OK, I'm getting hitched with a J-Girl but...

[Mini_B]

Dear FG's. I've learned from a number of people and postings that it's easiest to aquire a VISA and resident status by marrying a Japanese. Although this may be true...could anyone shed some light on exactly HOW LONG it takes to get the VISA and what process is involved? Can the marriage take place in the US? Or do I have to tie the knot in Japan as well?

[Big Booger]

Don't do it! Don't do it! Don't do it!

Once you buy the cow, the milk runs dry.

Just kidding. You're best bet would be to get married in Japan, and let the inlaws pay for it. Especially if you want to make headway into the family that you are marrying into.

I've heard that if you don't get hitched in Japan, the family, depending on how wacko they are, won't recognize your marriage.

I got married with my J-wife in the States, and we moved here. Then just going down to the Immigration office, filling out the forms and such, gets you the visa. 1 year, renuable every year thereafter.

I haven't done it yet, but I am going to next year, as my current Visa will be expired next July.

[Steve Bildermann]

got married with my J-wife in the States, and we moved here. Then just going down to the Immigration office, filling out the forms and such, gets you the visa. 1 year, renuable every year thereafter.

Ahhh - you missed *the* vital step. Going to the ward/city hall and getting your name added to your wife's family register.

[Taro Toporific]

got married with my J-wife in the States, and we moved here. Then just going down to the Immigration office, filling out the forms and such, gets you the visa. 1 year, renuable every year thereafter.

Ahhh - you missed *the* vital step. Going to the ward/city hall and getting your name added to your wife's family register.

Better known as, "GETTING THE PET LICENCE".

See Juminhyo in a Nutshell
Posted by: archives_bibliote
The juminhyo officially serves to verify the name, address, and date of birth of a resident and to verify his or her relationship to the household head {That's your wife who is the "Head"--you're just a pet or chattel.}

http://www.issho.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=337&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Also
http://www.dawncenter.or.jp/english/publication/edawn/0212/registry.html
[/b]

[Big Booger]

Yep totally forgot that one. Added to the family register.. Oh how proud I was of that moment.

[Big Booger]

So if we are not listeed in the jyuminhyo, then do we technically have to pay taxes since in reality, at least according to that document, we do not live in Japan?

The juminhyo is an important document necessary for much of the official business one must carry out in the course of daily life in Japan: it must be submitted to verify one's address; for enrolling children in schools; applying for passports and visas, car or motorbike licenses; applying to take some exams; in certain cases applying for rent subsidies or to get one's taxes assessed and returned

If so, I will stop paying taxes pronto.

[Steve Bildermann]

[Big Booger]

Ahhh ha,
Now I she. So the koseki and the jyuminhyo are two different items. Thanks for the clarification.

[Mini_B]

I went to a judicial schrivener to get some other mendokusai B.S. sorted out and asked him about the marriage VISA while I was there. He sent me an email with a quote for the spouce VISA application process...etc. It reads as follows:

The marriage: 157,500 yen
The marriage visa : 157,000 yen

Change of status from temporary visitor to the working visa: 10,500.yen
Re-entry permit : 10,500.yen
Tax: 12000yen in total

Therefore your total cost is only 347,000 yen including the tax.
(Some miscellaneous expense under 20,000 yen may be needed.)

OK, so is this guy high on some of China's finest?
Did any of you FG's use a professional during the process?
Would I be pissing YEN away giving this guy my funds?

Regarding your comments about making a good impression on the family....They are living overseas now and I'm as cool as Fonzy with her Parents. No need to impress. BUT...another question just comes to mind.

Since they're living overseas (CANADA)...my girl doesn't have her femily register...but she does have a J-Passport. What's the scoop on getting a family register?? Time frame...etc.

Greatly appreciated !!!

[AssKissinger]

Would I be pissing YEN away giving this guy my funds?

Yes, I think so. My wife and I did it all ourselves.

Therefore your total cost is only 347,000 yen including the tax.

I think this SOB put the 'kusai' in 'mendokusai'. That's some serious cake. I remember the spouse visa and the marriage stuff was a pain and there was some bs bureaucracy but it wasn't no 347,000 yen hard that's for sure.

OK, so is this guy high on some of China's finest?

Did someone say high on China's finest? Sure, I'll take a hit.

[Taro Toporific]

could I be pissing YEN away giving this guy my funds?
....
Therefore your total cost is only 347,000 yen including the tax.
Since they're living overseas (CANADA)...my girl doesn't have her family register...

That's a high quote but not unheard of; the prices I heard are 50-90,000yen.

However, you're kind of screwed by your wife's lack of a family register. Before you even try to get your visa, your wife should get that family register problem solved. The actual spouse visa is not all that big problem in terms of paperwork. At 347,00 yen, perhaps a trip to Japan for her is smarter ( if the Embassy can't handle it which I bet they can't/won't).

High-powered, bi-lingual judicial schriveners are worth their weight in gold IF you have odd visa problems. For example, I've been rejected for a perm. visa without cause. The next time I go to bat against the a-holes in Immigration I'll have a judicial schrivener or lawyers handle it (since 20+ years on a temp visa is absurd).

[Mini_B]

Thanks boys and girls. I'm gonna kindly refuse this J.S.'s offer and do the legwork with my women. We're obviously gonna get the register situation sorted out prior to us tying the knot.

If any others have some experience with this matter...your words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

PEACE.