Tokyo US Embassy emailed last minute request

[fiftytwo05g 2]

US Embassy in Tokyo emailed a request for additional documents a week before the interview.

 

This caught us off guard because they were requesting this specifically

 

"Police Certificates from Japan (Unopenable) and China including English translation from the China’s Notarial Offices"

 

We have the police certificate from Japan but we thought we didn't require one from China. She was a chinese national but naturalized japanese last year.

 

They linked us to this criteria on the state dept website:

 

"All applicants must obtain a police certificate if they are currently 16 years of age or older and have resided in their country of nationality for at least six months since birth and if they have resided in their current country of residence for at least six months. Police certificates are also required in any other country where the applicant has resided for at least 12 months and was 16 years of age or older at the time of residence."

 

The NVC didn't require us to submit this prior to being DQ. It also states that the applicant requires a police certificate IF she resided in her county of nationality atleast 6 months since birth. But her nationality is Japanese NOT Chinese. She left China to reside in Japan at 15 years old. Does the applicant meet the criteria to just use the Japanese police certificate? 

 

Or does she still need both? We are caught off guard and surprised at this request as trying to get a police certificate in China is extraordinary difficult and time consuming.

 

We are a bit worried about this interview at this point and might consider rescheduling months ahead just because of this. Any insights?

 

[milimelo 4,642]

Based on your described circumstances she shouldn't need the Chinese police certificate - may just need to point that out at intake and with the interviewing officer. 

[JeanneAdil 6,957]

Is she able to show proof that she left China before age 16?

 

[fiftytwo05g 2]

4 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Is she able to show proof that she left China before age 16?

 

Yes, we've been digging around and luckily she has her old passport with her Japanese residence visa on it and arrival stamp. 

 

We may just proceed with the interview, and just point that out to the interviewer as milimelo advises. But we are crossing fingers here at this point.