Marriage And Gaijin Citizenship In Japan

[cstaylor]

There's no such thing as a "Green Card" for marrying a Japanese. Every few years or so you have to renew your "Spouse of a Japanese" visa, showing proof that you're still married. If you get a divorce you lose your right to stay in Japan. You're a hostage with no rights unless you go through the naturalization process and become a citizen (and consequently lose your American citizenship).

Oh, and AFAIK you can't own property unless you're a citizen (not completely sure about that), so if you divorce you will probably end up with nothing.

[Taro Toporific]

There's no such thing as a "Green Card" for marrying a Japanese.

4Sure!
It's better to call the spouse visa a "PET LICENCE."

--Taro, coming on twenty years without a Green Card

[Blah Pete]

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/

Some good visa information.

[Steve Bildermann]

[cstaylor]

Wow... thanks Steve. I'll make sure to keep this information handy.

[GomiGirl]

Considering the drop in Real estate prices in Tokyo, I am looking at some property - albeit a tiny apartment. The mortgage is less than half of what I am paying in rent and I don't have any pesky landlords to deal with. The bank says that a mortgage is no real trouble even though I am a F*cked Gaijin as I am such a fine upstanding citizen, pay my taxes yadi yadi yadi. I do (partially) own a Japanese KK company so that is a big plus.

The good thing is that later I can be a pesky landlord but more importanly, use the property as collataral when trying to extend my *good* business loans. (see below)

But perhaps the mechanics of obtaining said mortgage will be a heap different when it comes time to sign contracts. The money to be paid out to the real estate agent is horrendous as are the initial mortgage fees but otherwise it is actually quite affordable for a single girl on a "local hire" type salary. I shall keep you posted.

Being a property owner in Japan will have very little effect on my visa or residency status or voting ability - but I will be able to purchase my own little piece of Japan. It is not as hard as I thought when it was first suggested to me by a friend who bought her own apartment. I hadn't even thought it was a possibility for the average Japanese citizen, let alone a FG. But my friend bought one on her own when she was under 30 with just a minimum deposit and no guarenteur.

An aside which may be of interest to other small business owners - especially in tech industries which I have been known, on occassion, to indulge. There is mention that banks will recognise intellectual property as collatoral for extensions to business loans. At present the only thing that is recognised is bricks and mortar.

[Steve Bildermann]

[canman]

I have been married for five years now to a Japanese national. My wife would kill me if she read that portrail. Anyway, like Steve said, I first got a spouse visa, even though the immigration officer warned my wife that she had to be careful, I might just be using her, to stay in the country. Such a nice sentiment from a public official. After six months, I was able to upgrade to a 3 year visa. Then last year I finally applied and got my permanent residency. Now from what I understand Steve is correct you can do everything but vote if you get permanent residency, and yes even get a loan, or own property in your own name. Gomi girl, I don't like to question people, but I'm a little surprised that you are able to get a mortgage without having permanent residency. The other thing is if you do have pr, you are able to apply for the gov't housing loan program, which offers interests rates much less than the banks will give you. Last I heard you could borrow at about 1.9%, but that is only if you are buying new property.
Also Steve you mentioned about having to leave if you get divorced, but again if you get permanent residency, you can stay forever.
Hope that helps you out. Although I may have been repeating what others said. Cheers.

[Taro Toporific]

But perhaps the mechanics of obtaining said mortgage will be a heap different when it comes time to sign contracts.

Been there, done that (and all I have is the T-shirt).

One word of hard-earned advice: "Bumping."

You might get a loan, but at TWICE the interest rate that a real salaryman would. This "bump" will occur just days before closing.

Warning for all FG: Japanese housing sales people will say ANYTHING nice to gaijin, but just see what happens AFTER they get your earnest money deposit.

Don't say I didn't warn ya...

PS: Acting like Jack Nicolson in the movie THE SHINING can get ya out of any Japanese "creative" contract.

[GomiGirl]

Another salient point is that if you do pay your taxes you are entitled to every benefit a Japanese citizen receives. No exceptions.

Absolutely true. I think that most people don't hear about what is available mainly because of the language barrier. Having said that, it has been my experience that many facilities/opportunities available to tax payers are not fully utilised in any country. I suppose because the govts don't make the info easily available and the info is all in government-speak.

Except people who choose to be unemployed for a very long time.. I have a few friends who have chosen to be beach bums and surf everyday - they know every single opportunity available to them. I am not some right wing fascist so it doesn't worry me so much what they do. I have chosen to work and be independant mainly because I enjoy it.

But I did take advantage recently of my local ward's country retreat near Yamanakako at the base of Fuji-san. Open to all residents (or workers) in each ward, for a fraction of the cost of a hotel, you can stay whenever you like as long as you give the ward 2 months notice via a postcard system. Food was great and the place was stunning - better than some hotels in the area. All wards have some sort of country retreat like this for their residents but most people don't know about it or take advantage of it. Sure 2 months in advance was a bit of a pain - have to be organised. But it was absolutely worth it.

I know a gaijin man who is 65 and he has just been told that he is now entitled to the free annual health checks from the local government. The ward office sent him a notification around the time of his birthday. What he really wants is a free pass to use the trains.

[Steve Bildermann]

[tokyojoe]

Just curious, but what happens if a foreigner marries a Japanese, has kids and then divorces. If you are off the spousal visa but still have kids here, what happens? They wouldn`t kick someone out would they?

As for permanent residency, I have been told by long time residents that if you get it you may end up paying more taxes. Has anyone else heard this?

[Steve Bildermann]

[canman]

Tokyojoe, I'm not sure about the tax thing. I recently started my own company. Like Gomigirl its a KK, so I really don't know if you work for a Japanese company will they tax you more. It wouldn't surprise me if they did, but I'm not sure. But if they do, there might be some other benefit you will be able to receive.
Steve, you mentioned that you were able to get a mortgage on a six month spouse visa. But was the mortgage in your name or your that of your wife. I'm not sure what its like down south, but up here in the sticks, both I and my friend tried to get a loan before, in our own name and they wouldn't go for it. I heard the reason they won't give you a loan on such a short visa is they fear you are a greater frick to flee and not repay the loan. Isn't that the same logic that docomo uses for charging gaijin the 30 000 yen deposit for their phones. But if you have PR you are exempt.

[kamome]

As for permanent residency, I have been told by long time residents that if you get it you may end up paying more taxes. Has anyone else heard this?

Permanent residency for Japanese tax purposes just means that you have had a residence in Japan for five years or more. At that point, your worldwide income will be taxable, not just your Japan-source income. So in that sense, you are liable for more taxes in Japan. However, the applicable tax rate shouldn't change just because your residency status has.

PR may have a different meaning to the immigration authorities, but for tax purposes, the five-year rule applies.

[Steve Bildermann]

Tokyojoe, I'm not sure about the tax thing. I recently started my own company. Like Gomigirl its a KK, so I really don't know if you work for a Japanese company will they tax you more. It wouldn't surprise me if they did, but I'm not sure. But if they do, there might be some other benefit you will be able to receive.
Steve, you mentioned that you were able to get a mortgage on a six month spouse visa. But was the mortgage in your name or your that of your wife. I'm not sure what its like down south, but up here in the sticks, both I and my friend tried to get a loan before, in our own name and they wouldn't go for it. I heard the reason they won't give you a loan on such a short visa is they fear you are a greater frick to flee and not repay the loan. Isn't that the same logic that docomo uses for charging gaijin the 30 000 yen deposit for their phones. But if you have PR you are exempt.

I bought the house in my name with a rather substantial deposit and signed all the papers myself (I did not have a hanko) I owned two companies at the time which had been established in Japan for a number of years. I had quite a bit of cash in the bank and the bank held a number of long term savings certificates of mine. They signed off on me as a good risk. My wife had nothing to do with it.

Again it comes down to risk assessment. Simply put, can the lender get his money back (with interest) in a timely manner?

If you can get an established Japanese citizen to sign a formal letter of guarantee for 100% of the loan any bank or institution will front you the money regardless of your visa status.

[tokyojoe]

Permanent residency for Japanese tax purposes just means that you have had a residence in Japan for five years or more. At that point, your worldwide income will be taxable, not just your Japan-source income. So in that sense, you are liable for more taxes in Japan. However, the applicable tax rate shouldn't change just because your residency status has.

PR may have a different meaning to the immigration authorities, but for tax purposes, the five-year rule applies.

OK, yes, this rings a bell. Why would anyone want to get it then if you can avoid it? Think I`ll keep getting the 3 year. Sheesh.

[American Oyaji]

I lived in the same town Canman does and they cant be pretty sticky.

But the immigration officials at the port (you have to drive to the sea port to get it done) were a bit gruff the first time I went to see them and he was scowling at my wife, until I started speaking Japanese to him. His tone changed REAL quick. That was for a one year visa.

I went by myself to get it renewed and they stamped it with a 3 year.

I never had to get a 6 monther. Possibly because I had been in Japan for 3 years already with the U.S. military.

I think its all about who you are dealing with.

[gaijinzilla]

Interesting info from everyone.
About visas and such I think it really comes down to who is working behind the counter at the immigration office. I used to have problems (those small nagging bureaucratical errors) every time i went to renew my visa, even after I got married. Once my wife and the immigration officer even got into an argument
Then one year when I went to renew and wrote "1 year" on my application form, the young woman who was processessing my papers said "Why don't you write in 3 years" I did. Since then I've never had any other problems at Immigration, either. Different personel. Even the OYAJIs are friendly and helpful. Sometimes I wonder if I'm living in a parallel universe!!

[Taro Toporific]

I Since then I've never had any other problems at Immigration, either. Different personel. Even the OYAJIs are friendly and helpful. Sometimes I wonder if I'm living in a parallel universe!! 8O

It was the proper PHASE of the MOON.

ANYTHING is possible with the random folks at Immigration, Hell, I even got a new re-entry permit at Narita Airport (normally impossible), sheesh.

[Taro Toporific]

I Since then I've never had any other problems at Immigration, either. Different personel. Even the OYAJIs are friendly and helpful. Sometimes I wonder if I'm living in a parallel universe!! 8O

It was the proper PHASE of the MOON.

Actually, to answer my own question...to quote Terrie Lloyd in his JapanToday Op-Ed piece:
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=comment&id=257

" I stumbled across an excellent book called, what else, "A Japanese Visa Handbook" by Motoko Kuroda and published by ICG Muse, Inc. ..."

"For example, knowing why Japanese immigration rules seem so arbitrary because the country doesn't want immigrants (not yet, at least) immediately clarifies what is needed to get someone a visa. What is that? Well, in place of black and white rules, you instead have to show strength of desire to get the visa. This translates into voluminous paperwork, persistence, and support from the hiring company and related sponsors. Put in the right effort, and your chances of successfully getting a visa increase. Simple once you know, right?"

[kamome]

Okay Kamome, come clean...which one of the Big 4 do you work for?

By the way, good luck in your future work I am sure you will be better served by biting the bullet and coming back to the US for awhile.

Peace!

I think the question is which Big 4 do YOU work for? :P

Thanks for the kind words about the job situation.

[Taro Toporific]

...as they do have some leeway in decisionmaking, I suspect.

Yeah, the dread Japanese "case-by-case" worked for you.

Even the always-helpful Father Joseph of the Japan Times says to use an administrative scrivener with the bastards ...

Make sure you go through a gyosei shoshi, which is the equivalent of an Immigration Lawyer. They can work wonders.
Mr. Nakai at www. tokyovisa.co.jp or Mr. Inomoto at (E-mail)
inomoto-i@gyosei.or.jp may be able to help you.