Job Discussion Forums

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

I am wondering what to do next.
I applied for the 130-N and can get an interview after my Japanese wife does all the paperwork. She wants to get a green card to stay in the US
(in the future), but we plan on staying in Japan.
In the future I want her to be able to work in the US.
We were thinking of staying longer in Japan to save money for a house in the US.

Last December she got fingerprinted and had her picture taken in Honolulu and she hated it so she doesn`t want to do that again.

There is the B-2 visa for visitors. In the future I plan on going to the US once or twice a year, as a tourist. So I thought maybe the B-2 would be good to get, if it means she won`t have to do fingerprinting again.
Basically I don`t feel like shelling out a lot of money for the green card now since she won`t need it for years.

I can`t believe how much it costs to apply for these visas: the 130= $185
B-2 = $100
green card application = $335

What gives? For the green card she needs a police report, needs to go to a designated hospital (only 6 in Japan, 4 in Kanto, one in Kobe and one in Okinawa) and have 4 forms completed, including one for vaccinations. That costs 25,000 yen.

comments, please

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

My wife will have to go through the same process.

Deal with it. Some of it is meant as a natural screening process to protect the country against allowing undesireables.

As far as I know, once she gets her card, the two of you have about 3 or 6 months to move to the USA, then the card is void, so plan that into your schedule to save money for a house.

If your wife complains about fingerprinting, tell her that until recently, Japan fingerprinted all foreigners with work visas.

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

It is because Japan is a hotbed of Islamic terrorists, and these measures are designed to make sure the USA is safe from terrorism.

Either that or people from the middle east and the UK have to go through the exact same procedure.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Brooks,
Sounds like your wife is beginning to see what gaijins go through. I've been fingerprinted going to Korea, not fun but everyone has to do it, so it isn't discrimination. I believe everyone who enters the US now is fingerprinted, possible exception to Cdns (at least I wasn't last month).

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

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Speed · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 152 Location: Shikoku Land

[quote="guest of Japan"]

Sherri · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 9:41 pm Post subject:

We just went through this process about a year ago (moved to the US in July). It is not all that hard, though I remember being very worried about it at the time. The "interview" itself is pretty easy and it just takes place at one of the windows in the visa section of the embassy (Tokyo). It is a little pricey but I would pay the same amount for a weekend away--what's the big deal? A couple I know who moved to Australia paid MUCH more for the Japanese husband's visa process. The health check is easy, the worst part is having to lug around the huge x-ray to the embassy and to the airport (you can't bend it). As for fingerprinting--so what? I just got fingerprinted when I got my Hawaii driver's license. I also got fingerprinted at the ward office in Japan.

If you go to the embassy in Tokyo, there is a nice Danish bakery in Ark Hills where you can have a celebratory breakfast after you get your spouse's visa approved. Boy were we HAPPY when we got it!
Sherri

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

I HAVE A RELATED QUESTION- I'm American and my girlfriend is Japanese. We plan on getting married in Hawaii this summer, but we DON'T plan on living in the US. At least not for the foreseeable future. Can she go to Hawaii for the wedding on just a tourist visa? It seems that this would be the case, but I'm hesitant to make assumptions based on how unreasonable INS has been to some people who have made procedural mistakes in the past. I've checked the US embassy's web site that deals with this, but they don't address this question.

If anyone can give me an answer, I'd appreciate it!!!!!

Speed · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 152 Location: Shikoku Land

LA Galaxy · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 19 Location: Los Angeles

AS far as I remember you need to have a job waiting stateside before your spouse can be approved of the temporary green card (at least I had to do this back in 2003). I had no job waiting so I had to ask my sister to sponsor my wife. I had to give the embassy my sisters last 3-4 tax returns, statement of income,etc.

We also had to show proof of whatever assets we had, and my most recent U.S tax returns. If you havent filed taxes, do them before you apply. My wife did have to get a police report and a health check. The interview was pretty much a joke, as long as you have proof of a job waiting or have a sponsor it shouldn't be a problem. yes you have to apply for the pemanent green card prior to the 2 year expiration deadline.

In terms of saving up for a house, here in Southern CA, prices are still going up. From last year, houses have gone up 20-35 percent. It seems like the prices will continue to go up. The longer you wait, the higher prices will be, but its good to save for a good down payment.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

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

I'm neck deep in application papers right now, and I'm ore than a bit confused. The whole system is rigged for people currently in the US. Without a job or a residence, how do I sponsor my wife?

If anyone wouldn't mind sharing some of the details of the early legwork, I'd appreciate it.

Sherri · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:29 pm Post subject:

Guest
I did it last year. I wondered the same thing since I hadn't lived in the States for almost 25 years. You have to show your last 3 years of tax returns (even though you were in Japan at the time and probably didn't pay anything). The next thing you have to do it show your assets (both yours and your wife's) to make up the amount they show on the documents to bring you over the poverty line. So if you only have savings (no US-based job or income) then the savings amount is large. Showing property ownership and other assets like that are OK as long as you can liquidate them in a given time (I can't remember what it is). If you don't have the required assets then you have to ask a family member to sponsor you.

Hope this helps, you can PM me if you want more info.
Sherri

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

If at all possible, and especially if you have kids, go the "ask a family member in the US to co-sponsor you" route. Things are a lot easier, trust me.

Feel free to pm me for the gory details of my experience....