Job Discussion Forums

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Correct me if I'm wrong on this. If I live in the US I have to have a job which pays more than $16,000 a year to sponsor. Any less than that then I have to divide my assets by 5. So If I have no US income, I should have liquid assets totaling $80,000? So it looks like I'll need a joint sponsor.

Additionally, is it OK to use your families address even if you don't intend to live there?

And what the heck is an Alien registration number and how do I get one?

Thanks guys.

Sherri · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 3:39 am Post subject:

Taikibansei, I brought over 2 kids and we didn't need a co-sponsor--maybe lucky?

G of J:
It sounds like you will need to get a co-sponsor.

We used my parent's address even though we didn't go there. They use it to send the alien registration card once you and your wife go through US customs. I just had my parents forward it to me.

I have no idea about the alien registration number. For who? You? or your wife? Does the US embassy in Tokyo stilll have their free fax Q&A? Use that for your questions too, I did a few times and they always answered my questions quickly.

Best of luck!
Sherri

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Thank you both Taikibansei and Sherri! As usual you are both informative and helpful.

Sherri · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:04 am Post subject:

"Did your husband have income State-side? Did you? Did either of you own property in the States? That would make a huge difference."

No to all of the above, but he does own land and a house in Tokyo and we had our savings.

I am so glad we did it in Japan. I know a guy here with a Japanese wife. Even though they lived in Japan for many years, they didn't apply for the visa there. Now they are trying to do it from the US. There is a wait of more than a year to get it, so in the meantime, she has to keep going back to Japan and re-entering the US on a tourist visa.

Sherri

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

I need to do more research, however it seems the K-3 visa is the perfect choice for applying from Japan. It seems to be a bit similar to the Japanese spouse visa.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

It now seems that the K-3 visa is not the perfect choice. It alleviates some difficulties, but replaces them with many new ones. It's also designed for the non-immigrant partner to already be living in the US.

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:58 pm Post subject: More green card questions

Ok since everyone is on this topic--I have a MAJOR question:
I'm American and was wondering if I could sponser a Japanese person to come over to the States? My friend has two kids and an American husband who is such an ass. He won't move them to the States even though they are at poverty level here. He won't get a job, but threatens if she divorces and leaves he'll take the kids back to the States where she can't see them until they are 21 (when they can bring her over on a visa). She inquired about a green card but apparently she was told that you can't get one unless you have lived in the US. Is this true????? I'd like to help her if I can.
Thanks !!

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Your friend can only get a green card if her husband sponsors her. She could get lucky with a green card lottery, but that is pretty unlikely.

She should not live in fear of the kids being taken away, because she is the one with the power here. If she divorces and takes the kids, she can hid them from her husband forever. PaulH can provide a lot more detail on this.

If they are living in poverty in Japan, they are just as likely to live in poverty in the US.

If she is a battered wife there may be things she can do, but I don't know how successful she would be from Japan. She'd definitely need an immigration lawyer.

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 1:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks, I posed a few ideas to her. She isn't being physically abused, but her husband is definitly a cheating, lazy, piece of a man. She brings the only income into the household which barely gets them buy each month. If she went to the US, she could stay with her cousins there or her mother-in-law (who feels horrible that she married her crap of a son)I suggested she move away with the kids but her husband threatened to "hunt her down", so I guess that's not an option. Well thanks anyways for the info. Much appreciated as always!

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

My advice is to get an immigration lawyer involved. The INS was bad enough back in the day but since it haa been merged into the department of homeland security, it's nothing more than clusterf*ck.

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:14 pm Post subject:

Thanks,
I think this will help. I am pretty sure this is a true story as my husband has hung out with her husband a few times and said he's a total loser. My husband doesn't know about the verbal abuse and refusing to get a job, but he did say this jerk tried to get him in on this money scam and always openly cheats on his wife in public. So I'm taking my friend's word over her man's. Thanks, I will pass the info on the her, as she was worried her husband would take everything from her.