Got Visa, now what? Any Japan/NVC questions?

[chelseafc 0]

So my wife got her visa yesterday. I think basically she has 6 months to move here, or she loses the visa. Also, I know she has to file the I-751 within the 90 day window before her status expires or she will also lose her status.

Is there anything else?

If you guys have any questions about the NVC or Japan I can answer them. Overall the process has been straightforward. I used the government's website as a guide, since I have found some of the information here is outdated or wrong (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/367617-black-ink-pen-or-blue-ink-pen/%C2'>

I think the biggest thing is being able to prove you can support your family when they arrive to the states, both being income and place to stay. At the embassy they rightfully only requested recent tax documents, as they had received all other documents electronically. No one asked her about family pictures, boarding passes, etc. We had those things as well, but apparently they just asked how many times a day we talked. I haven't asked her all the details about the interview yet since it was just a few days ago.

Anyway let me know if you have any questions as well as any insight on how to proceed further.

[elvenshadow 19]

So my wife got her visa yesterday. I think basically she has 6 months to move here, or she loses the visa. Also, I know she has to file the I-751 within the 90 day window before her status expires or she will also lose her status.

Is there anything else?

If you guys have any questions about the NVC or Japan I can answer them. Overall the process has been straightforward. I used the government's website as a guide, since I have found some of the information here is outdated or wrong (

I think the biggest thing is being able to prove you can support your family when they arrive to the states, both being income and place to stay. At the embassy they rightfully only requested recent tax documents, as they had received all other documents electronically. No one asked her about family pictures, boarding passes, etc. We had those things as well, but apparently they just asked how many times a day we talked. I haven't asked her all the details about the interview yet since it was just a few days ago.

Anyway let me know if you have any questions as well as any insight on how to proceed further.

Congratulations on your wife’s visa! I am sorry that I don’t know much about the next step you need to take, but I would love to take you up on your offer about some advice. I live in Japan with my Japanese wife and we just got NoA2 on May 14^th so now we are waiting for our case number and are gathering all the NVC stuff. I do have a few questions for you.

Was NVC strict about your konin todoke? We only have a certified copy and cannot find the original. We sent a certified copy to USCIS with no issues but I heard stories of NVC being more strict with people lately. Did you send a certified copy or the original?

Did NVC give you any problems about the family register for the birth certificate? Did you need to explain anything about it to them?

The thing I am most worried about is the AOS. We are using my father as a joint sponsor because my income will end due to my job being in Japan and me quitting it to move back to the US. My father makes enough over the poverty line but he wasn’t planning on including assets. How necessary do you think listing assets is?

How long did it take you to get an interview after Case Complete? I need to leave Japan before October 29^th due to visa reasons and I am hoping my wife can get her interview finished by then. Do you think it is realistic that I can get an interview for September given an NoA2 of May 14^th?

Edited May 23, 2014 by elvenshadow

[chelseafc 0]

I think a copy of the konin todoke is fine. There was no problems but we was married in the USA. I doubt the USA cares alot about the family register especially since its all in japanese. The income thing is complicated for me, because i did around 400k for the IRS but I showed a loss from my tech company and I also capitalized a loss from the previous year from a hotel purchase 2 years ago. I basically said my income was 600k after making adjustments. I included a bank statement to NVC but it was not alot of money in it, but enough so they dont have to worry about her.

I started in April last year, NOA2 was like in december I think. From NOA1 to NOA2 was the longest wait. After the NVC process started, we did not have an interview date until it was April 2014. So, basically after NOA2, things move relatively fast, but you are looking at at least 4 months to get an interview if you is on top of things. I was slow with the paperwork because I did not understand all the parts well, I could have shaved a few weeks if I had understood the process better. So for you, if you do things on time, you should be ok for october 29. But you should save some money to show you've got assets. If you have nothing in your name, you father's got to show that he is willing to support her. If push comes to shove, he's going to have to pay your way anyway, right? Legally, he is liable.

Can you find a job before you head back? Can your wife do work? You have to be realistic too, how will you support her moving back to the USA if you've no income nor savings? I doubt owning a house will help, they probably need a bank account that shows you can be supported until you are back on your feet.

Besides, I am wondering why you want to live in the usa? I live in the US and i am doing everything in my power so I can control my business from japan, but that process will take a few years so thats why she is coming here. You might be better off just living in japan with your wife? It's a beautiful country, very clean, fairly inexpensive and an excellent standard of living.

[elvenshadow 19]

We have plenty of money saved, just not 60,000 which is how much we would need to not have a joint sponsor. I will not need to actually rely on my father to pay for us, but I just need to show the NVC that he can so that we get approved. I will probably not be able to get a job before moving back because most companies will want to interview in person before hiring someone but I will be applying up until we move and should be able to find something shortly after.

I want to move because I have worked in the English education field here for 7 years and it is a dead end. No career advancement and I can get a better job that has potential for advancement in the US. I also miss living near my family and friends. My wife will be able to work eventually be we plan to have a baby shortly after so that will be her job once we move back.

You make a ton more money than I do. I'm still young and still have time to make a better future. If I stay here and do the same old thing forever I will be going nowhere. We can still visit Japan every year so no worries.

Anyway, thank you for answering my questions, though it seems our situations are actually quite different.

Edited May 23, 2014 by elvenshadow

[asafrommaui 1]

In my case, my wife went to the City government office, Kuyaku-sho, and got a few more copies of the Konnin todoke. This way we sent the NVC the actual form and we still had 1 each if either of us needed. On birth certificates, we submitted what my wife had for herself and we have not gotten back any checklist requesting anything different. If your final interview will be at one of the US embassies there in Japan, don't worry about translating the Konnintodoke or the birth certificate / Family register kind of stuff. The embassy staff is certified to read and judge those as legitimate.

[elvenshadow 19]

Thanks for the additional information. We already have translations for everything so we will send them to NVC just to be safe, and bring them to the embassy as well.