(日本語)

This is the first of two steps in obtaining an immigrant visa. The second step is the actual application for the visa, which is described in a separate section.

Residency requirement

American citizens legally resident in Japan for at least six months may file an immigrant visa petition (I-130) for a spouse, child, stepchild, or parent at the Immigrant Visa Unit in Tokyo or Naha (Note: other U.S. Consulates in Japan are not authorized to accept I-130 petitions or process Immigrant Visas). To demonstrate residency in a consular district, American Citizens must be able to show that they have permission to reside in the consular district and that they have been doing so continuously for at least six months before filing the petition. Individuals who are in the country on a temporary status, such as student or tourist or with limited leave to enter and remain, would not be considered to meet the residency standard unless they have received a residency permit/stamp from the Japanese government and have been living in Japan six months from the date of the stamp. All other individuals must file the petition with the appropriate USCIS service center in the United States.

Location of Petition and Visa Processing

If the alien relative/beneficiary is resident in Japan and the claimed identities and relationships are clear, the consular section in Tokyo or Naha can accept the petition and process the IV application. If the alien relative/beneficiary is not resident in Japan, Tokyo or Naha will forward the application to the USCIS office in Seoul for adjudication. If the identity and/or relationship between the petitioner and alien relative is not clearly established, Tokyo or Naha will investigate the case and then forward it to USCIS Seoul for adjudication. Inquiries to USCIS Seoul can be sent to CIS-Seoul.Inquiries@Dhs.gov

How to file an I-130 petition in Tokyo or Naha

Those who wish to file an I-130 Immigrant Visa petition in Tokyo or Naha must schedule an appointment to do so. You need only one appointment per petition. Do not schedule an appointment until you have read the instructions carefully and assembled ALL of the necessary documents on the I-130 Petition Checklist, including original or certified copies of birth, marriage, divorce, death and naturalization certificates, family registries, passport or other identity or relationship documents. If you bring photocopies rather than original or certified copies or if you fail to bring a required document, we will return your documents to you, refund your money, and require you to make a new appointment for another day.

The U.S. citizen petitioner must appear in person to file an I-130. A power of attorney cannot be used on the petitioner's behalf to turn in the petition. We highly recommend that the alien relative/beneficiary also appear at the Embassy or Consulate when the I-130 is submitted. Once the petition has been accepted, the U.S. citizen does not need to return to the Embassy or Consulate again. The alien relative/beneficiary will have to come back to complete the application process.

Due to security concerns and space constraints, only those with appointments will be admitted. In view of the amount of time it takes to complete the process, parents are kindly requested not to bring small children unless they are beneficiaries of I-130 petitions.

• I-130 Petition Checklist