My wife (married in Japan) already submitted her i130 back in august in tokyo. last month she applied for her final interview, and it was scheduled for oct 24.

since she's studying med here in the states on a student visa, and the instructions on the embassy's website stated (and continue to state) that the immigrant visa will be issued in the afternoon of the day the final interview is conducted, she bought a 3-day trip ticket, arriving in tokyo on the 23rd and returning the 25. she can't afford to miss class.

we had received email instructions from the embassy in tokyo confirming this itinerary is fine. it cost 1500 yen just to ask that question via email.

NOW, as of this week, the embassy policy has changed - they say are no longer issuing visas the same day. (though other pages on their website continue to state that they are).

i sent another email, for another 1500yen, to make sure that this policy change does not affect my wife, as she had purchased her ticket last month, and had previously confirmed her plans with embassy personel via their 1500yen/shot email service, as well as asking in person the day she submitted the i130, as well as is still being posted on their website.

the embassy's reply, written in non-native english, basically says, "sorry, you're fucked cause we changed our policy. we are happy to be of service for you anytime."

what the fuck? i want to punch who ever the little fuck is that wrote that email. is this shit for real? can they just back out of everything they said and emailed us? I have copies of the email and their webpage as proof, and my wife's plane ticket and interview were scheduled a month before this BS policy change. what - the - fuck? if i were dealing with a private company, i wouldn't be stressing out about this - i could report the bbb, claim the company is liable for a wasted $900 plane ticket, etc. but how can i fix this?

Are you talking about the U.S. Embassy? If so, they suck. You've really got to plan with the worst possible case in mind, because they've got no concept of resposibility to their citizens.

If I understand you correctly, your wife is Japanese but currently studying in the US. The visa application, however, requires that she return to Tokyo to the US embassy.

The embassy in Tokyo has just changed its rules and cost you dearly.

Someone at the embassy sent you misleading information although they didn't know it would be misleading when they sent it. That person has little or no power to help you. I think you need to appeal to that person's senior - i.e. you need to find someone who can bend the new rules for you because they realize they a mistake was made. As cstaylor says, though, US embassies world wide are getting a reputation for arbitrary decision-making and Tokyo is no different.

Your wife could also try asking the Japanese embassy in the US for help or, at least, "clarification". Some countries' embassies are taking up their citizens' cases with the US to protest against this kind of behaviour.

To be honest, though, a better route to solving the immediate financial hit might be to appeal to the airline company for a refund or date change (which they are likely not contractually obliged to give you). Airlines are only too aware of this kind of problem and might be sympathetic but that is also a long shot.

Yep, dealing with US immigration is like wandering around lost in a maze. They are very unresponsive and set up all kinds of barriers to direct contact (i.e., the 1500 yen just to send a friggin' email, etc.) I once managed to score the direct email address of one of the Embassy consuls I met at a bar in Roppongi, so I was able to cut through some red tape when I needed some things from the Embassy. But I am afraid you are screwed with the plane ticket, etc. The Embassy takes no responsibility for anything they say and there is no higher authority to appeal to that I know of.

The only suggestion I have is to find an American immigration lawyer in Japan who has connections within the Embassy. The good lawyers in that field will know Embassy officials that the common citizen would never have access to. Perhaps one of these officials can expedite your case so you don't have to repurchase your airline ticket. If you are in serious need of help and are willing to pay lawyer's fees, I recommend that you contact Marcus Kosins, Esq.:

Kosins Attorney at Foreign Law Office
6th F1, Urban Toranomon Bldg., 1-16-4 Toranomon, Minato-Ku
Tokyo 105
Japan
Tel: 81355100505
Fax: 81335802348

He's a very nice guy and can at least provide a consultation on your matter so that you know whether you would need to hire him or not. And no, I am not a member of his firm nor do I receive any money for client referrals.

final interview

How many interviews did she have to do?

1500yen/shot email service,

assholes

How long is the wait between the interview and the visa now? Will they mail the visa later on? (I know that's no good for you because you're wife needs her passport to get back home)

Sorry I just have questions for you and no advice. If it's any consolation I'm doing the same crap and feel your pain.

Well I just got off the phone with the Embassy. It could've been worse I suppose:

I got some jgirl (not able to provide a name, ID number, anything). It took her like 4 minutes just find my wife's freaking file. christ.

anyway, i explained the situation, and i got a response so cliched japanese it would be funny if it weren't so fucking serious:

"I understand, but we changed our policy."

Holy-mother-fucking-raping-aliens-from-galatica-hell. how do you like them apples?

I asked if i could speak to a supervisor, and she said no, but she was courteous enough to put me on hold for while she spoke with her superior for 6 minutes (800yen). she came back and said, so politely:

"when your wife comes to the embassy, she should explain her situation to the visa officer."

that was it. i made a couple more half-hearted attempts to get something more out of her, but she just said in so many ways she can't guarantee anything, and that my wife should just explain her situation when she arrives. trying to explain to her that i would appreciate something more substantial was about as productive as putting my dick in a garbage disposal it felt like. it didn't matter that my wife had noted her unique, time-critical circumstances when she scheduled the interview last month - they had a new policy, and that was 5 days waiting.

after another minute or 2 of policy rehash, my 18minute (3600yen) max call time limit had neared, and mystery lady kindly interrupted me to say bye, which was pretty much fine since i was clearly finished anyway, so i thanked her and asked her to make sure my wife's file was notated with details of the phone conversation, and that was it.

fuck-turds.

i'm getting the impression that this is a situ where officially they can't say anything (it's policy), but should my wife show up and explain her situation to the visa officer next week per mystique's advice, my wife will be coming home tuesday with a new immigrant visa in her passport.

at least, that's what i'm telling myself.... i guess when you're understaffed, it's easy to just treat people like numbers.

kamome


thanks for the tip. i'll give him a call.

Marcus is one rocking cool lawyer dude. If you see him, tell him the guy from Hawaii says thanks for the embassy info.

otherwise, yeah, it really seems more like a case by case deal, and it's sounding more and more like she'll be taken care of as long as she plays it cool and doesn't make waves in the interview.

then again, i'll know for sure next week, won't i?
bah

Maybe you can have her dress in a burqa and claim she's an Iraqi Shiite who voted in the election (make sure to dye her finger purple). She'd probably get one of those "Presidential Medals of Freedom" things that Bush hands out like hard candy.

Where does all the money go that is paid in taxes? It sure doesn't go to help regular Joe Citizen when he's applying for help at the embassy.

cstaylor wrote:Where does all the money go that is paid in taxes? It sure doesn't go to help regular Joe Citizen when he's applying for help at the embassy.

That is the problem, she's not a US citizen and she doesn't pay taxes. So to the US embassy, she's an unperson.

Charles wrote:

cstaylor wrote:Where does all the money go that is paid in taxes? It sure doesn't go to help regular Joe Citizen when he's applying for help at the embassy.

That is the problem, she's not a US citizen and she doesn't pay taxes. So to the US embassy, she's an unperson.

They treat their fellow Americans just as shitty. I mean, Alpha's American, that's the point. BTW, Alpha, you did see my questions above, didn't you?

under the new policy they will mail the visa to you you within 5-10 days. after the interview. they have 2 interviews they need to go through.

alphanumeric wrote:under the new policy they will mail the visa to you you within 5-10 days. after the interview. they have 2 interviews they need to go through.

Thank you.

Can they do both interviews during in one day?

alphanumeric wrote:Marcus is one rocking cool lawyer dude. If you see him, tell him the guy from Hawaii says thanks for the embassy info.

I'm glad he helped you. He is very cool and sympathetic to the plight of FG's in need. I no longer live in Japan and he won't know from this thread who I am, but he helped me out once and I feel that he should benefit from referrals.