Immigration Lawyer, Beyond Watabe office

Immigration Lawyer, Beyond Watabe office

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ビザはじめ様々な問題を解決するため法的なサポートを提供する行政書士事務所です

I'm a bilingual immigration lawyer in Tokyo. If you have any Visa problem or other issues, please contact us.

在日外国人の皆さまの、ビザなど在留資格に関する問題を解決する入管業務専門の行政書士事務所です

I'm a bilingual immigration lawyer in Tokyo. If you have any Visa problem, please contact us.

Photos from Immigration Lawyer, Beyond Watabe office's post 15/06/2025

Sunday Post on June 15th, 2025

Rainy season has started in Tokyo. In Japan, we have rainy season called ‘Tsuyu’ around June. It lasts about one month. Tsuyu is 梅雨 in Japanese character, Kanji. 梅 means plum. 雨 is rain. June is also the season of plum.

Today, I will share one case that my office had been handling for over 1 year. He contacted us in May 2024 for the first time. He registered a company with hid friend in September 2023 and applied COE for business manager visa hiring other Immigration lawyer’s office. Unfortunately, his application was disapproved. He was not satisfied with the former lawyer and contacted my office. The main reason of disapproval was that his business plan was not accurate enough. Checking the copy of application documents, we got the same impression. His business is very unique and I thought there might be business chance for him. We made a contract for reapplication in the beginning of June and started preparing documents. My colleague Yachida took charge of his case. She tried to get lots of information from him and brushes up his business plan. His application documents were more than 120 pages. With lots of efforts, I submitted his application at Tokyo Immigration in Mid of July 2024.

Then we waited and waited. We submitted additional documents for more than 5 times to explain how his business was expanding. He was not residents in Japan but he registered the company with his friend who has PR. So, his company could start business somehow. Moreover, he is from the country that has visa waiver agreement with Japan. So, he can visit Japan anytime with tourist visa for checking his business. But it is also the issue that we concerned a lot. He was back and forth for many times and stayed in Japan with tourist visa for quite long time. Of course, he was not overstaying but staying in Japan too long with tourist visa is not normal situation.

It is not rare for business manager visa/COE application to take nearly 1 year. My office has 2 other cases that took nearly 1 year and they got approved. So, we didn’t lose our hope but I can imagine how much he worried about his business and himself. He invested big money on his business. In case the reapplication disapproved again, everything might become in vain.

In March 2025, he sent a message to me. It was not about his business nor business manager COE application. It was his marriage. While waiting the result of COE application and preparing his business, he also developed the relation with a Japanese young lady. Their relation lasted more than a year which we had not known at all. Anyway, they have just decided to get married. It was wonderful news for them. But we had to discuss well about his next step. We believed his business manager COE application procedure was about to end. We were not sure if he could get approval or not. But we spent a lot of time and efforts for this application. In order to apply spouse visa, he needs to cancel business manager visa. And even if he cancels the COE application, we were not sure if he could get spouse visa after marriage. At that time his tourist visa remained less than 3 weeks. 3 weeks is short to get married and apply spouse visa. Moreover, if Immigration matters his long stay with tourist visa, it also might be the reason of disapproval for changing visa status application to spouse visa from tourist visa. Also, if he applies spouse visa under such situation, Immigration might think he got married with a Japanese for visa purpose in order to do business in Japan. It was difficult decision but we didn’t have much time to worry.

Then he decided to cancel business visa application and apply changing visa status to spouse visa. Soon they submitted the marriage notification at city hall. But since his wife’s permanent domicile is in the different city, they were told updated Koseki is ready after 2 weeks. It was too late. His tourist visa remained only for 10 days at that time. I called the city hall and explained his situation. Then I was able to get her new Koseki in a week with my license. While waiting the Koseki, I prepared documents for the application. I took extra care to give impression to Immigration that their relation and marriage was the true one and not for visa nor business. Actually, their relation is the true one indeed. I decided to support them believe I could believe their relation through video consultation. If I have any doubt for a marriage and relation, I wouldn’t support visa/COE application. It is my policy. However, immigration inspects applicant’s situation only by documents. And they have lots of his information through his business manager COE application. Even if it was cancelled, everything is wired inside of Immigration. I needed to be very careful.

We did very hard to prepare his documents in a short time and submitted his changing visa status application in Mid of April, one day before his tourist visa’s expiry date. Since it is changing visa status application, Immigration has to conclude the procedure before 2 months grace period’s ending. It is big difference from COE application which is no time limit for Immigration. So, for this time, we knew our waiting time was 2 months. It is much easier for us to wait if there is a limit. I receive inquiries frequently from foreign residents or companies who applied COE for his/her family or its new staff. They ask me how long they need to wait. For such question, I cannot say anything clearly. I say it is case by case and what you can do now is waiting.

Then in the beginning of last week, I got a post card for his application from Tokyo Immigration. His application was approved. Finally, he got a visa. It is not a visa that he wanted before but anyway he can stay in Japan with his wife and do business.

I don’t say spouse visa application is easier than business manager visa. They are on the different tracks definitely. If he had intended to get married in order to do business in Japan, he could not have gotten any visa at all.

Our long journey with him has completed at last. I wish he would achieve a big success with his business and build a happy family in Japan.

Happy Sunday to all. No wars! No violence!

Photos from Immigration Lawyer, Beyond Watabe office's post 07/06/2025

Sunday Post on June 8th, 2025

Today, I gonna give you some quiz about FAQ immigration matters. Those are from inquiries that I have received in a past few weeks. Since I have been repeatedly mentioning some issues among them on my page, if you are a heavy follower, the quiz below might be a piece of cake for you. Let’s try. True or Falce?

Q1. If you don’t have a valid passport, you cannot apply visa extension or changing status at Immigration in Japan.

Q2. If you are acknowledged by a Japanese father in your country, you are eligible to get a visa as a child of Japanese

Q3. Changing visa status application from tourist visa is easier than COE application.

Q4. Once your COE application is disapproved, you need to wait 6 months for reapplication.

Q5. If the marriage is more than 3 years, spouse visa holders can get long term visa after divorce.

Q6. Long Term visa or working visa holder needs to change visa status to spouse visa when he/she gets married with Japanese or PR holder.

Q7. Dependent visa holder needs to change visa status if his/her spouse gets Japanese citizenship or PR.

Q8. I stayed in Japan for 10 years and I got working visa 5 years ago. My current visa is 3 year period. I can apply PR now.

Your answers are ready?

Let me explain one by one.

Q1. Falce
You can apply extension or change status even if you don’t have valid passport. You need to submit one document to explain about your passport status. You could get the form at Immigration.

Q2. Falce
In order to get a visa as a child of Japanese, you need to be acknowledged by Japanese father according to the Japanese law. Then your name is added on father’s koseki. His koseki is one of the requirements to get COE or visa as a child of Japanese. If your father doesn’t agree to acknowledge you in Japan, you can file the case at the family court in Japan. Even if the father passes away, you could file the case within 3 year after you know his death.

Q3. Falce
Generally, tourist visa cannot be changed to other visa. If you are already married or your child was born already, the proper way is applying COE at first. If you get married in Japan after coming to Japan with tourist visa, you could apply changing visa status exceptionally. If you want to pursue this procedure, you need to get 90 day visa. For minor child, if you have unavoidable reason, sometime your child could apply changing visa status from tourist visa. But the requirements are same as COE application. If your residing situation is not good enough to get COE for your child, changing visa status application would not be approved either.

Q4. Falce
For tourist visa application at Japanese Embassy/consulate, there is a rile of 6 months waiting. But there is not such rule for COE application. Everything is up to the reason of disapproval. Up to the reason, you can reapply immediately, you need to wait for a few month/years to solve the issue or you cannot reapply for ever.

Q5. Falce
3 year marriage is just one of requirements. In order to get long term visa after divorce, you need to prove that your residing situation in Japan has settled steadily. Moreover, you need to prove that your marriage life was stabled more than 3 years. It is just my impression but if you used to be a refugee applicant, Immigration’s inspection would be stricter than others.

Q6. Falce
You can choose. You can stay on the current visa, if you want. If you have long term visa independently, I think you had better stay with it. Long term visa is stronger and more independent than spouse visa. For PR application, you could get benefit from your marriage. I mean if your working visa is 3 or 5 year period, even if you don’t stay in Japan for 10 years, if your marriage is longer than 3 years, you could apply PR.

Q7. True
Dependent visa is for spouse or child of working visa holder. So, if your spouse or parent get Japanese citizenship or PR, you need to change visa status. If you get PR or Japanese citizenship, your child would get long term visa.

Q8. True but ~
It is a tricky one. You can apply PR as you like. But can apply doesn’t mean you can get it. 10 years stay for working visa holder, 5 years for long term, 1 year stay for spouse/child visa holder is just one of various requirements. If you miss any requirement, any one of them, your PR application would be disapproved. You had better know all requirement in advance.

How was your result?

In the Immigration field, there are various myth(or misunderstanding) that many of you
believe by mistake. If you have any concern, please contact me in box. Don’t leave your
misunderstanding until everything is too late.

Happy Sunday to all. Summer is around the corner in Tokyo area.
No wars! No violence!

05/06/2025

Tips for PR applicants
For those who pay residential tax by themselves (not deducted from monthly salary)

The immigration requests documents proving that you have paid residential tax appropriately.
"Appropriately" means no delay, no unpaid.

You receive an envelope from the city hall early June.
I received mine yesterday.
It includes notice of the amount to be paid for fiscal year 2025 and pay slips.
Generally, you receive 5 pay slips. One is for lump-sum payment and other 4 are for installments.

Make sure to pay before due dates and keep the receipts.

Please keep all the papers from the city hall and receipts safe if you have applied for PR and have been waiting for the result, or if you are planning to apply for PR.

(Yachida)

05/06/2025

Tips for PR applicants

The immigration sometimes requests documents proving that your residential tax has been deducted from your monthly salary and paid by your employer.

You receive a document like below in May every year.
Please keep it safe if you have applied for PR and have been waiting for the result, or if you are planning to apply for PR.
The image is taken from Soumusho website.

(Yachida)

Photos from Immigration Lawyer, Beyond Watabe office's post 03/06/2025

Information about job fair by Tokyo Hello work for foreign students.

Big job fair will be held on June 25th in Tokyo. Look at the list of company that will join the fair. It is more tan 20 pages.

Matching event for Tokutei Gino visa will be open, too.

Please see the details on their site and don’t miss the opportunity.

https://jsite.mhlw.go.jp/tokyo-foreigner/news_topics/kigyou_minasama/mense/20210728_4_00026.html

Photos from Immigration Lawyer, Beyond Watabe office's post 01/06/2025

Sunday Post on June 1st, 2025

Wow, it’s already June.

Have you already received the packet of payment slip for residential tax from city hall? Well, if you are applied to one of below, you don’t receive it.

(1) If your company deducts from your monthly salary and pay on behalf of you.
(2) If you came to Japan and registered your address after January 2nd 2025(Reiwa 7).
(3) If either your company or you have not declared your income in 2024(Reiwa 6)
(4) If your income is not high enough to pay residential tax

(1) and (2), no problem at all. But in spite that you worked and earned more than 100 man
yen in 2024, if you don’t receive payment slips, you need to make an action immediately. What kind of action?
(i) if you receive Gensenchoushuhyou from the company you worked in 2024, please go to city hall directly and declare your income in 2024 with showing Gensenchoushuhyou. If the company gave you Gensenchoushuhyou, it means income tax is already deducted from your salary and the company paid it at tax office.
(ii) If you received salary by cash or you worked for more than 2 companies in 2024, you need to declare total income in 2024 at tax office and pay income tax by yourself.

Moreover, even if you receive the residential tax payment slips but figure of total income there is different from the actual income in 2024, you need to make an action either (1) or (2) above.

Please note some of you might misunderstand 2025(Reiwa 7) tax documents cannot be issued because 2025 has not completed. It is misunderstanding. Since 2025(Reiwa7) residential tax is decided from income in 2024 and taxation starts June 2025(Reiwa7), you could get 2025(Reiwa7)Kazeishomeisho, taxation certificate after June 2025. For 2025(Reiwa 7) Nozeishomeisho, tax payment certificate, you could get it after you start paying residential tax in June or July.

Above (1) situation is called Tokubetsu choshu or Tokucho. If you have Tokucho, you are supposed to receive some slip in this season from your company to certify you have Tokucho(Kettei tsuchisho). With this situation, even if late payment for residential tax happens, it would not your fault since residencial tax is deducted from your salary. So, when you apply PR, you don’t need to worry about late payment for tax.

On tax certificate, some city halls write Tokucho. So, even if there is some unpaid balance for tax whose due date has already come, Immigration could know it is not your fault. But some city halls don’t add this kind of information. So, in order to avoid making Immigration see you have unpaid balance by your fault, you had better submit a monthly salary slip to prove you have Tokuchou.

For PR application, Immigration requests some documents to prove you have Tokucho. You can submit Kettei tsuchisho or monthly salary slip. If you don’t have Tokuchou, your tax payment method is called Futsu choushu. If so, you need to submit receipts of residential tax payment to prove there is no late payment. Please keep all receipts from convenience store. It is a very small slip that would be easily lost.

Let’s back to the packet of payment slips from city hall. The slips are for one time payment, two times and monthly installment. I guess you can find the request form for automatic withdrawal payment and credit card payment, too. If you plan to apply PR in the near future and you have enough money, you had better choose the payment method, either, paying everything once, the automatic withdrawal or credit card so that you would not make any late payment.

If you are under (3) situation above and if you leave it without making any action. Not only for PR application but also visa extension or COE application for your family would be into troubles. If you don’t declare total income properly, Immigration and tax office would see that you try to hide your income in order not to pay tax properly. It is illegal activity, tax evasion.

If you don’t understand what is written on the documents from city hall or the company, send pictures and message inbox of my office FB page. Then, I explain what they are. Do not leave documents you received aside without knowing what is written there. Many local municipals try to be foreign residents friendly and share many information in multi lingual. But they cannot be multilingual always.

One of my clients left the warning letter from city hall for a few years and he has just found he has about 100 man yen debt for national health insurance. He found own situation after receiving the additional request from Immigration for his visa extension application. I helped him to write an apology letter. But I am not sure if Immigration would accept his apology and grant him visa extension. Finger cross.

I understand there is a language barrier. But if you are a resident, you need to be aware of all obligation as a member of society and fulfil all your obligations properly.

Happy Sunday to all! No wars! No violence!

Photos from Immigration Lawyer, Beyond Watabe office's post 30/05/2025

Update of Japanese Immigration policy

Pre-entry tuberculosis screening is going to start for the Philippines and Nepal on June 23rd.

If you apply COE after June 23rd, you need to get the medical certificate for COE application. Information about accredited clinic is on the Government sites.

Even if you apply COE before June 23rd, I suppose you are required to submit the medical certificate when you apply visa at Japanese Embassy in your country. If you already applied COE and are waiting for the result, you had better go to clinic for checking.

The below is the site from Immigration. You can convert languages with a button at bottom left.

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/10_00219.html

29/05/2025

Tokyo Immigration Report

I found an announcement on the wall in Tokyo Shinagawa Immigration today.
They start the new procedure for PR application. When you submit PR application at Tokyo Immigration by yourself, you need to go to P counter at first for pre-screening.

At P-counter, generally number of waiting is 20-30. You need to wait for a few hours there and stand on the line for submission at B counter. It might take you more than a half day to submit.

LINE Add Friend 26/05/2025

What do you need to bring when you first visit Houmukyoku (Legal Affairs Bureau) for Kika (naturalization) application?

Well, it depends on where you live.
Visit the website of Houmukyoku in your area and read the instructions carefully.

For example,
Tokyo Houmukyoku:
You need to bring all the application documents.
You are required to read and understand Kika Kyoka Shinsei no Tebiki (a booklet called Guide for kika application), and prepare all the documents even before knowing whether or not you are eligible to apply.
It is strongly recommended to consult with a professional like us before starting.

Gifu Houmukyoku implemented the same procedure last year.

Saitama Houmukyoku:
+ current residence card and all passports you have got so far
+ driver's license, if applicable
+ health insurance card
+ latest salary slip (all family members)
+ Gensen choushuuhyou (all family members)
+ Rirekisho using Houmukyoku Format

If the website Houmukyoku in your area does not list up what to bring, you could call to make a reservation for the first consultation.
Generally, the officer will tell you what to bring like the follOwing:
+ current residence card and all passports you have got so far
+ driver's license, if applicable
+ health insurance card

It is very important to follow instructions given by Houmukyoku in your area (on website page, during the interview, Kika Kyoka Shinsei no Tebiki, etc.).

Contact us before starting your preparation.
We could guide you step-by-step.
The initial consultation is free of charge.
Send a personal message to our Inbox or to our official LINE account.

LINE Add Friend Open the Friends tab in your LINE app, tap the add friends icon inthe top right, select "QR code," and then scan this QR code.

Photos from Immigration Lawyer, Beyond Watabe office's post 24/05/2025

Sunday Post on May 25th, 2025

Today I will share some news at my office in the last week.

Tuesday, May 20th
My office got a message from one of my clients. She was granted special permit for stay, Zairyu tokubetsukyoka and got a spouse visa. We supported her since September 2023. She and her husband contacted us in the very beginning soon after she started over staying with some reason. That’s why there were something we could support them. I am often asked for support from overstayers for Zairyu tokubetsukyoka procedure. But once you submitted necessary documents, there is few things I can do for you. Immigration inspects your situation by physical ways like interview and visiting. It is not by documentation only like normal visa/COE applications. If you need our support for Zairyu tokubetsukyoka, please contact us before you surrender at Immigration.

In the afternoon, I went to Tokyo Immigration to accompany one of my clients to hear the result of his changing visa status application after divorce. Unfortunately, his application was disapproved. The main reason is marriage period is too short. Actually, his marriage was more than 5 years but an officer said they consider various matters to make a decision. Immigration didn’t open other matters to us.

Wednesday, May 21st
I received a message from Immigration for one of my clients. It was on line notification for COE application (spouse visa). I submitted it online on May 12th and online COE arrived on 21st. Only 9 days. It is my office record for COE application. Since her parents in law stays in Hokkaido, her application was proceeded by Hokkaido Immigration. I wish Tokyo Immigration could proceed every application a little faster. I don’t want too much like Hokkaido Immigration but just a little faster?

Thursday, May 22nd
I visited Tokyo Immigration. Besides my routine tasks of submitting applications and picking up new residence cards, I did some investigation at W counter (working visa inspection) on the 2nd floor. My queries are:

(i) How Youtuber can get a working visa?

I got an answer from an officer. Entertainer visa (3) is the most possible option. Roughly saying, entertainer visa (1) is for someone who sing, act, dance, modeling and so on. Entertainer visa (2) is for professional sports player. Entertainer visa (3) is for someone not belongs to (1) nor (2). For (1) and (2), contract with an agency or a company in Japan is necessary while for (3) without regular contract, if you have some substitute document, application is possible. An officer whom I talked is one of 3 officers who take charge of entertainer visa. He said something like supporter agreement might be substitute for regular contract.

(ii) If dependent or working visa holders do part time job for clients outside of Japan and receive money on his bank account outside of Japan, would it be problem?

Honestly speaking, I already asked the same type of question before for several times at Immigration. Then I received slightly different explanation always. I felt they haven’t had fixed policy about this matter yet. Since I received several similar inquiries recently, I tried to ask it again. The answer I heard on Thursday was a new one that were different from previous investigations. She explained:
If he works for a client abroad remotely and receive money on his bank account abroad, it is not something Japanese Immigration could get involved. Moreover, since it is out of the scope of extra part time work permit that Immigration issues, even if he applies extra work permit with such a job, Immigration cannot accept it.
Well, it means you can do it without any problem? I am not sure if what the officer explained to me is already fixed policy for Immigration. I think I need to investigate this issue occasionally.

On the way back to my office from Tokyo Immigration, I received one email from Immigration. It is for one of online applications I submitted. COE application for business manager visa was approved. It is the application I submitted on March 11th 2025. Since his office is located in Kanagawa, the procedure was done at Yokohama Immigration. Wow, only 2 months. It is also my office record for COE application of business manager visa. Tokyo Immigration, I don’t want too much but just a little faster, can you?

When I reached my office, COE document was arrived from Tokyo Immigration. It was for Nomad visa that was submitted at Tokyo Immigration on February 13th 2025. It was our first COE for Nomad visa. Do you know Nomad visa? It is for someone who work remotely for clients/companies abroad and earn more than 10,000,000yen yearly. They can stay in Japan for 6 months and can work in Japan. As the digital jobs expand, such way of working is very popular now. The inquiry (ii) above is also related. Japan is behind from other countries to treat this kind of job style. Japanese government want more Nomad people to stay on Japan but because of slow procedure at Immigration, Japan is not so much attractive for such Nomad people. Anyway, COE was issued in 3 months at Tokyo Immigration. Well, it is much faster than other applications at Tokyo Immigration. Why simple visa extension for spouse visa holder takes more than 3 months?

Friday, May 23rd
I got a message from one of my clients who visited Tokyo Legal Bureau (Houmukyoku) for the first interview of naturalization, Kika on the Friday morning. At Tokyo Houmukyoku, Kika application procedure is a little different from other location. An applicant needs to prepare all documents for the first interview. If the documents are not prepared well, Houmukyoku doesn’t accept the application and he needs to make other appointment, generally which is 6 months after. Whew~. His application was successfully accepted. Hooray! I hope he would get a Japanese citizenship in the near future with his daughter.

In the afternoon, I did video meeting for company registration and business manager visa/COE application. Generally video consultation is free but for business matters, I charge 11,000yen per hour. Business manager visa application is very complicate and you need to know lots of information before starting the procedure. If you hesitate to pay for the consultation, I suppose you are not ready to do business.

In the evening on my way back to home, I got message from Immigration. My client in Kobe got COE for his wife. I submitted her COE application online on March 3rd, 2025. Kobe Immigration took 2.5 months.

One week was over and the new week will start tomorrow. What will happen in this week?

Happy Sunday to all! No wars! No violence!

Photos from Immigration Lawyer, Beyond Watabe office's post 22/05/2025

Tokyo Immigration report

I am at Tokyo Immigration Bureau as my regular weekly routine.
I already submitted several applications and am waiting the screening is over.
I also got a number for picking up new cards.

I also picked up the number at W counter in order to do some investigation. My number is 93. The number 40 has just called.

Today’s investigation at W counter are:
How YouTuber could get a working visa?
If working visa or dependent visa holder do part time job remotely for a company abroad?
How much income dependent can earn?

As new type jobs are coming up, i receive lots of inquirers like above.
I already have asked this kind of queries here for sometimes. But immigration’s explanations were not clear enough always.
I received 3 inquires about those matters only yesterday. So I decided to ask those questions again. Immigration might set up the clear policy for some of them.

I will share Immigration’s answer by next Sunday Post. If you are interested in, please do not miss it.

Photos from Immigration Lawyer, Beyond Watabe office's post 18/05/2025

Sunday Post on May 18th, 2025

A few weeks ago, I accompanied my client at Tokyo Immigration to hear the reason of disapproval. It was a changing visa status application from tourist visa to long term visa. The applicant is minor boy from African country. His mother got married with PR resident in Japan and came to Japan about 5 years ago. Since then, he was taken care of by his grandmother. But in the last year, his grand mother passed away suddenly and the mother brought him to Japan with 15-day tourist visa.

Then she applied changing visa status by herself at Tokyo Immigration. From 15-day visa, generally Immigration doesn’t accept the application but because of his urgent situation, they accepted it exceptionally.

But his application was disapproved. After getting disapproval, she contacted my office. The main reason of disapproval was at mother’s COE application, her husband didn’t declare that she was a child before marriage. So, Immigration concluded that the relation between the mother and the son is not reliable. Additionally, they pointed out evidence of their communication is very little. The mother explained me her husband hadn’t known about her son before marriage. And she also said there is no one who can take care of him in his country. Moreover, since she has 2 toddlers with her husband in Japan, she cannot bring him back to his country.

After hearing her explanation, I thought reapplication was possible. But since he entered Japan with 15-day visa, his residing situation became complicated. So, at first, I consulted at the Tokyo Immigration to make sure if they would accept his reapplication. I got a positive answer and we started preparing documents for the reapplication.

I have lots of experiences to support such an application for minor child whose parent got married after his/her birth and stays with a spouse visa in Japan. As far as I remember, I had a good result for all applications till this case.

There is one common background for countries in Africa. They don’t register a child’s birth until the birth certificate is required for some occasion like passport application. So, it is always what we call ‘late registration’. In Japan, birth registration should be done within 2 weeks after the birth. So, for Japanese, and Japanese Immigration, late registration cannot be accepted easily.

By late registration, you could manipulate information of child as you like. For example, name of the father, birth place, birth date, even the name and so on. You can declare anything. Therefore, Immigration sees birth certificate with late registration less reliable. So, you need to extra supportive documents to prove your relation with your child.

For spouse visa/COE application including long term visa as a spouse of long-term visa holder, you need to submit the questionnaire to explain the relation between you and your spouse. The questionnaire has 8 pages. On the last page, you need to fill information of your children for both parties. Even if you have a child before marriage with other, you need to declare him/her/them. If you don’t declare any in spite that you or your spouse has a child/children, Immigration would see you try to hide the fact for getting the spouse visa.

Actually, many couples have the same kind of issue. Some just don’t know they need to declare a child even if the child is not between them. Some intentionally try to hide it because they think without a child outside of marriage might make their relation stronger. If you are still married and want to bring your child with such situation, you need to submit an apology letter to explain why such mistake happened. If you are already divorced, you could explain you don’t know what the ex-spouse wrote on the questionnaire about your child. Anyway, this kind of mistake can be solved if you explain properly.

The most difficult part for his reapplication was they don’t have enough communication records. The mother doesn’t send money from Japan because she owns a small shop in her country and her father manages it. He sent some money from her business to her son. There is no record for it at all. And since he is a small boy who doesn’t have own mobile, she doesn’t have many phone records and no chat records at all. And she didn’t take photos with him except a few.
I had some similar cases before and their applications were approved. So honestly speaking, I had thought this case might be ok optimistically. But his application was disapproved again. This time, main reason was lack of evidence to prove their relation and communication.

At the Immigration, she asked an officer if the DNA test would be a supportive reason for the next application. But the officer replied Immigration doesn’t grant visa/COE only by DNA test. It can be just one of evidence and she needs to provide more evidence to prove their relation.

She is going to leave Japan with her son with other 2 toddlers in a few weeks now. I advised her to stay in own country for a while with the son and make various evidence to show Immigration for the next application. I am glad to support to apply COE for him in the near future.

If you want to bring your child to Japan, you had better try early. Once he/she turns high teen ager, the application would be more difficult. But please discuss well with your current spouse if any at first.

Happy Sunday to all. No wars! No violence!

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在日外国人の皆さまの、ビザなど在留資格に関する問題を解決する入管業務専門の行政書士事務所です

I'm a bilingual immigration lawyer in Tokyo. If you have any Visa problem, please contact us.

カテゴリー

ウェブサイト

https://www.lsg-beyond.com/

住所


1-33-15 Takadanobaba Shinjuku-ku
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
169-0075

営業時間

月曜日 09:00 - 18:00
火曜日 09:00 - 18:00
水曜日 09:00 - 18:00
木曜日 09:00 - 18:00
金曜日 09:00 - 18:00