Tokyo DCF final interview and Visa arrived the next day!

[takoyaki66 0]

Here is a short summary of our IV interview in Tokyo.

On 6/4/2007 we went to the Tokyo embassy for the IV final interview. Our interview was scheduled for 0930 and we arrived around 0800 anticipating lines. To our surprise there was almost no line and we quickly made it inside to get our number. It turns out that we were number 11 even though we arrived 1 1/2 hours early.

They were processing people as we arrived and the entire process took us just about 2 hours to complete. We were told (only the spouse seeking the visa gets to go up to the counter for the final interview) at the end that the visa was granted and would arrive in a week.

The passport with the visa arrived in the mail the next day!

A few tips for others who stumble upon this message:

1. Arrive early as they seem to start processing as soon as folks arrive and do it on a rolling basis. YMMV. Afternoon appointments might not be the same.

2. Although the instructions for the IV interview tell you to bring things that you have already submitted at the I-130 interview (bio forms, tax returns, support doc, birth certificate, etc). once you arrive they give you a paper that says you do not have to resubmit anything you submitted before.

3. There are no phones allowed inside but there is a pay phone in the waiting area just in case you need to reach someone.

4. There is a photo booth in the waiting area so if you forget (or have improper) your pics you might not be out of luck.

Good luck everyone and thanks for the support.

6/5/07 Visa arrived in the mail!

Done and ready to move!

[ufc_cat 0]

congrats Tako!!!!

We are getting screwed by tokyo and have been put in Administrative processing.We wanted to do DFC after being approved and I had our case transfered to tokyo and once i applied for an interview...we got told we are now in AP.Tokyo hasnt been helpful to us so Im glad you were able to things so smoothly

[MaydayDas 1]

Congratulations and good luck

[Zee Bee 61]

Congratulations!!!

[takoyaki66 0]

Thanks for the kind words!

K stick in there, once you reach a real person in Tokyo I expect that it will improve. During our two visits they were very nice and treated us well.

I cannot say that I have had the same positive experience with the US centers. Just trying to cancel our pending I-129f and I-130 applications is proving to be a pain. I just want to cancel them so that we do not take up valuable time from other applicants. The folks on the phone were no help and they were not sure which centers I should contact to withdraw our applications.

Good luck to everyone. At least we all filed before the fee increase

[iluvmymac 0]

Congratulations, Takoyaki. I haven't been on VJ for a while, busy packing and getting ready to move. For a small amount of household goods we found Kuroneko Yamato to be a good and reliable deal.

Good luck on your move!

Edited June 14, 2007 by iluvmymac

[Jasman0717 8]

Congratulations

[maekai05 0]

Very nice. Did you have Japanese Residental Visa ?

Since Jan, 23rd, 2007, we can't apply Green card in person in Japan, except for those who have Japanese over 6month residental Visa in Japan..

well done, I will take note on your advice for later.

[takoyaki66 0]

Yes, I have a visa and have lived in Japan for over 8 years now. I had to show proof of residency at the initial I-130 intake interview so they do check.

For moving our stuff we went with Shipmates Japan and have been happy so far. The came and gave us an estimate then packed up everything into 82! boxes. The invoice matched with their estimate so no problems there either.

In 2 months our 82 boxes should hopefully arrive in Vermont.

Cheers