US Immigration from Japan

Has anyone had any issues with evidence (PDF's) uploaded to the online I-130 application not saving? Every time I log back into the USCIS website, the PDF I uploaded of information about my spouse in her native language is no longer there. All other information and uploaded PDF's are saving just fine.

Hi all, I wanted to make this group to post updates on everyone's AOS/EAD/AP etc.

I'm personally very interested in everyone's work authorization status, if you've already received yours?

My timeline is;

Feb. 24 2023: AOS/EAD/AP submitted

Mar. 03 2023: Rejected (used an old version of form)

Mar. 04 2023: AOS Resubmitted

Mar. 28 2023: RFE received

May 19 2023: response to RFE submitted

Waiting since.

Hi everyone,

I've been a permanent resident of the U.S. through marriage to a U.S. citizen for a decade now. I haven't applied for American citizenship, because I'm Japanese and Japan doesn't allow dual citizenship. However, I don't go there often and haven't been there for some years now..

Currently both my husband and I are interested in moving to Europe. We could only achieve this if I get a job in Europe and get him a spousal visa. I'm not even at the stage yet where I have a job in Europe, but I want to start looking. If at all possible, I want to move sometime next year after the summer.. I have details on how I might be able to get a job there for my profession; that's not my question here.

What is complicated for me is that I'm not a U.S. citizen, and I don't know how long we would be in Europe. Hopefully the rest of our lives, but it all depends on how long I can hold a valid visa there and if they will approve visas to both of us at all. I know that if I live in an EU country for 5 consecutive years, I can become a citizen there, so I guess as long as I can hold a visa for 5 years in one country, I will have a home. But if I can't, we will need a place to go back, which would be the U.S. (I doubt that we will ever live in Japan; I've been keeping my Japanese citizenship because my whole family is there and for some time during the pandemic, only citizens were allowed to enter Japan)

I'm very much aware that if I leave the U.S. for more than a year without prior permission from the U.S., I will lose my green card. I was wondering...

• How easy and fast would it be to get approval before leaving the U.S.?
• Do I need to have a job offer (reason for leaving the U.S. for more than a year) in Europe at the time of applying for the permission to re-enter the U.S.?
• Do I need to know at the time of applying for permission how long I will be out of the U.S.?
• Could I extend my stay out of the U.S. after leaving the U.S. if I have the permission to re-enter?
• If my husband successfully moves to Europe with me after, would we still be able to move back to the U.S., up till how many years after?

The thing is, we really don't know how long we will be out or whether it would be permanent. Has anyone here moved back and forth between the U.S. and another country with a green card?

Probably the safer option for me is to just give up my Japanese citizenship and become a U.S. citizen first (but would love to hear more about the above option first because my parents are getting old in Japan) Currently I meet all the requirements to qualify for the citizenship. But if I do that,

• How long would the naturalization process be?
• As a naturalized citizen, would it really not matter where my permanent residence is in the world if I was to come back in the future?
• Would I have to live in the U.S. for a certain period of time after obtaining the citizenship?

Another possible option is to just go to Europe and lose my green card. If I do that,

• Would my husband be able to petition for me again for another green card in the future?
• Would he have to be in the U.S. at the time to petition for me?
• If I fail to obtain another green card in the future, could I still come to the U.S. as a tourist, or would I be forever banned from the U.S.?

Currently I'm just brainstorming every possibility, so please only be informative. Thank you in advance!!

Just returned from marrying my spouse in Japan and hoping to have I-130 submitted soon. Is now the time to change her last name? I noticed the I-130 form asks for the beneficiary's current legal name. The marriage certificate still says her maiden name.

Also, what translation company/service do you recommend for translating the marriage certificate.

Hi all,

My wife has a 10-year GC and a 2 year reentry permit expiring next year. We have been back and forth between the US and Japan a number of times since receiving the re-entry permit. She has an ill relative that we have been assisting, and it has been easier to have the kids in school in japan (not in public japanese school, in private school). We would like to process one more re-entry permit to continue to assist - it is unlikely a longer period will be needed.

How long before the existing re-entry permit expires is it recommend to apply for the second one? How long are they taking to get approved these days? I assume that if more convenient, we could use the online rescheduler to change her biometrics appointment (if needed again?) to Guam?

Thank you.