying, and one month before my
> spouse visa was going to expire (they told me I should
> have applied at least six months before my visa was to
> expire), I was notified to go to Immigration, and today
> I picked up my Permanent Resident Visa stamp.
Congratulations! I got mine last month, too. No background checks or
problems, but it did take 8 months to process, which I can only assume was
due to the fact that I still had over a year left on my current visa.
--
Dave Fossett
Saitama, Japan
Ed
"Chris Kern" <chris...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:7h1r60174soluc9ne...@4ax.com...
> I notice your last name is Japanese -- I assume you look Japanese and
> speak Japanese well. Might this have had something to do with your
> ease of attaining permanent residency status?
His description of what is required to get permanent visa status is exactly
the same as my experience. And I certainly don't look Japanese. A bunch of
forms, hand drawn map to my house, and about six months later I got my PR
status.
I had a much harder time getting a Japanese driver's license.
mr.sumo.snr
news:a5pbc.220$G14...@news1.dion.ne.jp...
That's a useful tidbit. So there's really not much point in my troubling
the 'guy who does my visa' for another 16 months (8 months before my current
3-year visa runs out).
I have my house loan already so no real benefit to be gained from an
immediate PR visa - even though I'm sure I'm more than eligible by now. I
heard in fact that the securing of house loans by non-PR gaijin just became
pretty much impossible. Based on a friend's situation which has
necessitated the father-in-law's name to be used on the building contract
and other documents. It's not really a problem - that is, unless there's no
father-in-law available.
--
jonathan
Eric Takabayashi
> On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 23:19:19 +0900, Eric Takabayashi
> <eta...@yahoo.co.jp> posted the following:
>
> >About a month after applying, and one month before my
> >spouse visa was going to expire (they told me I should
> >have applied at least six months before my visa was to
> >expire), I was notified to go to Immigration, and today
> >I picked up my Permanent Resident Visa stamp.
> >
> >Unlike that Kansai ben Indian DJ (or was it the cook)
> >on Koko Ga Hen Da Yo Nihonjin, who says it took him
> >2000 pages of documentation and all sorts of trouble,
> >all I did was bring in about nine documents, including
> >the pages of the application itself, and wait. They
> >didn't even bother to come inspect the house, or call,
> >to interview us after requesting a hand drawn map of
> >the area and building. I doubt they bothered checking
> >up on my employment or finances, either.
>
> I notice your last name is Japanese --
So? Most other permanent resident "non-citizens" are obviously "Korean"
and "Chinese".
> I assume you look Japanese and speak Japanese well.
And what if people here speak better than I do?
> Might this have had something to do with your
> ease of attaining permanent residency status?
I'm sure if other people hung around for ten and a half years, had
stable employment, and were married with children, they'd have less
trouble, too.
Eric Takabayashi
> On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 23:19:19 +0900, Eric Takabayashi ...
> >
> >Unlike that Kansai ben Indian DJ (or was it the cook)
> >on Koko Ga Hen Da Yo Nihonjin, who says it took him
> >2000 pages of documentation and all sorts of trouble,
> >all I did was bring in about nine documents, including
> >the pages of the application itself, and wait.
>
> Might have something to do with the fact that your last name is Takabayashi?
Oh, they are quite sure I am foreign. You should have seen the reaction in Kure
Immigration eight years ago when I mentioned sightseeing for about a month on a
tourist visa while waiting for my next job to come through.
Eric Takabayashi
Thanks. Now I can look for a house loan.
John Yamamoto-Wilson
>>>today I picked up my Permanent Resident Visa
>>> stamp.
Ryan Ginstrom:
>> Congrats Eric.
Eric Takabayashi:
> Thanks. Now I can look for a house loan.
I haven't applied for permanent residence yet (will be applying for it soon,
now I've got tenure at work), so I'm on the three-year spouse thingy. But I
got a loan on a house nearly four years ago.
Ken Yasumoto-Nicolson
<johndel...@rarebooksinjapan.com> wrote:
>I haven't applied for permanent residence yet (will be applying for it soon,
>now I've got tenure at work), so I'm on the three-year spouse thingy. But I
>got a loan on a house nearly four years ago.
Did you need a Japanese guarantor, though? Or did they do a lot of
paperwork in your wife's name? We're planning on starting looking next
spring, which is also about the same time as I can apply for PR
myself.
Ken
Ken Yasumoto-Nicolson
<llanelli...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Based on a friend's situation which has
>necessitated the father-in-law's name to be used on the building contract
>and other documents. It's not really a problem - that is, unless there's no
>father-in-law available.
Or if said f-i-l is a discharged bankrupt... I've probably got a
better credit history than him!
Ken
Ryan Ginstrom
"Ken Yasumoto-Nicolson" <ken_ni...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:o1jt605mi3gq5hlsq...@4ax.com...
I also don't have a PR, and we got a housing loan with no problem. My wife
applied, I was the joint guarantor. House is 50/50 in both our names. We
used no outside guarantors.
So in a way, it was easier to buy a house than rent an apo -- with the apo,
we needed to get Reiko's SIL to be one guarantor, and pay a "guarantor
agent" to be our other guarantor (the realtors insisted on at least one of
the guarantors being located in Okinawa).
We are actually applying for another loan from the same back, this time for
an addition to the house. They pretty much told us ahead of time that we
would be approved, even though it is only about 6 months after they approved
the housing loan.
But there is so much variation from one bank to another, and even from one
branch to another. Mizuho bank, which was offering around 1.75% interest at
the time (we got an outrageously high 1.975%), didn't even want to talk to
us. And Okigin wouldn't even let me open up an account with them.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Ryan Ginstrom
But your ?? doesn't come close, of course.
I thought it was funny how my money was fine to apply for a loan, as long as
it was funneled through my wife in the form of a salary.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Ryan Ginstrom
loser, and it's like having to explain a joke -- but the below would truly
be meaningless as two question marks.
"Ryan Ginstrom" <gins...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c4ml91$2j2ekg$1...@ID-101276.news.uni-berlin.de...
> But your 系統 doesn't come close, of course.
Declan Murphy
Ryan Ginstrom wrote:
> I hate replying to my own posts -- it makes me look like even more of a
> loser, and it's like having to explain a joke -- but the below would truly
> be meaningless as two question marks.
>
> "Ryan Ginstrom" <gins...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:c4ml91$2j2ekg$1...@ID-101276.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
>>But your ?? doesn't come close, of course.
>>
>>I thought it was funny how my money was fine to apply for a loan, as long
>
> as
>
>>it was funneled through my wife in the form of a salary.
>
>
> --
> Regards,
> Ryan Ginstrom
>
>
Ryan Ginstrom
> And top posting too.
>
> Ryan Ginstrom wrote:
> > I hate replying to my own posts -- it makes me look like even more of a
> > loser, and it's like having to explain a joke -- but the below would
truly
> > be meaningless as two question marks.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
John Yamamoto-Wilson
> Did you need a Japanese guarantor
Yes (my father-in-law). I don't think it was because I'm a gauguin, though.
Isn't it standard for Japanese banks to require a guarantor, even for native
Japanese?
> Or did they do a lot of
> paperwork in your wife's name?
The house is jointly-owned, and the loan is made out to both of us. The
paperwork is all signed by and made out to both of us.
Michael Cash
tablets inscribed:
You guys must lead blessed existences. Ten years ago I couldn't even
get a loan on a motorcycle.
The guys at the company I worked for at the time said if you had been
with the company for 3 years, a home loan from Gunma Bank was just a
matter of going through the formality of filling out the paperwork.
I told them I didn't want to hear that shit, because after 4 years
with the company, Gunma Bank wouldn't even spot me 200,000 on a bike
loan. Why not? Gaigin on a spouse visa.
The most astounding thing about the experience was when the guy from
Gunma Bank called me up to tell me I couldn't have the loan. As soon
as he finished telling me, he reminded me that my company would soon
be giving out summer bonuses and asked me to please deposit mine into
Gunma Bank. The bastard didn't even take a breath or pause between the
two statements. Good thing it was over the phone, elsewise I would
have been tempted to knock the shit out of him.
--
Michael Cash
"I am sorry, Mr. Cash, but we are unable to accept your rap sheet in lieu of
a high school transcript."
Dr. Howard Sprague
Dean of Admissions
Mount Pilot College
Chris Kern
<eta...@yahoo.co.jp> posted the following:
>Chris Kern wrote:
>> I notice your last name is Japanese --
>
>So? Most other permanent resident "non-citizens" are obviously "Korean"
>and "Chinese".
>
>> I assume you look Japanese and speak Japanese well.
>
>And what if people here speak better than I do?
>
>> Might this have had something to do with your
>> ease of attaining permanent residency status?
>
>I'm sure if other people hung around for ten and a half years, had
>stable employment, and were married with children, they'd have less
>trouble, too.
Sorry if I came off as confrontational -- that was intended to be an
honest question, not a challenge. I know nothing about obtaining
Japanese citizenship, so I was just wondering if you felt that you had
an advantage.
-Chris
Ryan Ginstrom
> Sorry if I came off as confrontational -- that was intended to be an
> honest question, not a challenge. I know nothing about obtaining
> Japanese citizenship, so I was just wondering if you felt that you had
> an advantage.
Just to clarify, Eric got permanent residency status, not citizenship. In
the US this would be equivalent to a green card.
Incidentally, my wife got her US green card (provisional) within about 3
months of marrying me. Two years later, it was permanent, with no further
interviews required.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Eric Takabayashi
> Sorry if I came off as confrontational -- that was intended to be an
> honest question, not a challenge. I know nothing about obtaining
> Japanese citizenship, so I was just wondering if you felt that you had
> an advantage.
No. While on the JET Program about nine years ago I thought I'd make it
easier for myself, and try to get one of those new Japanese ethnicity
visas. The Japanese Consulate in Honolulu told me I'd have to present
documentation proving my ancestors came from Japan, as well as find a
relative in Japan to sponsor me. Since the last contact with Japan was my
late grandfather's female cousin, whom no one else has ever met, and no one
else knows about, I gave up on that idea.
In the eyes of the Japanese government, there is no evidence I am of
Japanese descent or have ancestors from Japan, nor am I allowed to use
kanji (which exist) for my name on government documents. Actually all my
legal documents seem to have my name written in all caps English, not even
katakana.
Eric Takabayashi
> You guys must lead blessed existences. Ten years ago I couldn't even
> get a loan on a motorcycle.
I don't know anyone will give me a loan, as I've never tried to get one in my
life. And in Japan, I doubt I have half a month's salary, change that my wife
has not spent. I wonder what banks will think of that collateral.
> The guys at the company I worked for at the time said if you had been
> with the company for 3 years, a home loan from Gunma Bank was just a
> matter of going through the formality of filling out the paperwork.
>
> I told them I didn't want to hear that shit, because after 4 years
> with the company, Gunma Bank wouldn't even spot me 200,000 on a bike
> loan. Why not? Gaigin on a spouse visa.
>
> The most astounding thing about the experience was when the guy from
> Gunma Bank called me up to tell me I couldn't have the loan. As soon
> as he finished telling me, he reminded me that my company would soon
> be giving out summer bonuses and asked me to please deposit mine into
> Gunma Bank. The bastard didn't even take a breath or pause between the
> two statements. Good thing it was over the phone, elsewise I would
> have been tempted to knock the shit out of him.
>
> --
>
> Michael Cash
>
> "I am sorry, Mr. Cash, but we are unable to accept your rap sheet in lieu of
> a high school transcript."
>
> Dr. Howard Sprague
> Dean of Admissions
> Mount Pilot College
--
Raj Feridun
My wife got her permanent green card almost as easily 11 years ago
(one year before we moved to Japan). Now we have to completely reapply
again when we move back home again though since we were told in no
uncertain terms that one condition of permanent residency status was
that you actually permanently reside in the states. You can leave for
up to one year at a time but beyond that you need special permission
and as for 10 years....
How long have you guys been in Japan, Ryan?
Raj
Ryan Ginstrom
"Raj Feridun" <rfe...@NOSPAMyahoo.co.jp> wrote in message
news:7tsv60lloooco31ip...@4ax.com...
> My wife got her permanent green card almost as easily 11 years ago
> (one year before we moved to Japan). Now we have to completely reapply
> again when we move back home again though since we were told in no
> uncertain terms that one condition of permanent residency status was
> that you actually permanently reside in the states. You can leave for
> up to one year at a time but beyond that you need special permission
> and as for 10 years....
This is true. We kept the thing going for about 4 years, but on our last
trip back, the customs dude said that he flagged us so that on our next
trip, the card would get snipped like a bad credit card.
But I have heard that it is much easier to apply via the US consulate in
Japan. Applying in the US was one of the more unpleasant of my many
unpleasant experiences dealing with the governments of any nation.
> How long have you guys been in Japan, Ryan?
Just under 5 years. And on my last trip to see the boys at immigration, they
told me I could already apply for a permanent residency. Hope they knew what
they were talking about.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Matthew Endo
> No. While on the JET Program about nine years ago I thought I'd make it
> easier for myself, and try to get one of those new Japanese ethnicity
> visas. The Japanese Consulate in Honolulu told me I'd have to present
> documentation proving my ancestors came from Japan, as well as find a
> relative in Japan to sponsor me. Since the last contact with Japan was my
> late grandfather's female cousin, whom no one else has ever met, and no one
> else knows about, I gave up on that idea.
Also, you have to prove your bloodline with the koseki, most Nisei
didn't get registered in the koseki back in Japan due to the war. I
don't think that either of my parents were registered.
> In the eyes of the Japanese government, there is no evidence I am of
> Japanese descent or have ancestors from Japan, nor am I allowed to use
> kanji (which exist) for my name on government documents. Actually all my
> legal documents seem to have my name written in all caps English, not even
> katakana.
Actually, I have kanji on my gaigin card. However, it is not a "legal"
document in the same standing as the koseki. For legal documents, I
write my name in all capital English letters.
I heard that if you go to family court, you can have your children's
last name changed to kanji rather than katakana.
--
Matt
ma...@gol.com
Hibijibi
> My wife got her permanent green card almost as easily 11 years ago
> (one year before we moved to Japan). Now we have to completely reapply
> again when we move back home again though since we were told in no
> uncertain terms that one condition of permanent residency status was
> that you actually permanently reside in the states. You can leave for
> up to one year at a time but beyond that you need special permission
> and as for 10 years....
We just went through the whole green card rigamarole as well. A word to the
wise green card holders thinking about leaving the States: get a departure
permit before you go! Not only will it help you extend your permanent
residency status beyond a year or so, it also has important tax
implications.
My wife (then BYJGF) paid about 7 grand to an immigration attorney to help
get her green card. This same attorney didn't mention anything about
needing a departure permit when informed about our move to Japan, nor did
any customs official. I was under the mistaken impression her permanent
residency card would expire according to the date on the card where it says
"CARD EXPIRES 05/15/08". Silly me. By the time I realized there might be a
problem the missus was 8 months pregnant and wasn't going _anywhere_ even
though her first year out of the States was nearing an end.
I have to say the folks at the embassy in Tokyo (after finally figuring out
where to stand in line) were exceptionally nice about it, but nevertheless
it galled me she had to sign a release saying she was "voluntarily" giving
up her permanent residency status, when in fact we were simply returning to
the States for a brief visit and didn't want her to get arrested by the INS.
Could this little known requirement by the INS for a departure permit simply
be a trick to relieve unsuspecting green card holders of their permanent
residency status? Nah, couldn't be!
best
hibijibi