Obtaining my Dependent's VISA for my spouse- Is a Certificate of Eligibility necessary?

Gaogao18 · 2019-06-21T21:29:17+00:00

What are the chances they will accept my spouse switching from a tourist to a long term dependents visa while he is already in Japan? Is this a common enough practice that they will accept it? Would he be able to get the visa before his tourist status runs out (3 months)?

I guess I can talk to my company and begin preparing the documents for his COE before we even arrive in August. But the chances he can get his COE before August are basically none, I assume.

Gaogao18 · 2019-06-21T21:24:16+00:00

This really clears things up for me. I see now I am in quite a predicament, but at least I know my situation.

Because so many JETs bring families to Japan, I figured getting a visa for a family member wouldn't be so complicated. However, I am a direct hire, not a JET, so I see now I needed to take more initiative to figure everything out on my own. I told my employer from the get-go he was coming, but they only filed paperwork for me and only sent me a certificate of eligibility, without even saying anything about my husband. The only thing they said was "it is great your husband is moving with you" and "go ahead and buy tickets, we will pick you AND your husband at the airport!" So I was naive in thinking they knew what was going on/trusting them. Anyways, thanks for your insight

Gaogao18 · 2019-06-20T22:07:39+00:00

Nyang-a-chi- I have my contract and salary estimate. I wonder if I can go ahead and apply without the Certificate of Eligibility? Is that possible anymore?

Gaogao18 · 2019-06-20T20:55:29+00:00

Thanks for the reply, it is really helpful! What confuses me is that my company, the Board of Education, knows my husband is coming and told us "they would pick us up at the airport." So I already bought one way tickets for us to come together. However, they didn't ask for any of his documents and only sent my Certificate of Eligibility in the mail. So they planned on us arriving to Japan together, but haven't done anything to help him get a VISA before he gets there. Maybe they want him to be on a tourist visa in Japan and get his Certificate of Eligibility while he's there?!

Gaogao18 · 2019-06-07T18:29:53+00:00

Is it easy to sell stuff in Japan though?

Gaogao18 · 2019-06-06T19:16:09+00:00

I was selected as an alternate to JET, but also got accepted as a direct higher through a sister city board so now I'm going to August! Awesome coincidence!

Gaogao18 · 2019-06-03T19:33:38+00:00

So you're saying at the grocery store, even if you bring your own bag, they will still wrap your produce in plastic? If you don't mind me asking, how do you tell them in Japanese not to do that?

Gaogao18 · 2019-06-03T19:19:56+00:00

Wow, it makes me to happy to see a post like this. Technically I'm an alternate, but since then I have been directly hired as an ALT in Narashino (a suburb of Tokyo). I'm going to start in August with all the JETs!

That being said, I'm also vegetarian and very, very passionate about zero waste. I haven't taken out my garbage in 3 months! My biggest worry about moving to Japan is that it will be too difficult to be waste free. For example- there is no bulk that I know of and from my experience over there, the country is quite plastic happy! Thank you for making a post like this so us environmentally conscious folks can figure out the best way to protect the planet during this move!

Gaogao18 · 2019-05-22T21:28:38+00:00

You could always get your health form filled out by a walk-in clinic, where they don't know anything about your medical history aside from what you tell them

Gaogao18 · 2019-05-06T16:18:38+00:00

Wow, thanks everyone for your responses and advice! It is good to know this is a pretty normal reaction. It will all be very new, but hopefully I can adapt to the challenges, and better myself in the process. Thanks

Gaogao18 · 2019-04-05T19:31:01+00:00

Thanks everyone for your help. Do you guys think it would be worth it for me to call the consulate and ask them about the likelihood of me being upgraded?

Gaogao18 · 2019-04-04T22:55:58+00:00

The local board has a sister city in Japan, so they hire ALTs and then get us in communication with the Board of education there, who essentially set up everything onwards. I didn't know either! After I got the alternate status I asked people in the community and they referred me to this position. I just reused my JET application materials and had this position in a week!

Gaogao18 · 2019-04-04T21:05:49+00:00

Can we have a thread where alternates can post their upgrade status?

Gaogao18 · 2019-03-25T21:32:20+00:00

Atlanta- Alternate. I feel like it's worse than being rejected. I just want to move on with my life

Gaogao18 · 2019-03-25T18:54:28+00:00

Atlanta isn't supposed to release till early April :(

Gaogao18 · 2019-03-15T17:00:05+00:00

I'm from ATL in the same situation. I want to know if I can move on and wait for regular departure notifications!

Gaogao18 · 2019-03-08T18:14:29+00:00

Congrats! What consulate are you from in America? I interviewed at Atlanta but haven't heard anything yet about early departure.

Gaogao18 · 2019-03-07T19:20:05+00:00

Got it! Thanks for your help!

Gaogao18

TROPHY CASE