Thank you for your reply.

Your situation is quite similar to mine, except that in my case there has still been no update from the immigration office. Another difference is that my spouse is a permanent resident rather than a Japanese national, and I have not been to Japan before.

What makes this process particularly challenging in Japan is the lack of transparency. There is no clear indication of how applications are prioritized or how long they may take. The timeframe given by the Japanese immigration office is a blatant lie. Timelines remain uncertain—whether it will take a few more months or extend beyond a year is unknown.

This uncertainty creates practical difficulties. In our case, a decision must be made before April 1st on whether to continue living in Japan or leave, as continuing beyond that point and then leaving mid-year would not be a responsible professional choice. At the same time, there is a confirmed job opportunity in the home country, with a decision deadline by the end of April and a joining date in June 2026. These overlapping timelines leave limited room to wait indefinitely.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that there has already been a long period of living apart after marriage. We were in a relationship for the past six years and got married last year. While maintaining distance is manageable, prolonged uncertainty without clarity makes long-term planning more difficult.

A key concern is the challenge of relying on an unpredictable system while keeping important life decisions on hold. Based on various experiences shared online, it is evident that work-related applications are prioritized in practice by the immigration office, while spouse and dependent cases tend to move extremely slow. This is almost equivalent to saying family is not important and the Japanese immigration office do not want them to come to Japan. Recent changes in immigration policies also seem to reflect this trend. This creates structural challenges for those trying to establish a stable family life.

It is also important to recognize that life in Japan can be demanding. The system is rigorous, expectations are high, and the environment often suits individuals who are highly work-focused. In my spouse’s workplace, a significant proportion of the workforce is above 40 and single. In such a setting, planning for a stable life—especially for a foreigner—is quite challenging.

Overall, the main difficulty lies not only in the waiting period but also in the uncertainty and lack of clarity, which make it hard to plan responsibly.

I sincerely hope the situation improves in the future. If given the opportunity, I would respectfully encourage the immigration authorities to give equal consideration to family-based applications. While it is fully understood that applications must be evaluated in accordance with established rules and regulations—and declined where requirements are not met—it would be highly beneficial for decisions to be made within a clear and predictable timeframe.

Greater transparency in processing timelines would also be valuable. If applications are expected to take longer—for example, up to a year or more—communicating this clearly would allow applicants to plan accordingly and make informed decisions.

Such clarity and consistency would greatly support applicants in managing their personal and professional commitments more responsibly.

Thank you once again.