From: jamiller@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Marriage Logistics
Date: 28 Jul 92 22:59:27 CDT
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

In article <6827@bigbird.hri.com.hri.com>, blamb@rodan.hri.com (Bill Lambert) writes:
> In article <1992Jul24.230645.405@lsil.com>, mitch@dc49.dc 
> (Mitch Sako) writes:
> => Anyone care to discuss the legal ramifications regarding immigration, visas,
> => etc. with respect to American citizens marrying Japanese citizens and
> planning
> => on living in the USA?  In particular, is it better to marry in the US
> and then
> => apply for a permanent resident visa, marry in Japan, apply first,
> etc.?  I know
> => there are plenty of people reading this net who have experience with
> this.  I
> => don't plan on it now but...you never know.
> 
> Mitch, this was discussed a while back. There was some disagreement as to
> what is "easy" or not, but I'll briefly try to summarize the issue as best
> I remember it.
> 
> First case - Marriage in Japan: The procedure is different than here. A
> marriage isn't made by an official at a ceremony or service but would be
> done by the Japanese member of the couple making a new "family register"
> (a family register is the official documentation of people in Japan,
> and is a combination birth, marriage and death certificate that
> is associated with one household).

What is the difference between the _kosekishoho_ and the other one.  I
seem to recal there were two, but wasn't paying enough attention at
the time.

> 
> The procedure (as I understood it, anyway) is a little different if
> one of the partners is gaijin, in that a ceremony must take place
> first and registration must be done at one of a few places - one
> of them being Minato-ku City Hall. 
> 
> After you are legally married in Japan, then presentation of the
> proper documention to support that fact to INS (certified copies
> of family register and official translations done by the Japan
> consulate) should be sufficient to attain US permanant resident
> status provided there are no other disfavorable factors (disease,
> membership in subversive organizations, drug addiction - all that
> stuff everybody has).
> 

My wife's conditional status was just removed after _TWO_ years of
conditional status so that's something to remember too.

> Second case - Fiance(e) Visa: You apply for this visa category at
> the U.S. embassy in Tokyo. It's a fairly painless, by sometimes
> lengthy procedure as I understand it. I believe this allows your
> fiance(e) 6 months stay in the US during which time it is presumed
> you two will marry and apply for PR status for the non-US honeymooner.
> 
> Third Case - Tourist Visa: When you're ready, have your fiance(e)
> come to the US and just get married. I did this. 
> 
> What's the difference with case 2 and 3? Well.... just the INS seems
> to like 2 better and you avoid the question of whether you are just
> getting married so that the alien spouse can stay in the U.S. ala
> "Green Card" movie. I was married this way, and had to face the
> inquisition during the permanent residence procedure. The fiance(e)
> visa is less painful, after you get it.
> 

My wife was here on an I-20 (student visa) and we experienced the
inquisition stye treatment, although I'd bet it's alot nicer here in
Kansas that elsewhere...

> 	<stuff deleted>
> Permanent residency takes a few months to acquire. You must have all the
> documents - and translated if needed, a physical exam, a couple of hundred
> bucks, and a little patience. I believe the usual case is to get a final
> interview for approval  1-3 months after filing the papers and having
> the physical exam. It might take 3 - 4 trips to the INS. Please note
> that your fiance will have trouble getting work (if they're so inclined)
> without PR status, so plan on 2-4 month vacation for them.
> 

The INS office for Kansas City area is located in an absurdly
difficult location very difficult to find, is only open Tuesday to
Thursday from 7:30 to 2:00, and is impossible to contact by phone.
These inconviences compounded the time required for us.  Not to
mention we waited _EIGHT_ months for an interview.  I think the time
required may vary widely.

> If I missed anything or erred somewhere, someone please correct me, lest
> we make some misunderstandings that might be potential trouble.

I think the medical exam is manditory.  Be sure to be careful with the
photos.  They are VERY particular with them.

> By the way, Mitch.... congratulations!

ditto!

> 
> - Bill Lambert
-- 
jamiller@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
James Miller

_chicchai .sig no ho ga ichiban iin janai ka_