Akiko

Hi Akiko-san,

Your question sounds pertinent to my question. It would seem that you would have to book your tickets under your maiden name since it is still on your Japanese passport; it's likely that your boarding pass and passport will be checked (at least at the airport security). I can't say for sure since I've yet to go through this myself.

In regards to your passport, if I understand correctly the Japanese seems to require notification of name changes, etc within 6 months after the marriage has happened. At least this is what I can ascertain from the two links below:

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/j/passport/passport_name.html (for the passport)

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/j/koseki/marriage_top.html (for the family registry)

Unfortunately, since I'm a U.S. Citizen, I can't answer what the process will be during customs and immigration for you. Hopefully someone who has direct experience can answer that for you soon before you travel.

Since we're on the topic of name changes (and it seems that you were a K-1 visa holder), could I ask you some questions?

My fiancee (who's a Japanese citizen) and I will be married next month. She's a K-1 visa holder and she's planning on using her married name on the passport, etc after we're married. When you applied for the AOS, did you apply for it using your married name? Also (if you don't mind me asking), did you sign your marriage certificate using your married name as well?

I've searched the forums and have read inconsistent answers. Some people seemed to have signed their marriage certificates under their married name ... then that constitutes as their "name change" while I've read that others have signed the marriage certificate under their maiden name, then changed their names when they applied for a social security number.

Thank you.

Hey thanks for the links. I will definitely check them out.

When I applied for the AOS, I applied with my married name. Same with the marriage certificate, I signed with my married name. Because isn't that the name that will appear on the permanent resident card (green card)? I've noticed that many people got their social security number before they got married. I got mine after I got married because I thought it would be a hassle getting my name changed. I didn't have any problems with the AOS so it should be fine to use the married name when you sign, apply for AOS, etc...

Good luck. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Hi everyone. Its been awhile since I've been here.

I had some questions concerning traveling. My husband and I will be visiting my family in Japan in December. I still have a Japanese passport under my maiden name. But I have government ids (green card, drivers license, etc) under my current married name. Am I supposed to book tickets under my maiden name or my current name? Or was I supposed to do something about my passport after I got married?

And does anyone know the process during customs and immigration when I arrive in Japan?

Thanks!

Just letting everyone know that I got my green card in the mail

Thank you for all of your support. I don't know where I'd be without VJ.

Now I can be at ease until I have to lift conditions. I'll check up on everyone once in awhile.

Good luck and God bless you all.

Thank you everyone!

Yeah, I just got an email earlier today that the card production was ordered.

I am sure it is. Congratulations!

You will get your GC in 2 weeks or so, yay!

Thank you!!!

My interview was scheduled at 12:30, so we got there about 12:00. There were a few people before us, many more after us. I wore black pants and a white blouse. Everyone else wore more casual clothes. Someone was even wearing sweatpants! I was surprised... maybe I overdressed a little? I guess all the interviewers were on their lunch break for I saw them walking past us and into their rooms as we were waiting. The wait wasn't too bad, we got in a little past 12:30.

We had a man for our interview. He walked us into his room and he took our oaths. Then he sat us down, asked for our passports and took out my large file which had everything inside of it.

He first asked us how long we were married which threw me off a little bit because it was out of the blue but I answered it confidently. He took out 2 sheets of paper which explained how we have to remove conditions 90 days before the 2 year green card expired, made sure we understood it and had us sign it. At this point, I was like "Is it over already...?" But no, it was just the beginning. He looked through the file for about 7 minutes and asked me the same questions that was on page 3 of form I-485, which was all answered "no". He asked my husband what he does for work and asked me what I did when I was in Japan, and a few other questions. Then he took out a sheet of paper which had numerous questions printed on it.

- How did we meet?

- When did we meet?

- When did we start dating?

- Common interests?

- When did we meet each others parents?

- When did we decide to get married?

- Whose idea was it?

- Why did we marry each other?

- Was it civil or religious?

- Guests?

- Did we have a reception?

Then he asked if we had any joint accounts. I took out documents of rent, bank, and insurance. He took those and checked it off on the paper. And that was pretty much it...

He didn't let us know we were approved. He just told us that if they approve it, we will receive the green card in about 2-4 weeks. If they needed anything else, they will send us a letter.

Overall, it went better than expected. He didn't ask to see any other papers or photos of us. He even cracked minor jokes. The questions were really simple and straightforward. We were done a little past 1. A lot faster than I had expected. I'm glad thats over...

And I just got an email from the USCIS website that the card production has been ordered! Does that mean its approved?!

Congratulations for getting done with the interview!

I hope great news shows up in the mailbox one of these days.

Hakuna matata.

God bless us constantly.

FAE

Thank you!

My interview was scheduled at 12:30, so we got there about 12:00. There were a few people before us, many more after us. I wore black pants and a white blouse. Everyone else wore more casual clothes. Someone was even wearing sweatpants! I was surprised... maybe I overdressed a little? I guess all the interviewers were on their lunch break for I saw them walking past us and into their rooms as we were waiting. The wait wasn't too bad, we got in a little past 12:30.

We had a man for our interview. He walked us into his room and he took our oaths. Then he sat us down, asked for our passports and took out my large file which had everything inside of it.

He first asked us how long we were married which threw me off a little bit because it was out of the blue but I answered it confidently. He took out 2 sheets of paper which explained how we have to remove conditions 90 days before the 2 year green card expired, made sure we understood it and had us sign it. At this point, I was like "Is it over already...?" But no, it was just the beginning. He looked through the file for about 7 minutes and asked me the same questions that was on page 3 of form I-485, which was all answered "no". He asked my husband what he does for work and asked me what I did when I was in Japan, and a few other questions. Then he took out a sheet of paper which had numerous questions printed on it.

- How did we meet?

- When did we meet?

- When did we start dating?

- Common interests?

- When did we meet each others parents?

- When did we decide to get married?

- Whose idea was it?

- Why did we marry each other?

- Was it civil or religious?

- Guests?

- Did we have a reception?

Then he asked if we had any joint accounts. I took out documents of rent, bank, and insurance. He took those and checked it off on the paper. And that was pretty much it...

He didn't let us know we were approved. He just told us that if they approve it, we will receive the green card in about 2-4 weeks. If they needed anything else, they will send us a letter.

Overall, it went better than expected. He didn't ask to see any other papers or photos of us. He even cracked minor jokes. The questions were really simple and straightforward. We were done a little past 1. A lot faster than I had expected. I'm glad thats over...

Hopefully I receive that green card in the mail a couple weeks from now. All I can do now is wait...

I believe those docs will do.

Dress - semi formal, as you were going on an interview.

Good Luck

Thank you!

Hello everyone. My AOS interview is this coming up and there were some things I needed to make sure of.

These are the documents I have for supporting evidence of our relationship

-joint account

-insurance

-rental agreements

-photos together & with his family

Would these be enough or should I gather more documents just in case?

And does anyone have any idea what to wear to the interview? Does it have to be formal?

Thank you.

Rosie- Yes, he can get his police report with NOA2. Mine had some trouble getting his, the police told him that it was the wrong document at first, and when he faxed them the same document a second time a week or two later, they told him that it was really the right document and finally gave it to him, so be persistent.

As for the medical, we had trouble with that one too, but apparently others got it done early with no problem. The doctors already have the necessary forms. I think it depends on the hospital. They refused to do ours in Kobe before we had packet 3 so we had to wait. Be careful with the timing though, it takes 2 weeks or so for the medical results unless you get that expedited service in Tokyo. Try calling your local embassy approved hospital.

You can't get an interview before the embassy gets your packet 3 back from you and processes it. They will send you a response once they are done processing your packet 3, and then you can request an interview. Packet 3 contains form 230 (it's on the embassy website too, you can download it) and 134 (you have to fill that one out and send it to him, it's the support form). There is no packet 4, just a response from the embassy.

Good luck~!

Akiko- Our AOS interviews are on the same day! I'm getting all my stuff together too. I hope everything goes well for both of us. Are you bringing another copy of your birth certificate to the interview? It says that we should but I already sent one with the original AOS packet and we used the only other one we had to get our marriage registered at the Japanese consulate... so do we have to scramble and get one mailed over ASAP? I really should have gone through the checklist earlier but I didn't think we would have to submit something that we already submitted...

Congratulations on getting your AOS interview date! Wow the same day... its in a week! I can't believe it. Yes I am bringing another copy of my birth certificate. I'm planning on taking most of what we submitted in the AOS packet. Do you have any idea what to wear to the interview? I'm clueless. I still need to get some photos printed out for more evidence. Hopefully it goes well for the both of us. Good luck.

Congratulations Chris&Kirara!

Good luck to your fiancee with her job also.

I just received my interview letter for my AOS. I didn't expect it to come right after my EAD.

My interview in scheduled for Jan 21, 2010. I have to start gathering all my papers (again) for this final step.

I'm ready to start the new year with good news

Just letting everyone know that I received my employment authorization card in the mail today.

Quitting a company is indeed difficult in Japan. Good luck.

Hi everyone.

I just got my EAD approved today. Hopefully it comes in the mail soon so I can start working!

Good luck to everyone else out there and hope everyone is doing well.

Well I just got home from my biometrics appointment. It was fast, took only about 10 minutes.

Wow!!! They actually can do some things fast in immigration. lol. Akiko-san Omedetougozaimasu!!! Another step closer!!!

Hahaha thanks!

Some people who have also filed for the AOS around the time I did have been getting approvals for their EAD. So I'm just waiting on mine.

Well I just got home from my biometrics appointment. It was fast, took only about 10 minutes.

Congratulations!

So I got my letter for my biometrics the other day. My appointment is on Tuesday, November 10 at 12:00. Hopefully this will be a fast process.

Haha, since when has anything to do with immigration been a fast process. lol!!! Just kidding. Good Luck Akiko, wishing you the best!!!

I know! But I need to have hope! Hahahah. Thanks, hope all is well with you also.

Chris & Kirara - They contact you by mail. Mine took a long time. The appointment confirmation was by e-mail though.

So I got my letter for my biometrics the other day. My appointment is on Tuesday, November 10 at 12:00. Hopefully this will be a fast process.

Hey guys!

My AOS packet is taking me longer to put together than I thought it would too. It may or may not be because of the big distraction sitting on my couch playing video games right now. My new, more realistic time goal, is to have it out by Monday or Tuesday.

The medical paper we apparently have to submit has me disgruntled. What did you do for the medical paper, Akiko, did you just cross your fingers and send in the vaccination records you got in Japan or did you get an American doctor to write the paper for you? And if you don't mind, how much did they charge you to write the paper (if that's the route you took)?

And did it really take that long to get a certified marriage certificate (lol) for you guys? We civil ceremonied it (for now) and got ours the same day.

I just sent in the vaccination records. It was such a bother to visit the doctor again. And it did say that K-1 visa holders only needed vaccination information, if I'm not mistaken.

Good luck with your AOS.

Oh, and you may expedite your marriage certificate. When you go to get your marriage license at the State Department of Health, they give you a form where you can fill out and send in to receive the marriage certificates faster. Its costs a little but it is a lot better than waiting.

Hi Chris & Kirara,

That is great that you two are planning your wedding in Hawaii! My husband and I actually got eloped because of financial situations and so on but that is because we were both raised here and live here. But Hawaii is a place where a lot of people come to get married. It would certainly be an experience of a lifetime.

I was raised on the island of Maui but I now live on Oahu. I would suggest the island of Hawaii (Big Island) or maybe Maui. I am not too sure on the wedding planners but there are many available. It would also depend on what kind of wedding you would want (beach wedding, church wedding, hotel wedding, etc.). I would start with what island to get married on and work your way from there.

Best wishes to the two of you!

Rosie + Yu - It took us about a week and a half to get it. We had to expedite it because normally it would take about 2 months.

Lauraandfrogger - Congratulations! I'm very happy for you and your fiance. Hope you two are enjoying yourselves being reunited and all. Best wishes with your journey from here on!

Rosie + Yu - Welcome to visajourney! Waiting for the NOA2 may be difficult but it'll be totally worth it. Hopefully you'll get yours soon!

Deryck and Miho - Best wishes on your interview!

So I filed for my AOS, about 2 weeks ago. I couldn't get it out as quickly as I wanted to. But waiting for the marriage certificate and Social Security took awhile... but at least I got it out before my visa expired. I'll be checking up on here once in awhile to see how everyone is doing. Hope everyone goes through a fast and smooth process!

I went to apply for my SS after we got married and it went very smoothly. I just told the person assisting me that I recently got married and brought my original marriage certificate with me.