Changing to a Spouse visa from a Tourist visa

[jjaappaa]

I am just looking for some info about changing from a tourist visa to a spouse visa. How long does it take to get it changed? Anyone with any stories of changing over from a tourist or work to a spouse visa? I would appreciate your help as I will be headin over in Feb. Thanks jjaappaa

[FG Lurker]

I am just looking for some info about changing from a tourist visa to a spouse visa. How long does it take to get it changed? Anyone with any stories of changing over from a tourist or work to a spouse visa? I would appreciate your help as I will be headin over in Feb. Thanks jjaappaa

I don't know if it is possible to change from a tourist visa to a spouse visa or not. I changed from a student visa to a spouse visa without trouble. I would call an Japanese embassy to find out, or even better, a lawyer in Japan who handles immigration/visa work.

It took 2 to 3 months to get the spouse visa approved. My student visa expired during this time but it was not a problem, they back-dated the spouse visa to the last day of the student visa.

Good luck, don't bankrupt yourself on a Japanese wedding!!

[GomiGirl]

One assumes you have the pre-requisite spouse???

You didn't mention your marital status - are you already married, engaged or perhaps planning to select from the fine specimens that Japan has to offer when you get here?

[jjaappaa]

I am just looking for some info about changing from a tourist visa to a spouse visa. How long does it take to get it changed? Anyone with any stories of changing over from a tourist or work to a spouse visa? I would appreciate your help as I will be headin over in Feb. Thanks jjaappaa

I don't know if it is possible to change from a tourist visa to a spouse visa or not. I changed from a student visa to a spouse visa without trouble. I would call an Japanese embassy to find out, or even better, a lawyer in Japan who handles immigration/visa work.

It took 2 to 3 months to get the spouse visa approved. My student visa expired during this time but it was not a problem, they back-dated the spouse visa to the last day of the student visa.

Good luck, don't bankrupt yourself on a Japanese wedding!!

Thanks again FG! You are quick on the keys mate. I did ring the Jap. Consulate here in Brisbane. They said it takes about 3 months to change to a spouse visa. But you know how these agencies are, so I wanted to see if other people had shorter or longer waiting times. It seems you had no troubles getting it. Gives me a ray of hope. Don't worry I won't go bankrupt on the wedding. Just a short trip to the ward office to sign up! No money for a wedding at the moment...But we shall see what the In-laws have to offer.

[Steve Bildermann]

If you have properly registered your marriage in Japan and your name is shown in your spouses family register you can change from any type of visa (except a 48hour 'in transit' visa) to a spouse visa. You will receive a one year period of stay.

It could take as long as a few weeks, a few days or could be done on the spot. There is no fixed time.

[jjaappaa]

If you have properly registered your marriage in Japan and your name is shown in your spouses family register you can change from any type of visa (except a 48hour 'in transit' visa) to a spouse visa. You will receive a one year period of stay.

It could take as long as a few weeks, a few days or could be done on the spot. There is no fixed time.

We plan on marrying and registering the marriage in Japan. So the registering formalities will be completed just after I arrive. My visa will be a 90 day tourist visa (I am Aussie). It is heartening to know that it may happen in such a short time. But like you finished with 'There is no fixed time'. So I guess I will have to wait and see. I will be in Nagoya so I don't know if that will make the process quicker or slower? But anyway thanks for the feedback.

[jjaappaa]

One assumes you have the pre-requisite spouse???

You didn't mention your marital status - are you already married, engaged or perhaps planning to select from the fine specimens that Japan has to offer when you get here?

I will be interviewing girls for the position of spouse from the 24th to the 28th of February in Shibuya 109.

[FG Lurker]

If you have properly registered your marriage in Japan and your name is shown in your spouses family register you can change from any type of visa (except a 48hour 'in transit' visa) to a spouse visa. You will receive a one year period of stay.

It could take as long as a few weeks, a few days or could be done on the spot. There is no fixed time.

We plan on marrying and registering the marriage in Japan. So the registering formalities will be completed just after I arrive. My visa will be a 90 day tourist visa (I am Aussie). It is heartening to know that it may happen in such a short time. But like you finished with 'There is no fixed time'. So I guess I will have to wait and see. I will be in Nagoya so I don't know if that will make the process quicker or slower? But anyway thanks for the feedback.

Steve is right that there is no official time frame. The people I know who have done it (including me) took a couple to 3 months like the consulate said though.

There will of course be many forms to fill out and various documents to get from the ward office. You'll need to go to immigration once to get the forms, and then go back when everything is completed.

You'll need a sponsor too. Your wife can be your sponsor, even if she is not currently employed. Or you can ask her father to do it. I'll leave that one up to you to decide, it depends on family relations. Some fathers are probably happy/honoured to be asked, others couldn't care less. Still others might refuse if they don't approve of the marriage!

[jjaappaa]

If you have properly registered your marriage in Japan and your name is shown in your spouses family register you can change from any type of visa (except a 48hour 'in transit' visa) to a spouse visa. You will receive a one year period of stay.

It could take as long as a few weeks, a few days or could be done on the spot. There is no fixed time.

We plan on marrying and registering the marriage in Japan. So the registering formalities will be completed just after I arrive. My visa will be a 90 day tourist visa (I am Aussie). It is heartening to know that it may happen in such a short time. But like you finished with 'There is no fixed time'. So I guess I will have to wait and see. I will be in Nagoya so I don't know if that will make the process quicker or slower? But anyway thanks for the feedback.

Steve is right that there is no official time frame. The people I know who have done it (including me) took a couple to 3 months like the consulate said though.

There will of course be many forms to fill out and various documents to get from the ward office. You'll need to go to immigration once to get the forms, and then go back when everything is completed.

You'll need a sponsor too. Your wife can be your sponsor, even if she is not currently employed. Or you can ask her father to do it. I'll leave that one up to you to decide, it depends on family relations. Some fathers are probably happy/honoured to be asked, others couldn't care less. Still others might refuse if they don't approve of the marriage! ]

I haven't met the parents yet but from what my gf said her father mentioned that it would be easier for me with a spouse visa than to try and get the work visa. I think he said shougainai.(I know what this means but his usage is funny). So I am sure that they are cool with the marriage. He is happy that she is staying in Nagoya and not moving to Tokyo where we were originally going to go. I haven't been to Nag. yet but I am looking forward to it. Bring on the miso!

[sillygirl]

took 3 weeks for my visa status to change from tourist to spouse. We had to provide a photo of us taken together, all kinds of paperwork from the City Hall, but was pretty easy.

Congratulations by the way, and good luck!

[cstaylor]

I haven't met the parents yet

but from what my gf said her father mentioned that it would be easier for me with a spouse visa than to try and get the work visa.

Very true.

I think he said shougainai.(I know what this means but his usage is funny).

Um, could mean, "I want my daughter to be married, but to a hairy barbarian? Well, at least she's married, shougainai"

I haven't been to Nag. yet but I am looking forward to it. Bring on the miso!

Damn, you are one brave man. I visited my future in-laws four times before I suggested that I wanted to marry their daughter.

[FG Lurker]

Damn, you are one brave man. I visited my future in-laws four times before I suggested that I wanted to marry their daughter.

Gave them a bit of time to get used to the idea of a hairy barbarian in the family didja? Very considerate of you!!

I also visited a few times before that topic was broached... Being Japan though, the first visit tells them that the topic is coming around eventually, so it never comes as a surprise when it does.

We actually lived together for about a year before we finally tied the knot. Her father didn't mind the idea of us living together either, which totally blew me away. It wasn't until several years later that I found out why that was... My wife had told them that *my parents* wanted us to live together first!! She claims that I told her that, but I have no idea to this day where she got the idea from.

[cstaylor]

Gave them a bit of time to get used to the idea of a hairy barbarian in the family didja? Very considerate of you!!

Well, I figure that it cuts both ways. I mean, I was interviewing them for the position of in-laws, so I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with them before agreeing to marry their daughter.

I also visited a few times before that topic was broached... Being Japan though, the first visit tells them that the topic is coming around eventually, so it never comes as a surprise when it does.

Yes, but IMO it's respectful not to just show up, married, faits accomplis, on the very first visit. Give them some time to think about it.

We actually lived together for about a year before we finally tied the knot. Her father didn't mind the idea of us living together either, which totally blew me away. It wasn't until several years later that I found out why that was... My wife had told them that *my parents* wanted us to live together first!! She claims that I told her that, but I have no idea to this day where she got the idea from.

That's a nice trick. My wife does the same thing sometimes too... I've become much better at remembering what I say around her.

[FG Lurker]

Well, I figure that it cuts both ways. I mean, I was interviewing them for the position of in-laws, so I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with them before agreeing to marry their daughter.

Yep, very true and was the same for me.

Yes, but IMO it's respectful not to just show up, married, faits accomplis, on the very first visit. Give them some time to think about it.

Hehe! Do Japanese elope like that? I've not heard of it, but I guess it happens.

That's a nice trick. My wife does the same thing sometimes too... I've become much better at remembering what I say around her.

My wife doesn't do stuff like that though -- usually anyway! Perhaps that was the only way she could explain it... Well, I'm not going to rock the boat about it now!

My inlaws are great, no complaints about them at all. How about you cs? Problems? Good?

[cstaylor]

My inlaws are great, no complaints about them at all. How about you cs? Problems? Good?

Well, my parents divorced when I was about 12, so at first it was difficult dealing with another male in a position of power. Things are up and down, sometimes good, sometimes not. My company is a subsidiary of my father-in-law's, so I see him everyday.

[FG Lurker]

Well, my parents divorced when I was about 12, so at first it was difficult dealing with another male in a position of power. Things are up and down, sometimes good, sometimes not. My company is a subsidiary of my father-in-law's, so I see him everyday.

I guess I've been lucky that way. My wife's father doesn't step in or say anything about what we do or buy. I don't work with him though and I guess that helps. I made a fairly major purchase last year that I thought for sure he would say something about...Not a word.

[Mini_B]

Changing to a spouce VISA isn't all that easy. There are a bunch of papers you gotta fill out. You have to prove that you make enough money in Japan to survive. You have to show photos of you guys together to prove that you didn't just meet on the street and now you want a VISA. Have to get married of course which will require some paperwork at your embassy as well as registering with Japan. A real pain in the cohones if you ask me.

I just got mine a couple weeks ago (VISA not wife). It was a little more complicated than the average gaijin & nihonjin marriage...but it's a done deal. I got a 3 YEAR VISA not a 1 YEAR.

[American Oyaji]

For me, getting my spouse visa was an on the spot deal.

The guy at the office was being a bit of an ass, and was being a bit rude to my wife, so I said to him, "Watashi ha nihongo shabetemasu yo". His demeanor and attitude completely changed after that and he started asking ME the questions instead of her. Got a one year visa.

I had all my papers in hand. Also the fact that I had been living in Japan the previous 4 years as a military man helped. AND I already had a job at the base.

The next year I went up there by myself and they gave me a 3 year visa.

[Ketou]

You have to prove that you make enough money in Japan to survive.

Not a good idea if your on a tourist visa to start with.
Your wife or such can sponsor you though.

Anyway i was basically in the same position jjaappaa. Aussie, on tourist visa changing to spousal. Had no probs at all.
For registering your marraige. You will need a letter (can't remember what it's called) that states you have never been married or are not presently married in Oz. Or a marriage certificate if you are getting married in Au first.

[jjaappaa]

You have to prove that you make enough money in Japan to survive.

Not a good idea if your on a tourist visa to start with.
Your wife or such can sponsor you though.

Anyway i was basically in the same position jjaappaa. Aussie, on tourist visa changing to spousal. Had no probs at all.
For registering your marraige. You will need a letter (can't remember what it's called) that states you have never been married or are not presently married in Oz. Or a marriage certificate if you are getting married in Au first.

Hey Ketou my jp gf told me I would need that paper. Do you know where I need to get it. I am going to look on the net but if you know that would be a great help.

[jjaappaa]

To all and sundry thanks alot for your advice and telling me about your experience. In just over a month I will be in Japan. I am looking forward to being a fucked gaijin as opposed to just fucked.

[FG Lurker]

Hey Ketou my jp gf told me I would need that paper. Do you know where I need to get it. I am going to look on the net but if you know that would be a great help.

Yes, I think everyone needs one. For me the Canadian consulate in Osaka wrote and notarized it for me.

The fucked up thing is that the Consulate had no way to know if I was actually unmarried or not! Basically I signed a document swearing to be single. They notarized it and that was it. Very odd.

If this is your first marriage then it will say that you are "single". If you are divorced it will say "divorced", and make sure they put the date of your divorce in the letter too. There is an odd law in Japan that says for women they must wait one year after divorce before they can remarry. For men there is no waiting period...! They still like to know the date though. Fucked for sure but...

[FG Lurker]

To all and sundry thanks alot for your advice and telling me about your experience. In just over a month I will be in Japan. I am looking forward to being a fucked gaijin as opposed to just fucked.

Maybe you mentioned this already, but...Where will you be coming to in Japan?

[FG Lurker]

I am looking forward to being a fucked gaijin as opposed to just fucked.

As long as you can keep getting the latter after becoming the former you'll be fine.

[jjaappaa]

Hey Ketou my jp gf told me I would need that paper. Do you know where I need to get it. I am going to look on the net but if you know that would be a great help.

Yes, I think everyone needs one. For me the Canadian consulate in Osaka wrote and notarized it for me.

The fucked up thing is that the Consulate had no way to know if I was actually unmarried or not! Basically I signed a document swearing to be single. They notarized it and that was it. Very odd.

If this is your first marriage then it will say that you are "single". If you are divorced it will say "divorced", and make sure they put the date of your divorce in the letter too. There is an odd law in Japan that says for women they must wait one year after divorce before they can remarry. For men there is no waiting period...! They still like to know the date though. Fucked for sure but...

My gf said that I would need to get this paper in Aus. and that I couldn't get it in Japan? Me thinks she made a mistake. Obviously if a fg wants to marry and change to a spouse visa after working and living in Japan for 4 years it seems a little cruel to get them to go all the way back home for one piece of paper. She also said that getting this paper can take 1 week so if I can get it done in Aus. it will save a bit of time in Japan.

[jjaappaa]

Hey Ketou my jp gf told me I would need that paper. Do you know where I need to get it. I am going to look on the net but if you know that would be a great help.

Yes, I think everyone needs one. For me the Canadian consulate in Osaka wrote and notarized it for me.

The fucked up thing is that the Consulate had no way to know if I was actually unmarried or not! Basically I signed a document swearing to be single. They notarized it and that was it. Very odd.

If this is your first marriage then it will say that you are "single". If you are divorced it will say "divorced", and make sure they put the date of your divorce in the letter too. There is an odd law in Japan that says for women they must wait one year after divorce before they can remarry. For men there is no waiting period...! They still like to know the date though. Fucked for sure but...

My gf said that I would need to get this paper in Aus. and that I couldn't get it in Japan? Me thinks she made a mistake. Obviously if a fg wants to marry and change to a spouse visa after working and living in Japan for 4 years it seems a little cruel to get them to go all the way back home for one piece of paper. She also said that getting this paper can take 1 week so if I can get it done in Aus. it will save a bit of time in Japan.

By the way I am single not yet batsu ichi.

[Ketou]

Hey Ketou my jp gf told me I would need that paper. Do you know where I need to get it. I am going to look on the net but if you know that would be a great help.

I got mine from the consular office in Nagoya. If you can get one in Oz that would be easier. I suggest ringing the family court and tell them you are getting married overseas and need a certificate to say you are not married in Australia. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

[jjaappaa]

Hey Ketou my jp gf told me I would need that paper. Do you know where I need to get it. I am going to look on the net but if you know that would be a great help.

I got mine from the consular office in Nagoya. If you can get one in Oz that would be easier. I suggest ringing the family court and tell them you are getting married overseas and need a certificate to say you are not married in Australia. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

Thanks mate I will get on to it!

[FG Lurker]

I got mine from the consular office in Nagoya. If you can get one in Oz that would be easier. I suggest ringing the family court and tell them you are getting married overseas and need a certificate to say you are not married in Australia. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

Thanks mate I will get on to it!

Seems that Australia has their shit a bit more together about this than Canada did! In my case the consulate definitely didn't check, the whole thing was done within about 10 minutes.

Good luck with getting it all done.

[Ketou]

Seems that Australia has their shit a bit more together about this than Canada did! In my case the consulate definitely didn't check, the whole thing was done within about 10 minutes.

Good luck with getting it all done.

From what I remember it was no different. Make an appointment time, go in, sign a paper and get your stamp of approval! I'm sure if one applied at home though they would check the register .