Job Discussion Forums

jonathanj · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 93

I am in the middle of getting my Japanese visa. My wife is Chinese. After looking on the MOFA Website, it mentioned that I could sponsor her visa once I got my working one. After making some phone calls to the Japanese embassy in Dalian and Beijing, China, they told my wife that I will need to go to Japan first, get some documents from my employer, get some documents from MOFA, send them back to China, and then have her apply for a dependent visa within China.

Has anyone been in this situation before. I am so lost on what to do. I don't want to go to Japan without my wife.

Thanks.

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

I'm afraid I can't come up with an authoritative, definite answer to your particular situation here, but, having had lots of frustration through the years caused by overseas embassies/consulates of various countries, including my own, who it subsequently transpired didn't have a clue what they were talking about, I really do feel your pain.

If it's any encouragement, my experience has been that some of these overseas missions come out with different advice depending on who you speak to and when, and especially so when asked about a slightly less usual case, such as yours, involving a dependent visa where neither person is Japanese. So I would suggest you perhaps contact the immigration office in Japan where you'll be living and see what they say. If you get a more promising answer, make a note of the name of the person you spoke to, in case someone else later tells you different.

If it really isn't possible for your wife to get her dependent visa in China without you going to Japan alone first, could she possibly go with you as a tourist and then apply from within Japan? (Just guessing here, I don't know the precise cans & can't of that) Even if, say, she had to later briefly leave Japan to go to a consulate outside the country, you'd still be able to actually go to Japan together initially.

jonathanj · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 93

Well, I called the immigration office in Tokyo, and they told me that I had to apply for a CoE, just like a work visa (but with a few different needed documents). Makes sense I guess. After receiving this, she can apply for a Dependent visa. Just hoping my employer can come through and do this for me instead of waiting for me to go to Japan in a month and a half.

Thanks for your help and sympathies!!!!!!

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

One of my friends came to Japan with his Taiwanese wife, who does not work. Obviously it can be done!

slodziak · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 143 Location: Tokyo

I'm British but my wife holds a Sri Lankan passport.
In October 2006 I entered Japan under a normal tourist visa; my wife applied for and obtained a tourist visa in Sri Lanka. Both visas were valid for three months.
My company had prepared a COE so very soon after arriving (about 2 days) I applied for a change in status to working visa. On receipt of my new visa (about two weeks after application) my wife applied for her COE based on my new status. She received her COE after about three weeks and then applied for a change in visa status to dependent which she received after another 2 weeks.
The time taken for my wife to get her visa status changed from entering Japan was about 7 weeks; her tourist visa more than adequately covered this period.
Therefore, I think if you move swiftly (and the Japanese Embassy in China offers three month tourist visas) you should both be able to enter the country without the hassles you outline above.

jonathanj · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 93

slodziak · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 143 Location: Tokyo

G Cthulhu · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

jonathanj · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 93

Well, I just found out today that my wife cannot do this because she is a Chinese citizen. She has to be invited by someone in Japan for a tourist visa, or my employer or I have to apply for her CoE for a dependent visa within Japan. The company that hired me is being lazy about this and is not answering if they are willing to do this for my wife or not. I have tried calling and they keep giving me the run around.

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

Are you really sure it is laziness? Could be any number of things.

Too busy.
Didn't understand you.
Takes longer than you think because the right people are out of town.

If all else fails, just plan for you to be the one to invite her. It can't take that long to be apart. If both of you want to come badly enough, you will bear the brief separation.