Spouse Visa from the US
John W.
get approved? If I go to the consulate in person do I get a
provisional visa or anything at that time?
John W.
Ryan Ginstrom
"John W." <worth...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:73fde4f0.04030...@posting.google.com...
> Once I do all the paperwork and everything, how long does it take to
> get approved?
IIR, took about two weeks each time -- once in San Francisco, once in
Detroit.
> If I go to the consulate in person do I get a
> provisional visa or anything at that time?
No.
If you're in a hurry, you can just go on a tourist visa and take care of
things later.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
John W.
> "John W." <worth...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:73fde4f0.04030...@posting.google.com...
> > Once I do all the paperwork and everything, how long does it take to
> > get approved?
>
> IIR, took about two weeks each time -- once in San Francisco, once in
> Detroit.
>
> > If I go to the consulate in person do I get a
> > provisional visa or anything at that time?
>
> No.
> If you're in a hurry, you can just go on a tourist visa and take care of
> things later.
Do you know if it's possible to start the process in the US before
going to Japan and then get the visa done in Japan (or Korea)?
John W.
Ryan Ginstrom
> "Ryan Ginstrom" <gins...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:<c2kt8b$1ui7nr$1...@ID-101276.news.uni-berlin.de>...
> > "John W." <worth...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:73fde4f0.04030...@posting.google.com...
> > > Once I do all the paperwork and everything, how long does it take to
> > > get approved?
> >
> > IIR, took about two weeks each time -- once in San Francisco, once in
> > Detroit.
> >
> That's not too bad. Faster or slower in Japan?
I don't know because I've never gotten a spouse visa while in Japan.
Renewing takes about a week.
> Do you know if it's possible to start the process in the US before
> going to Japan and then get the visa done in Japan (or Korea)?
I'm not sure, but it doesn't sound very doable.
In the US at least, once you start one visa application, you can't go to the
US on any other visa. I imagine it is the same for Japan.
So, if you are in a real hurry, then I suggest you just go over on a tourist
visa, then when you get there give the boys at immigration your sob story
about your sick aunt or whatever, and switch over to a spouse visa.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Raj Feridun
>"Ryan Ginstrom" <gins...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<c2kt8b$1ui7nr$1...@ID-101276.news.uni-berlin.de>...
>> No.
>> If you're in a hurry, you can just go on a tourist visa and take care of
>> things later.
>Do you know if it's possible to start the process in the US before
>going to Japan and then get the visa done in Japan (or Korea)?
When I initially came over in January, 1994 I was told in no uncertain
terms that the spouse visa must be issued prior to departure for Japan
and from a consulate office in the country of the applicant and cannot
be issued once you get here. I don't know if the rules have changed at
all in the 10 years since.
Raj
Raj Feridun
Oh and I should mention I got mine from the Japanese Consulate office
in New York City. I lucked out that they started me on a 3 year visa.
I've some friends up in Kanto who tell me they got much shorter term
visas to start out with. I'm doubly lucky that the immigration office
down here in Ehime is rarely busy and I can quickly get my visa
renewal unpleasantries dealt with every 3 years. Now I'm considering
whether to go the whole 9 yards and apply for permanent residency.
Raj
Ryan Ginstrom
"Raj Feridun" <rfe...@NOSPAMyahoo.co.jp> wrote in message
news:03av40d1qpcb0uckf...@4ax.com...
> in New York City. I lucked out that they started me on a 3 year visa.
Who doesn't get this?
> I've some friends up in Kanto who tell me they got much shorter term
> visas to start out with.
They must be from one of those unsavory third-world nations like England.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Ryan Ginstrom
> When I initially came over in January, 1994 I was told in no uncertain
> terms that the spouse visa must be issued prior to departure for Japan
> and from a consulate office in the country of the applicant and cannot
> be issued once you get here. I don't know if the rules have changed at
> all in the 10 years since.
I have no doubt that you were told that <g>.
But if you can't wait a couple weeks for your visa, it must be a real
emergency -- so I would just go over on a tourist visa, and take my lumps
there. The worst that happens is you get a two-week vacation in Korea/Guam.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Declan Murphy
> "Raj Feridun" <rfe...@NOSPAMyahoo.co.jp> wrote in message
> news:03av40d1qpcb0uckf...@4ax.com...
>
>>in New York City. I lucked out that they started me on a 3 year visa.
>
> Who doesn't get this?
Depends on the which year people arrived. In the last two years, Nagoya
immigration has preferred an initial 1 year period of stay, with the 3
year period of stay conferred only upon renewal. Same policy regarding
the most categories of work visa.
In my case, when I changed visa status (for the 4th time actually) from
the jinbunchisikikokusaigyoumu thingee to the toushikeieisha thingee, I
went from a 3 year period of stay, to 1 year, with the 3 year period
returning when I renewed it (I still can't believe the bastards smiled
at me) last year. I've never had a spouse visa, but the (Nagoya) policy
at least seems to be the same.
--
"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"
Declan Murphy
> On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 08:42:30 +0900, Raj Feridun
> <rfe...@NOSPAMyahoo.co.jp> wrote:
<snip>
>>When I initially came over in January, 1994 I was told in no uncertain
>>terms that the spouse visa must be issued prior to departure for Japan
>>and from a consulate office in the country of the applicant and cannot
>>be issued once you get here. I don't know if the rules have changed at
>>all in the 10 years since.
>>
>>Raj
>
> Oh and I should mention I got mine from the Japanese Consulate office
> in New York City. I lucked out that they started me on a 3 year visa.
> I've some friends up in Kanto who tell me they got much shorter term
> visas to start out with. I'm doubly lucky that the immigration office
> down here in Ehime is rarely busy and I can quickly get my visa
> renewal unpleasantries dealt with every 3 years. Now I'm considering
> whether to go the whole 9 yards and apply for permanent residency.
I'm not sure whether that would be the full 9 yards (naturalization
might be the better example of shitting a pineapple), but its probably
worth picking up as soon as you're eligible. Might be pretty easy to do
in Ehime as well, as the various regional immigration bureau(plural?)
have a fairly surprising amount of autonomy. Comparing the policies of
Nagoya and Sapporo immigration last month was an eye opener.
Ryan Ginstrom
"Declan Murphy" <declan...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:404FE8EB...@hotmail.com...
> I'm not sure whether that would be the full 9 yards (naturalization
> might be the better example of shitting a pineapple), but its probably
> worth picking up as soon as you're eligible.
Out of curiosity, what would you say are the main benefits of perm res,
assuming you have already bought a house? Just not having to renew?
I'm planning on applying this year for the hell of it, but wondered about
your thoughts.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Declan Murphy
> "Declan Murphy" <declan...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:404FE8EB...@hotmail.com...
>
>>I'm not sure whether that would be the full 9 yards (naturalization
>>might be the better example of shitting a pineapple), but its probably
>>worth picking up as soon as you're eligible.
>
> Out of curiosity, what would you say are the main benefits of perm res,
> assuming you have already bought a house? Just not having to renew?
I'm intending to apply in December, wedding or no wedding. I guess the
first real benefits would be avoiding the tango at Immigration and with
any home loans etc, but it isn't really the motivation to apply.
> I'm planning on applying this year for the hell of it, but wondered about
> your thoughts.
For me (no spouse yet, no house yet) its not so much the not having to
renew bit, as much as the business side of things. I'm always receiving
the "how long are you going to be here?" question from customers,
investors and potential partners/investors, who at first seem to
basically assume that there is no point in doing anything with us that
has a time frame beyond a year or two, just in case. It has been
changing slowly, but anything that speeds perception change is helpful.
cc
"Declan Murphy" <declan...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > I'm planning on applying this year for the hell of it, but wondered
about
> > your thoughts.
>
> For me (no spouse yet, no house yet) its not so much the not having to
> renew bit, as much as the business side of things. I'm always receiving
> the "how long are you going to be here?" question from customers,
> investors and potential partners/investors,
And you had to get the manager visa, and have to renew that one, no ? I
have heard that with a humanties visa, you wouldn't be allowed to get your
business in your name. Only permanent, spouse or manager visa holder can
start a business ?
That sucks. I'd like to get rid of the pimps.
CC
Ryan Ginstrom
> For me (no spouse yet, no house yet) its not so much the not having to
> renew bit, as much as the business side of things. I'm always receiving
> the "how long are you going to be here?" question from customers,
> investors and potential partners/investors, who at first seem to
> basically assume that there is no point in doing anything with us that
> has a time frame beyond a year or two, just in case. It has been
> changing slowly, but anything that speeds perception change is helpful.
I see. That's not really an issue for my present for planned future line of
work.
But yes obviously, the main purpose of permanent residence is to lend a
sense of permanence to your residence (duh!)
For me, it's just something to do. It was either this or go for the new
awamori samurie cert., and my study partner wimped out anyway.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
Raj Feridun
You hit that nail smack dab on the head. One friend in particular is
from Manchester.
Raj
Raj Feridun
Well things may have changed and I guess it all depends on what office
you go to and who you deal with but I have a friend who was denied the
option of going to Korea when he originally came over 12 years ago on
a tourist visa and tried to switch to the Nipponjin no Haiguusha visa.
He ended up having to go back to Oregon to reapply and go through the
whole process over again.
Raj
Declan Murphy
>>renew bit, as much as the business side of things. I'm always receiving
>>the "how long are you going to be here?" question from customers,
>>investors and potential partners/investors,
>
> And you had to get the manager visa, and have to renew that one, no ? I
> have heard that with a humanties visa, you wouldn't be allowed to get your
> business in your name. Only permanent, spouse or manager visa holder can
> start a business ?
No thats incorrect, you can establish a business on just about any visa.
The reason I changed from the jinbunchishikikokusaigyoumu thingee to my
current status was because as a director I didn't have a contract,
wasn't (still aren't) paying myself a salary etc. To extend the
humanities visa I needed to show documentation including proof of
monthly income, contract from employer etc - things that I no longer had.
> That sucks. I'd like to get rid of the pimps.
If you are really really really really totally sure you want to do it,
then just take the plunge. Your visa status is the least of the obstacles.
Declan Murphy
>>renew bit, as much as the business side of things. I'm always receiving
>>the "how long are you going to be here?" question from customers,
>>investors and potential partners/investors,
>
> And you had to get the manager visa, and have to renew that one, no ? I
> have heard that with a humanties visa, you wouldn't be allowed to get your
> business in your name. Only permanent, spouse or manager visa holder can
> start a business ?
No thats incorrect, you can establish a business on just about any visa.
The reason I changed from the jinbunchishikikokusaigyoumu thingee to my
current status was because as a director I didn't have a contract,
wasn't (still aren't) paying myself a salary etc. To extend the
humanities visa I needed to show documentation including proof of
monthly income, contract from employer etc - things that I no longer had.
> That sucks. I'd like to get rid of the pimps.
If you are really really really really totally sure you want to do it,
then just take the plunge. Your visa status is the least of the obstacles.
--
Declan Murphy
> "Declan Murphy" <declan...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:4050116...@hotmail.com...
>
>>For me (no spouse yet, no house yet) its not so much the not having to
>>renew bit, as much as the business side of things. I'm always receiving
>>the "how long are you going to be here?" question from customers,
>>investors and potential partners/investors, who at first seem to
>>basically assume that there is no point in doing anything with us that
>>has a time frame beyond a year or two, just in case. It has been
>>changing slowly, but anything that speeds perception change is helpful.
>
> I see. That's not really an issue for my present for planned future line of
> work.
In your case, would it matter if your were in Iceland or Fiji? Is it all
done by email/tel/fax?
> But yes obviously, the main purpose of permanent residence is to lend a
> sense of permanence to your residence (duh!)
I'm not sure what difference it may make yet, but I'm always willing to
clutch at any straw offering the faintest of hopes.
> For me, it's just something to do. It was either this or go for the new
> awamori samurie cert., and my study partner wimped out anyway.
Everybody needs a hobby.
Ryan Ginstrom
> Ryan Ginstrom wrote:
> > I see. That's not really an issue for my present for planned future line
of
> > work.
>
> In your case, would it matter if your were in Iceland or Fiji? Is it all
> done by email/tel/fax?
For translation, being in Japan (at least nominally) makes several things
easier:
Wire transfers of fees
Express-mailing hard copies (still happens occasionally)
Being in the same time zone as your clients
Also removes a layer of hassle from the tax situation.
Finally, some clients seem to feel more secure when their provider is
located in Japan.
Other than that, no it doesn't matter.
--
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom