All Japan Filers

[Moltar 0]

My girl is in Aichi, so I know what you mean.

Well, we put Osaka/Kobe on the I-129F, but NVC told me that they sent it to Tokyo. So I'm not sure if you can choose, or how it works. I didn't think to ask them why while I had them on the phone, but I'm about to call NVC again to get some more information. Fiancee did some research, and she found that all cases, at least initially, go to Tokyo. I'm surprised that I didn't find this bit of info with all the research that I've done.

[Justin and Masako 0]

Moltar,

I would be interested to know what you find out. And my wife has often found information that is new/contridictory to the info I have found. Mostly on the Japanese version of the US Embassy in Tokyo's site. For example, it says the pictures for the I-130 are valid for 6 months (meaning they must have been taken in the last 6 months) but the I-130 form says 3 months. Though that is USCIS vs. DoS so who knows. :/

Also I didn't file an I-129F as I went with the stand alone I-130 petition. So it may be a bit different. I am hoping that she can interview at the Osaka/Kobe consulate though.

Thanks,

[Moltar 0]

Well, I just got a letter from the NVC today. It reads,

....This letter is to let you know that within a week the petition will be forwarded to the appropriate visa-issuing post where your visa interview will take place.

And...

The case will be processed at:

Post: TOKYO

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, VISA UNIT

10-5 AKASAKA 1-CHOME, MINATO-KU

TOKYO 107

JAPAN

Your fiance[e] will soon receive a packet with instructions from the consular section on how to apply for the K1 visa at that post and what documents will be required.

So, she'll be making a trip to Tokyo. She's thinking that she'll be able to do her medical exam in Kobe. She's also going to contact the police to see if they will start to gather her records with only showing them the NOA2.

We just happen to be on Skype at the moment, and I asked her about CR-1, and she is very sure that I-130's have to go to Tokyo for the interview. There's a cool $200+ shinkansen ride...

I'll post more when I find out about the medical and police records.

[Moltar 0]

Aichi police will accept the NOA2 as sufficient documentation to prepare the records, and it takes them 2 weeks. She forgot to ask the cost. Speaking of costs, she discovered that the medical exam is flippin' 40k to 50k Yen! Hemorrhaging money, and we haven't had the pleasure of filing our AoS yet. (- -; Good thing we've got a money tree in the back yard. Oh wait, we don't.

EDIT: She called the police station again, and it will be free to produce the records. Awesome... a break.

Edited January 15, 2008 by Moltar

[Justin and Masako 0]

Moltar,

Thanks for updating. Yeah its not cheap to go to Tokyo. And of course it depends on how long she has to wait and when her appointment is, she might have to spend the night there (also not cheap). The 40k to 50k JPY is ridiculous. That is going to hurt the pocket book. At least we don't have to look forward to the AoS since we are filing an I-130. I feel for you though.

Good to know about the police reports though. I hope Nara will be as fast and easy.

Thanks for all the news!

[Moltar 0]

Fiancee was able to have the police department start gathering her police records today. She needed our copy of the NOA2, her family register, resident's card from the ward office (I have no freakin' idea what this is), and her passport in order for the police to start the process. They took fingerprints of all 10 fingers, and told her that they would get her the documents in two weeks. No cost.

Later that afternoon, she got her instruction packet (packet 3) from the embassy in Tokyo!

She also found out that if she has her medical exam in Tokyo, it will cost about 26k Yen. A lot less than Kobe. That price doesn't include any immunizations, but she read that K1 doesn't need any immunizations at this point until we file for our AoS here in the States. Ah, another bit of info - the clinic in Kobe takes two weeks to return the results, however, the clinic in Tokyo takes only 4 days to return the results.

[Daveyamf79 0]

Moltar:

Can you tell us what specifically is contained in Packet 3?

[Justin and Masako 0]

Fiancee was able to have the police department start gathering her police records today. She needed our copy of the NOA2, her family register, resident's card from the ward office (I have no freakin' idea what this is), and her passport in order for the police to start the process. They took fingerprints of all 10 fingers, and told her that they would get her the documents in two weeks. No cost.

Later that afternoon, she got her instruction packet (packet 3) from the embassy in Tokyo!

She also found out that if she has her medical exam in Tokyo, it will cost about 26k Yen. A lot less than Kobe. That price doesn't include any immunizations, but she read that K1 doesn't need any immunizations at this point until we file for our AoS here in the States. Ah, another bit of info - the clinic in Kobe takes two weeks to return the results, however, the clinic in Tokyo takes only 4 days to return the results.

I am glad to hear that it is cheaper in Tokyo but that would mean another trip to Tokyo wouldn't it? Don't you need the medical before the interview? With another trip to Tokyo the savings would pretty much be a wash at that point. :/

Perhaps I have some error in my logic though, I could be understanding something incorrectly.

Thanks for the update though!

[Moltar 0]

Daveyamf79,

I'll have video chat with her later tonight, and I'll ask her to show me all the items in the packet she got from the embassy.

"Justin and Masako",

Yeah, that would mean 2 trips to Tokyo, since it takes up to 4 days to get the medical results back. This stuff definitely ain't easy. We got lucky - one of her cousins lives in Tokyo and is getting married mid February, so her cousin's parents bought my fiancee and her daughter round-trip shinkansen tickets for the wedding. So one trip is taken care of.

[Moltar 0]

Packet 3 Information

Cover letter - basically says to follow the instructions. Instructions are in both Japanese and in English.

1 - complete DS-230 part one biographic data (K1's only do part 1 of the DS-230) and mail back to the embassy with photocopy of beneficiary's passport photo page ASAP.

2 - Obtain forms and instructions from the embassy website... but packet contains all all the forms listed in the instructions.

3 - Request an appointment, must have medical forms, police documents, and all forms filled out per the instructions before making the appointment.

4 - Bring ExPack envelope, passport, all forms requested in instructions to the appointment.

Once you are sure you will get all of the documentation, you can make the appointment at anytime.

Included is a FAQ that explains how to fill out the DS-230, both in English and Japanese.

There are instruction about medical examination, and the following forms for the medical examination:

DS-2053 medical exam for immigrant or refugee applicant

DS-3024 chest x-ray and classification worksheet (because of the tuberculosis "immunization" that all Japanese get, a simple TB test will show positive, so they do an x-ray to check for TB)

DS-3025 vaccination documentation worksheet (completed by exam physician)

DS-3026 medical history and medical examination worksheet (completed by exam physician)

1-134 affidavit of support (you should have sent this in already to your beneficiary )

That's it for now. If beneficiary had any prior visas to the US, they'll need to send copies of them when sending in the DS-230 part 1.

[Addie_Goodvibes 0]

Wow this is great that there is a Japan Filers Post,

We filed in 2006 before the fee increase did it ourselves and had 10 Year GC in Hand in less tha 7 months.

Good Luck to everyone!

Edited January 21, 2008 by Addie_Goodvibes

[Addie_Goodvibes 0]

I need help. Please.

My fiance sent a package in July. Well, he included 6 pictures of us. BUT, one of those pictures has a wrong date. It was only taken by his cellphone. He took all of them to Walgreen to develop. OK, the picture which was taken by his cell has a correct date on the back of the picture. Usually any pictures taken by cellphones show dates. He thought that the date was a file number. He got stressed out and tried his best to find the date. (well, it was there!). And he remember it was something summer, so he estimated that the date was July 10th. It caused trouble. It was taken by sep 9th, 2006 AND, on July 10th, I was visiting my family in Japan, so there was no way we could take a picture together. Well, now, I have no idea what to do. A lawyer said do not call USCIS and just wait. BUT, if I do not get RFE or any chances to fix this problem, I need to do that before my interview at the embassy. I do not want to swear before I fix. Should I send a letter to the embassy if I get NOA2? Or what should I do? How should I explain about this stupid mistake? I hope that USCIS deny us due to dishonesty. It was a simple error and we included other pictures which are fine. Ahh Pls. Help me.

You can be relieved in the fact that sending personal pictures with your package as "support" evidence is usually unnecessary and will have little if No bearing on the outcome of your case.

When you get the interview in front of USCIS officer that is when you submit "support evidence " of the relation ship joint account info, pictures, receipts for wedding rings ect.. When my wife & I were interviewed they didnt even glance at our pictures.

Unless the rules have changed since 2006 I wouldn't worry about this. I wouldn't worry about it unless you do get an RFE, then when or if that time comes re -submit what they ask for.

Good Luck!

[takuhi 0]

It's been six months since we applied (7/23) and I was just reading this forum and feeling sorry for myself when I got that e-mail ping... Application accepted! NOA2 sent! Two days of short of six months, so I guess they're still on track at the CSC. Sorta.

I am in total shock... We hadn't received so much as a touch since July, as far as I know! So it looks like the next step is to send Masayo (my wife to be) a copy of the NOA2 so she can get her police report thingy, and then a few weeks later she'll receive a packet with more forms to fill out? And I should be doing my affidavit of support and sending that her way in the near future?

Anything I'm missing? Looks like Tokyo for the interview (although she lives in Miyazaki). The Fukuoka embassy doesn't do interviews, right?

Thanks all!

[Moltar 0]

Hey takuhi.

It took us about a little over a month after our NOA2 to hear from the NVC that our case had been processed and sent to the embassy in Tokyo. Not sure if it'll be different for you or not.

I sent my I-134, copy of NOA2, more supporting evidence, and a complete duplicate of the I-129F about 2 weeks after I got my NOA2 to my konyakusha. Go through the guide on this site to prepare your I-134 and other documents. Here's the link to that guide.

Your beneficiary will be interviewed in Tokyo.

Congrats on your NOA2!

Edited January 23, 2008 by Moltar

[Addie_Goodvibes 0]

It's been six months since we applied (7/23) and I was just reading this forum and feeling sorry for myself when I got that e-mail ping... Application accepted! NOA2 sent! Two days of short of six months, so I guess they're still on track at the CSC. Sorta.

I am in total shock... We hadn't received so much as a touch since July, as far as I know! So it looks like the next step is to send Masayo (my wife to be) a copy of the NOA2 so she can get her police report thingy, and then a few weeks later she'll receive a packet with more forms to fill out? And I should be doing my affidavit of support and sending that her way in the near future?

Anything I'm missing? Looks like Tokyo for the interview (although she lives in Miyazaki). The Fukuoka embassy doesn't do interviews, right?

Thanks all!

Takuhi-

It looks as though things are moving along for you, don't be discouraged by " no action or no touches" before you know it things will roll in order .

My wife is from Miyazaki, She grew up in Obi just outside the walls of obi castle( Nichinan area), I love Miyazaki! We married at Aoshima Shrine.

I am not sure where her interview will be held I would think Nagasaki would be more likely a place than Tokyo, of course one of our friends who is from Nagasaki had to fly all the way to Osaka for her interview. You definatly should have the affidavit of support prepared and sent as soon as you can. Remember to include all requested info ( pay stubs, letter from employer on Co. letterhead varifying your employment status, wage and how long you have been employed. Staement of Account from your bank & tax transcripts.) I think its a great idea that you send her copies of everything you receive (such as Noa's ect.). & she should do the same that way if eiother of you are asked for info you will both be prepared and have wht you need

My wife & I had our interview here in CA., main reason is because she was already residing in the USA on a student Visa, we got married in Japan & USA and applied for AOS while she was in USA.

Best of Luck to you and your spouse. My wife was so happy to find someone here from Miyazaki.