Important Notices
Procedures
Categories
Procedures
Print out this page and check the boxes pertaining to your type of visa.
Before making an appointment, make sure you read the following instructions carefully and obtain all the necessary documents. Do not send anything to the Embassy or Consulate. Bring your documents to the interview.
When you submit documents with your I-130 petition, you must submit original documents (bearing an original seal, stamp or signature of the office of record) or certified copies, plus one photocopy. We will return the original documents to you at the end of the application process. If you do not bring originals or certified copies of a birth, marriage, divorce, death or naturalization certificate, family registry, passport or other identity or relationship document, your case will be incomplete, we will return all your documents and your money to you, and you will have to make a new appointment.
Documents that are needed for more than one relative need only be submitted as an original or certified copy for one relative. For example, if you are petitioning for your wife and stepchild, both cases need a copy of your marriage certificate; please submit one original or certified copy and two photocopies, one for each applicant.
All petitioners must present the following documents at the interview: |
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| I-130: (Download form I-130 ) At the bottom of the first page of the I-130 please write an email address so we can reach you. The I-130 should be completed by the U.S. citizen (the U.S. citizen is petitioning for his or her alien relative to receive immigration benefits to join him or her in the United States). You must complete a separate petition, pay a separate fee and have a separate set of documents for each alien family member for whom you are petitioning. | ||
| Evidence of Residency:The petitioner must provide evidence of legal residency in Japan for at least the preceding six months. Evidence may be a valid Japanese visa and proof of entry, a Japanese permanent residency permit, U.S. military orders, etc. A photocopy of U.S. military orders is acceptable. Other proof of residency, such as a Japanese foreign resident card, should be presented in its original form, accompanied by a photocopy. | ||
Proof of U.S. Citizenship: Please present at least one of the following, plus a photocopy:
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| Photo ID for the Petitioner: A U.S. passport, U.S. military ID card or other photo identification, plus a photocopy of the ID, must be submitted in order to prove identity. (Note: A U.S. passport can serve as both proof of citizenship and photo ID.) | ||
| The Alien Relative/Beneficiary's Passport: Please provide the passport (which will be returned after the interview) and a copy of the picture ID page, U.S. visas, other foreign visas, all Japanese entry and exit stamps, and SOFA stamp, if any. If the beneficiary is non-Japanese, please also provide all previous passports for the alien relative/beneficiary. If such passports are unavailable, please provide a written explanation of why they are unavailable. If the alien relative/beneficiary is a naturalized Japanese citizen, please provide a copy of the family register showing the naturalization and the individual’s name before the naturalization. | ||
| Birth Certificate: Please provide an original birth certificate for the beneficiary. For any birth certificate registered more than 6 months after the date of birth, please provide a written statement explaining why the birth was registered late and two alternate forms of original, secondary evidence of identity. Secondary evidence of identity normally means original documents dating from the time of your birth and childhood, such as prenatal records, doctor's notes and baby book, baptismal certificates issued on the date the baptism took place, school records/report cards registered or signed by the parents, or pieces of government-issued identification (SS card, driver's license, etc.). For Japanese applicants born in Japan, a family registry serves as a birth certificate. | ||
| Form DS-230 Part 1: The beneficiary/alien relative should complete this form. (Download form DS-230) | ||
| Passport-style Color Photographs of the U.S. Citizen Petitioner and Alien Relative Beneficiary: Photos should be taken within 30 days of the date of the petition. The photos must have a white background and be glossy, unretouched and not mounted. The dimensions of the full frontal facial image should be about 1 inch from the chin to the top of the hair. Note: most Japanese photo machines take acceptable photographs. | ||
| Biographic Information Form: The U.S. citizen petitioner and the alien relative/beneficiary should both separately complete form G-325. (Download form G-325.) Only one copy of the form for each person is required. | ||
| Submission Fee: The US$355 Submission fee can be paid at the consular cashier. Payment is accepted in yen or U.S. dollars. You may also pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diner's Club) or by money order payable to "U.S. Embassy, Tokyo". A separate fee will be required for each alien relative/beneficiary. Note: Please also be prepared to pay with cash if the credit card verification system is temporarily unavailable. | ||
| Translations of non-English documents: All foreign language documents must be accompanied by full English translations. Translations need not be made by a professional translator; they can be completed by any competent person. The translator must certify that the translation is complete and correct and that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English. For example, the statement written on the translation may read: “I, [insert name], am competent at translating [insert name of foreign language] to English, and I certify that the above translation is true, complete and correct,” followed by the signature of the translator. It is not necessary to have the translation notarized. | ||
If the petition is submitted on behalf of a spouse, please also submit the following documents (original or certified copy plus a photocopy): |
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| Marriage Certificate: A certificate of marriage between the petitioner and the beneficiary from the jurisdiction where the marriage took place. If the marriage occurred in Japan, please submit a copy of the family registry or a certificate of acceptance of notification of marriage issued by the appropriate Japanese authority. | ||
| Divorce Decree or Death Certificate: If the petitioner and/or the spouse was previously married, submit original divorce decrees or death certificates, or certified court copies of the documents, showing termination of all prior marriages. | ||
| Proof of Relationship: If you have been married less than two years, please provide a detailed description of how you met and how the relationship developed, as well as evidence of an on-going relationship (for example photos of you together over time, emails, letters, phone bills, post cards, greeting cards, documents showing a joint bank account or lease, etc.). | ||
| Birth Certificate for Alien Relative/Beneficiary's Children: Please provide an original birth certificate or consular report of birth for all of the alien relative/beneficiary's children, regardless of whether they will immigrate at this time. | ||
If the petition is submitted by a mother on behalf of a child, please also submit the following documents (original or certified copy plus a photocopy): |
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| Child’s Birth Certificate: A petition submitted by a mother on behalf of a child must be supported by the child’s birth certificate showing the current name of the mother. If the mother’s present name differs from that at the time of the child’s birth, the mother’s marriage certificate and evidence of the legal termination of any prior marriage(s) must be submitted. If the change of name did not result from the marriage of the mother, other appropriate evidence of the name change must be submitted. | ||
If the petition is submitted by a father on behalf of a legitimate child or is filed by a step-parent, please also submit the following documents (original or certified copy plus a photocopy): |
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| A certificate of marriage of the parents | ||
| Proof of legal termination of all prior marriages of the parent(s) | ||
| Any other proof of name change of the natural parent:The documentation should show a clear link between the child on the birth certificate and the petitioner. | ||
If the petition is submitted by the father of a legitimated child, please also submit the following documents (original or certified copy plus a photocopy): |
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| Evidence of the child’s legitimation, which must have taken place before the child reached the age of 18; and | ||
| Proof of legal termination of any prior marriages if the legitimation was the result of the marriage of the natural parents to each other. | ||
If the petition is submitted by the natural father of a child born out-of-wedlock, the petitioner must also establish that: |
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| He is the natural father of the offspring; and | ||
| A bona fide parent-child relationship exists or has existed while the child was unmarried and under the age of 21. | ||
Optional: Optional forms and documents you may submit at the I-130 submission interview: |
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| Affidavit of Support: Form I-864 is a contractual agreement to support the beneficiary. Most family-based visa applicants must submit an I-864 completed and signed by the U.S. citizen/petitioner (sponsor), regardless of income level or lack of income. Mistakes in completing the I-864 are the most common reason for refusing an immigrant visa application. Please read all instructions carefully before filling out the I-864. By bringing it to the I-130 interview, the Immigrant Visa staff can help you resolve any problems. | ||
| DS-230 Part II: This form is required at the final interview. DO NOT SIGN THE BOTTOM OF THE LAST PAGE. You must sign it in the presence of a consular officer at the final interview. By bringing it to the I-130 interview, the Immigrant Visa staff can help you resolve any problems. (Download form DS-230) | ||
Important Notice
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