Will my foreign fiance becoming a Japanese citizen affect getting our fiance visa process?

[Ricardo Oytas 0]

My fiance is in the process of becoming a Japanese citizen (she is currently a Filipino citizen; we wanted it be easier for her to visit countries as well as visit me); however, I just got the NOA2 letter. She will become a Japanese citizen before her fiance visa interview. Will that affect the K-1 visa process at all? Do I have to fill out more forms to show that change of citizenship? Or can she just bring all the Japanese citizenship paperwork to her fiance visa interview and show them there? Would they deny her at her interview for that reason? Sorry for all the questions. Any helpful information is appreciated. Thank you very much!

[geowrian 22,336]

It's certainly not a reason for refusal. The DS-160 should be updated to reflect the new citizenship, and I would suggest informing the CO at the interview of the change. The Japanese passport should be sufficient evidence of the new citizenship.

 

Does she intend to re-obtain her Filipino citizenship?

[Ricardo Oytas 0]

@geowrian Thanks for replying. I guess we'll just do that then. To answer your question, no, unless she can have both Japanese and Filipino citizenship. Thank you very much!

[geowrian 22,336]

Just now, Ricardo Oytas said:

@geowrian Thanks for replying. I guess we'll just do that then. To answer your question, no, unless she can have both Japanese and Filipino citizenship. Thank you very much!

She can. She just has to apply for it: http://immigration.gov.ph/services/citizenship-retention-and-aquisition/application-for-retention-re-acquisition-of-phil-citizenship

[Ricardo Oytas 0]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

She can. She just has to apply for it: http://immigration.gov.ph/services/citizenship-retention-and-aquisition/application-for-retention-re-acquisition-of-phil-citizenship

Oh thanks! That's good information.

[geowrian 22,336]

1 minute ago, Ricardo Oytas said:

Oh thanks! That's good information.

I figured she may want to return there at some point for more than a visit, or maybe to purchase any land in the future.

[Hank_ 9,173]

5 hours ago, Ricardo Oytas said:

My fiance is in the process of becoming a Japanese citizen (she is currently a Filipino citizen; we wanted it be easier for her to visit countries as well as visit me); however, I just got the NOA2 letter. She will become a Japanese citizen before her fiance visa interview. Will that affect the K-1 visa process at all? Do I have to fill out more forms to show that change of citizenship? Or can she just bring all the Japanese citizenship paperwork to her fiance visa interview and show them there? Would they deny her at her interview for that reason? Sorry for all the questions. Any helpful information is appreciated. Thank you very much!

Will she be re-acquiring her Philippine citizen before the interview (dual citizen)?     (sort of doubt there will be time but thought I would ask just the same)   Yes she can have both citizenships.

 

Don't see any reason for a denial.   

 

Part 2 of the I-129F asked about Beneficiary's citizenship, you can update this information in the DS-160 & the CO during the interview should be able to update everything else, and yes to bringing the citizenship documents (with English translation) to the interview.

 

She will need an NBI and PSA birth certificate from the Philippines.   Not being a Philippine citizen anymore I doubt she will need the PSA CENOMAR.

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2019 by Hank_

[mc962 55]

From what I remember, Japan is the issue, I don't think they allow dual-citizenship.

 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2018/09/19/how-tos/japans-nationality-act-really-mean-dual-citizens/#.XUyjLehKiM8

^^It reads a little weird, they don't penalize people for having dual citizenship, but there is a paragraph describing how, from what I understand, the government has gone after people in the past for declaring an additional citizenship after reaching adulthood.

Quote

The Nationality Act states that Japanese citizens who naturalize to a foreign country will automatically lose their Japanese nationality upon obtaining foreign citizenship.

^^Might be a good discussion for a lawyer.

 

 

[Naes 12,205]

On 8/3/2019 at 12:34 AM, Ricardo Oytas said:

@geowrian Thanks for replying. I guess we'll just do that then. To answer your question, no, unless she can have both Japanese and Filipino citizenship. Thank you very much!

 

On 8/3/2019 at 12:36 AM, geowrian said:

She can. She just has to apply for it: http://immigration.gov.ph/services/citizenship-retention-and-aquisition/application-for-retention-re-acquisition-of-phil-citizenship

Japan does not accept dual citizenship tho. So this may not apply to this situation.

[Naes 12,205]

http://www.moj.go.jp/MINJI/minji78.html

 

I don’t know if your fiancé reads Japanese which I guess does because is needed for citizenship:

 

this explains naturalized japanese citizen also counts as dual citizens which needs to leave their old citizenship, this is also called choosing your citizenship, which is what they normally require at the time of changing the citizenship.

 

but on the k1 visa side, I’m guessing she would simply update them with the ds160 and explain the situation. And take the new passport with her. However they will also want to see the old passport.

 

 

[geowrian 22,336]

3 hours ago, Naes said:

Japan does not accept dual citizenship tho. So this may not apply to this situation.

Darn - nice catch.

[Ricardo Oytas 0]

On 8/3/2019 at 1:42 AM, Hank_ said:

Will she be re-acquiring her Philippine citizen before the interview (dual citizen)?     (sort of doubt there will be time but thought I would ask just the same)   Yes she can have both citizenships.

 

Don't see any reason for a denial.   

 

Part 2 of the I-129F asked about Beneficiary's citizenship, you can update this information in the DS-160 & the CO during the interview should be able to update everything else, and yes to bringing the citizenship documents (with English translation) to the interview.

 

She will need an NBI and PSA birth certificate from the Philippines.   Not being a Philippine citizen anymore I doubt she will need the PSA CENOMAR.

 

 

 

Thank you! We'll try to get the cenomar just in case.

5 hours ago, Naes said:

http://www.moj.go.jp/MINJI/minji78.html

 

I don’t know if your fiancé reads Japanese which I guess does because is needed for citizenship:

 

this explains naturalized japanese citizen also counts as dual citizens which needs to leave their old citizenship, this is also called choosing your citizenship, which is what they normally require at the time of changing the citizenship.

 

but on the k1 visa side, I’m guessing she would simply update them with the ds160 and explain the situation. And take the new passport with her. However they will also want to see the old passport.

 

 

Thank you! 

[Hank_ 9,173]

Interesting that Japan does not allow dual citizenship.    

 

 

[geowrian 22,336]

5 hours ago, Hank_ said:

Interesting that Japan does not allow dual citizenship.   

Yeah...I thought I had a good grasp on which countries did not allow it (post-birth), but apparently Naes threw me a curveball.

Apparently Japan also allows self-sponsorship for an I-134, which I didn't know until like a month or 2 ago.

[Naes 12,205]

3 hours ago, geowrian said:

Yeah...I thought I had a good grasp on which countries did not allow it (post-birth), but apparently Naes threw me a curveball.

Apparently Japan also allows self-sponsorship for an I-134, which I didn't know until like a month or 2 ago.

I knew dual wasn't ok but I only learnt the rules cause a friend of mine is getting Japanese citizenship and she will end up needing a visa to her birth country 😂