Moltar

Hi everyone,

I just noticed this area in the forums after seeing one specifically for Canada. I had started wondering where all the Japan filers were at.

I have a post NOA2, packet 3 question (for the K-1 visa) and am curious to hear of others' experiences.

My fiancee is planning on visiting me here in the States around August near Obon, but it's looking like (according to the predicted timelines) the NOA2 would have been issued then and she would have likely received Packet 3 from the Tokyo Embassy. My current thoughts are to send out Packet 3 a day or two before she travels here, but I'm wondering if her traveling here at that point in the process is wise or not (as far as the Embassy and interview timing would be concerned, not necessary POE issues).

I've read in other threads of the possibility of her being denied entry, but it seems that it would be worth the risk since one of the reasons for her (short) visit would be to finalize some things for our wedding.

Any thoughts or advice on this? Thank you kindly!

I wouldn't even bother having her come to visit at this point. Too much of a headache. You don't want to plan and spend the money to come over here only to have something go wrong at immigration just to have her put back on a plane and sent home. Besides, once she gets her visa, she'll be here for a while. Instead, you should go and visit her. That's what I ended up doing, and it was a heck of a lot less stress.

Yumi loves the U.S. and wants to stay here, but she is not interested in naturalization either. If she were to become an American citizen, she would lose her pension.

Now, if we have kids, I guess they have to choose between American or Japanese Citizenship by their 20th birthday, right? It would be interesting to see what choice they make.

If she gets her US citizenship, why would you report it to the Japanese consulate? Then no one is the wiser. And it's my understanding that children will have to decide at the age of 20. Got two kids who are going to have to deal with that, unless things change in Japan. Not sure what we're going to do if things are still the same with this issue. If they want both, may just have them denounce their US citizenship and then after their Japanese citizenship is all straightened out, run back to US and say, "Ah, I was just playin'!" *shrug* They might not even want to mess with keeping their Japanese citizenship when the time comes. Just have to wait and see.

Another thing I wanted to mention was a small surprise. The USCIS actually sent us a reminder letter regarding the lifting of conditions on my wife's residency. Everywhere I read, and even the official letter we received with the residence card stated that they would not inform us of the 90-day window. But, surprise, we got one anyway. For the extra $545 required for the I-751, I should at least get that, and maybe even a complimentary USCIS tee shirt.

Masha2008-san, A-gata desu ka? Daijoubu yo!

It is so nice to hear your comment. Ya, it seems that employment letter does not have to original. His boss is actually in Florida and his company has so many branches throughout the US, so they exchange everything through e-mail.

Just in case, I will include his performance evaluation that he got from his boss. It will show how hard he works.

Ah, I replied to your PM Masha2008, but it looks like u2rsobad already got the info to ya. I don't think you'll need that performance evaluation. You'll be interviewing with American's, and they will care more about his financial ability to support you and if you two are a real couple, not how hard he works.

All right, we got approved at the embassy! B)

She got there 40 minutes before her scheduled interview time. Loads of security. They made her leave her keitai and her passport at the entrance. She used an ATM thing near the entrance to pay for her application fee. They gave her a number, and told her to wait. Almost as soon as she sat down, they called her number and instructed her to go to window #1. There, a Japanese lady took all of her paperwork. After that, they took her finger prints. She said it didn't seem like they were taking anyone else's fingerprints, so we assume that they took them to verify her identity since she had a previous pending AoS case with her ex many years ago. Since her daughter is USC, they asked for her US passport, and then asked her to be seated until her interview.

An hour after her scheduled appointment, she was called up to window #10. There were 3 windows for interviews. There was a younger American man at the window that she was called to. He told her that he was impressed with how quickly our application went through (I'm assuming he meant petition), and checked her fingerprints. He then asked her the following questions:

• Is the name of the USC you intend to marry [Petitioner's Name]?
• What is your fiance's occupation?
• How did you and your fiance meet?
• Have you met your fiance's family?

He then took a copy of my divorce decree (good thing I sent her a copy, just in case, because for some reason he didn't have a copy from USCIS), my updated letter of intent to marry, then had her sign a document stating that she had completed the visa application process and that her visa has been approved. He said that we should get the visa in the mail within a week. The interview lasted 30 minutes.

Also wanted to mention, I sent copies of everything to my fiancee. My signed bank statements, my letter from my employer, my affidavit of support, and updated letter of intent to marry - all duplicates - and they were accepted by the embassy/interviewer. Though, I sent the originals just in case... even though they arrived at her house while she was on the shinkansen coming back home. (^-^; The interviewer gave her back the documents he didn't need and all pictures that I had sent to her for the interview.

Now we just wait for the visa to come in, pack my bags, and enjoy a nice 2 week vacation before bringing the girls home at the end of March. It's been quite a journey.

Oops. There was some mis-communication about the interview that she and I want to clear up here, and it doesn't look like I can edit my post. So, I'll explain a little more here.

1. Fiancee was not made to leave her passport at security, because it is needed for the interview. At the interview, they then kept her passport so that they could attach the visa to it and then they would mail it back to her. They just kept her keitai until she left.

2. There was no "ATM machine" there. She paid the visa application fee at a cashier window.

3. Taking fingerprints was one of the important steps for every visa applicants. For my fiancee's case, she was made to do it again to verify her identity because she had a previous case back in the States. She says that if an applicant doesn't have a previous record, just one fingerprint produced should be expected.

4. Fiancee was not called to the window to interview with the younger guy, but a middle-aged American man.

5. The interviewer did not return the unnecessary documents and photos at the end of the interview, but the Japanese woman clerk in the office.

We are both sorry if we have confused anyone with the earlier post. Hopefully, this will help to give a more clear insight into the process in Tokyo.

Thanks Justin.

And I hear you about Detroit. I fly from Detroit to Nagoya each time I go out there, and hell, they even give me a hard time when I come back, and I'm Caucasian. While I've waited in line before, I've overheard them grilling other visa holders. We'll be coming back together through Detroit... so we'll see how it goes. It shouldn't be too bad. Just gotta remember to make sure that we leave with the I-94...

I can't wait to go back though. It's quickly becoming a second home to me. I miss the Toto Washlet. I am SO having one of those installed in my next house!

All right, we got approved at the embassy! B)

She got there 40 minutes before her scheduled interview time. Loads of security. They made her leave her keitai and her passport at the entrance. She used an ATM thing near the entrance to pay for her application fee. They gave her a number, and told her to wait. Almost as soon as she sat down, they called her number and instructed her to go to window #1. There, a Japanese lady took all of her paperwork. After that, they took her finger prints. She said it didn't seem like they were taking anyone else's fingerprints, so we assume that they took them to verify her identity since she had a previous pending AoS case with her ex many years ago. Since her daughter is USC, they asked for her US passport, and then asked her to be seated until her interview.

An hour after her scheduled appointment, she was called up to window #10. There were 3 windows for interviews. There was a younger American man at the window that she was called to. He told her that he was impressed with how quickly our application went through (I'm assuming he meant petition), and checked her fingerprints. He then asked her the following questions:

• Is the name of the USC you intend to marry [Petitioner's Name]?
• What is your fiance's occupation?
• How did you and your fiance meet?
• Have you met your fiance's family?

He then took a copy of my divorce decree (good thing I sent her a copy, just in case, because for some reason he didn't have a copy from USCIS), my updated letter of intent to marry, then had her sign a document stating that she had completed the visa application process and that her visa has been approved. He said that we should get the visa in the mail within a week. The interview lasted 30 minutes.

Also wanted to mention, I sent copies of everything to my fiancee. My signed bank statements, my letter from my employer, my affidavit of support, and updated letter of intent to marry - all duplicates - and they were accepted by the embassy/interviewer. Though, I sent the originals just in case... even though they arrived at her house while she was on the shinkansen coming back home. (^-^; The interviewer gave her back the documents he didn't need and all pictures that I had sent to her for the interview.

Now we just wait for the visa to come in, pack my bags, and enjoy a nice 2 week vacation before bringing the girls home at the end of March. It's been quite a journey.

Hey sunshine,

Sorry to hear about that girl! Well, if you're sure that there's no reason to hold the process up (as I've read in a post you made recently), then maybe they've just run into a lot of road blocks because of a name match, or something else, and they've had to do more research. If you don't get anything after two weeks from when he made the call to the USCIS, I would call them again. Just make sure that he is calm with them. And if you two aren't satisfied with the answers from that second call, he should contact his congressman to get a "congressional" going on your case. It's been long enough, IMO.

If your stuffs clean, and you know his is too, then it is just a matter of time... it will happen.

Ganbatte!

Finally got our packet 3!

I was going over the embassy web page rules, and noticed the part about having to get all foreign language documents translated. I'm sure we can handle her birth certificate, but what other documents require translation? You aren't even allowed to open the police certificate, right, so I imagine we wouldn't be expected to translate that? Anything I'm not considering that I should be?

Thanks!

Hey takuhi,

The only things that I can think of that needed translations were the family register and any divorce documents. Have a look in the guides section, just to be sure.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=guides

Also, the packet 3 should come with all the instructions your beneficiary will need, written in both English and Japanese. Those instructions will tell you what documents you need translated.

Good luck, and congratulations on your packet 3!

55_buckeyes: Hai, shimashita! Dou itashimashita.

dbzman: I don't know how long it took for the embassy to get my fiancee her packet 3 after the embassy received the case from the NVC. If I guessed, I would say no longer than a week. They were pretty fast, it seemed, compared to the rest of the process before...

My fiancee requested an interview date. And with a CR-1, I don't know what they would send, but I'm sure that they would be sending something.

At what point, I can call to make an appt to the clinic? I guess I should just call them to ask but if you know, please let me know. I can print out the medical forms from the US Embassy's website anytime so I don't think I need to wait for the package from them. How soon, your fiancée could schedule her appt? I am sorry I have lots of questions.

Hey 55_buckeyes.

I asked her tonight about this, and she said that it seemed like to her that she could make the appointment for the medical exam at any time, however, you would want to wait to actually go to the clinic after you receive the packet 3 because the packet will contain all the documents, in their current acceptable forms, with American standard paper size of 8.5 x 11 inches. It would be pretty terrible if you went and had the exam, only to find out later that you missed a document that needed to be completed by the clinic physician. For the medical exam, I would wait until you get your packet 3 before making your exam appointment just to be safe. It didn't seem like you had to wait long to have your medical exam after you made the appointment. It's the interview appointment that you'll have to wait for. They only do the interviews on Mondays, and they seemed to be booked a month out. Hope this helps answer your questions. Our interview is in 20 days.

Hey 55_buckeyes.

Well, we never did receive anything in the mail after the packet 3. When you update your time line, VJ describes the "packet 4" as, "Date Rec Appointment Letter (Pkt 4)". The only thing we did receive was an email from the embassy stating when her appointment was set for, and instructions for her to print out that email and bring it with her to her interview. In the instructions she got in the packet 3, they told her that she could make her appointment after mailing in the DS-230 (part 1 for K-1 applicants) back to the embassy, and after making arrangements to get the police records and medical records. Or in other words, once your beneficiary is certain he or she will get the police documents and medical results back, ensure that the appointment takes place after these documents are in hand.

My fiancee got her police records started before she got her packet 3, because I sent her a copy of the NOA2. Once the packet 3 did come in, she immediately sent back the DS-230 part 1, and did some researched the different clinics for the medical exam. We decided on the Tokyo British Clinic, http://www.tokyobritishclinic.com/visa_us-e.html , and she made an appointment with them. After that, she contacted the embassy to set up the appointment (sorry guys, I don't remember if she called or emailed this request), and they sent her an email and called her on her cellphone about the appointment date.

Medical exam went pretty smooth. She printed out a map from the train station to the clinic (I think this map is available on their site that I linked to above) and got there about 20 minutes early. She said without the map, it might be a bit confusing because from the street, it looks like a condominium. They took an x-ray of her chest, mostly to check for tuberculous, drew some blood for testing for things like HIV, looked over her immunization record, saw that Rubella was not on the list so they gave her a Rubella shot just in case, listened to her lungs, heart, and checked her skin around her abdomen, back, arms and legs for other illnesses or diseases, the doctor completed the medical exam DS forms that came in packet 3, took her 33,000 Yen, and sent her on her way. About 30 minutes total. It will take 4 business days for her to get the results back.

Police records are already received. So now we're just waiting for the interview. Then in March, I go back out there, hit a fertility festival, visit Kyushu, visit Suzuka, participate in a graduation, then all of us come home.

Hey Daveyamf79.

We didn't really receive a "packet 4" or anything official through the mail, we just got an email from the embassy of when her interview will take place, with instructions to print out the email and bring it with her to the interview in Tokyo.

And from what my fiancee discovered, is that you can make the appointment at any time after you mail in the DS-230 (part 1 for K-1) and you schedule (or request) a date that you are certain will be after when your beneficiary will receive the police records and medical exam results.

My fiancee just got done with the medical exam in Tokyo today. It was about 30 minutes, they took the chest x-ray and gave her an immunization for rubella. 33,000 Y total for exam. Shinkansen round trip was 20,140 Y from Aichi. Don't know what the cost was from the station to the hospital via the infamous Yamanote line.

Omedetou gozaimasu! I bet you're relieved to have that all done with.

Ah, that's good to know that she got in to visit with no problems. I wonder if Immigration even knew that there was an I-129F in the works when she showed up at the airport.

Hopefully, she'll be back soon.

Oh, and just for added info, I found out that overnight bus trip from Aichi to Tokyo is like $50. That ain't too bad.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Welcome Justin, Masako, and Amastar.

Amastar, I just filed an I-129F for my fiancee, since we are unmarried. Talking with some lawyers and doing some research on the timelines, we determined that coming into the states on a K1 would be faster than a K3. So we chose that route and will get married whenever she gets here. We did not have to file an I-130, but we will have to adjust status once she gets here and we're married. Though, the adjusting status process won't be so bad because we'll already be together. I'm not sure, but I thought that you could file an I-129F to bring your wife into the States... but I'm no expert on any of this stuff. I'm barely able to keep up with my own route.

Congrats Daveyamf79! That was pretty fast.

Just called the NVC myself, discovered that they sent the case to Tokyo yesterday. Odd that they did that, since we specifically told them Osaka/Kobe. Hmm... I shouldn't be turning my nose up at progress... but I sure hope there aren't any more mistakes.

Hey dbzman.

My fiancee mentioned that she was under the impression that she would be able to get her police records once she had a copy of the NOA2. I just sent her my I-384 with supporting documents and evidence of an ongoing relationship, along with a duplicate copy of the entire I-129F packet that I sent to Nebraska. So, I'll find out soon, if she attempts to get this sealed document from the police when she receives the documents I sent to her.

If that isn't enough for the police to release her records, she should be contacted by the consulate in a couple of weeks anyway.

Interesting, I didn't know that the NVC would mail you a DS-230. I thought that was a form for our Nihonjin significant other's to fill out, and would be in the packet of stuff they get from the consulate out there. I downloaded a current copy from the DOS a couple of days ago just to review it.

Hello Japan filers!!!!

I am in the last stages of the process at the NVC. They mailed me the DS-230 this week.

My wife in Japan asked me a few questions and I told her that I would ask the Japan filers.

She wants to get her police certificate now instead of waiting for Tokyo to send her a packet of instructions. Has anyone done this? Are there any documents that you need for this? Can this be done?

Also, how long does it take to get the police certificate?

Thanks everyone!!!!

Ah, my case has been touched, first time in 4 months and 2 days... I'm hoping for the best!

Oh, a few minutes after I posted this, I got a confirmation email for the USCIS...

This wasn't just some touch, they sent out my NOA2! WOOO HOOOO!

Man, NOA1 to NOA2 has to be the worst part of the process... waiting and waiting while being separated. But, it's moving forward now. My day is full of awesome today.