US Family Visas for Japanese Citizens
Japanese citizens can enter the US without a visa (for up to 90 days) and join a family member who resides in the country. But if you wish to remain in the US for more than 90 days, you must obtain an appropriate US Family visa to join the family member.
If you need more information about US Immigrant visas for Japanese families, their requirements, and the application process, Total Law can help. Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 or message us online.
Overview of US Family Visas
The US Family visas allow their holder to enter the US to join a family member who resides in the country. Japan is among the countries the US has granted visa waivers to enter the US for 90 days visa-free.
For this reason, as a Japanese citizen, you are only required to obtain a US Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) to be allowed into the US and stay there for 90 days instead of obtaining a US traditional visa. However, if you wish to enter the US and remain there for more than 90 days, you must obtain a US visa that suits your travel purpose, such as obtaining a US Family visa to visit a family member who is a US permanent resident (Green Card holder) or citizen.
Besides that, non-Japanese citizens residing in Japan whose countries are not granted visa waivers to visit the US must obtain a US Family visa to enter the country and join a family member who lives there. Non-Japanese citizens residing in Japan must choose a US Family visa that suits the relationship they have with a family member residing in the US regardless of how long they intend to stay in the country.
Keep in mind that there are both Non-immigrant and Immigrant US Family visas. The Non-immigrant Family visas, such as K1, K2, K3, and K4 will not permit their holder to remain in the US permanently. Whereas the Immigrant Family visas, such as F1, F2, F3, and F4 do permit their holder to stay in the US for the foreseeable future.
To join your family member who resides in the US, you must be their spouse, children, siblings, or parents. Before you qualify for the specific US Family visa that suits your situation, you must meet certain eligibility requirements.
Types of Family Visas
Japanese citizens who want to join a family member who resides in the US and stay for more than 90 days have several US Family visa options to choose from. They include:
K1 Visa
The K1 visa also known as the Fiance visa is a type of non-immigrant visa which allows a non-US citizen (fiancé or fiancée) to enter the US, get married to a US citizen and subsequently obtain a marriage Green Card. When you enter the US on a K1 visa, you are required to get married to the US citizen sponsor (fiancé or fiancée) whom you have joined in the US within 90 days.
You must therefore apply to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), for status adjustment to a lawful permanent resident (LPR).
Requirements for the K1 Visa
Japanese residents who want to obtain a K1 visa must meet the following requirements:
- Two passport-sized photographs that conform with the USCIS visa photo criteria.
- A valid passport that is valid for up to 6 months beyond the expiration of your visa.
- Form DS-160 (Non-immigrant visa application form). Fill out the form and print out its confirmation page which you must add to your documents file.
- Birth certificate.
- Divorce or death certificate of your US spouse and those of your previous spouse, if any.
- Evidence of financial support. Provide Form I-134 to prove this.
- Evidence of fee payment.
- Evidence of the relationship with your US-based fiance(é) such as photos, correspondence/emails, phone bills, etc.
- Police clearance certificate, issued by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD), if you were born in Japan or from any other country you’ve lived in since you turned 16 years old. This certificate must prove that you have not been convicted of a crime in Japan and are of good conduct.
- Medical examination certificate, received from a US-authorised doctor.
K2 Visa
The K2 visa is specifically designed for the unmarried children of K1 visa holders. This visa is a type of a US non-immigrant visa which could form a part of the K1 visa process. With this visa, unmarried children (below 21 years old) are permitted to enter the US and stay with their parents. After obtaining this visa, they will also be allowed to study and even work having gotten a work permit.
Remember that there is always a connection between the K1 and K2 visas. Form I-129F, also called the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), is what the US-based sponsor must submit to apply for both a K1 and K2 visa in one application.
Requirements of K2 Visa
To obtain a K2 visa, unmarried children of K1 visa holders must meet certain requirements. They include:
- A valid passport.
- A Birth certificate gotten from the birth registry.
- Two passport-sized photographs that conform with the criteria of the US visa photos as set by the USCIS.
- A completed Form DS-160 (Non-immigrant visa application form).
- Affidavit of support and other important supporting documents. You must present Form I-134 to prove you have financial support.
- Proof of relationship with the US-based parent sponsoring the applicant.
- Medical examination certificate.
- Visa fees bank draft.
- Evidence that the applicant’s parents can support themselves and the applicant financially.
- Police clearance certificate obtained from the country where the applicant resides.
F1 Visa
The F1 visa is also known as the Family First Preference visa. This visa is also referred to as a Green Card issued to unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens who are 21 years old or above.
Each fiscal year, the US authorities issue about 23,400 F1 visas. With an F1 visa, stepchildren, adopted children, and children born out of wedlock in Japan can join their US-based parents in the US.
If the child is a stepchild, the parents must have been in a genuine relationship before the child turned 18 years old. But if the child was adopted, the adoption should have occurred before the child turned 16 years old.
Requirements for F1 Visa
Japanese residents who wish to join their US-based citizens sponsoring their visa application to enter the US must fulfil some requirements to get the F1 visa. They include:
- A valid passport.
- A filled-out Form I-130.
- Two passport-sized photographs that meet the US visa application photo guidelines.
- Proof of family relationship with the F1 visa applicant.
- Evidence of financial support.
- Birth certificate, proof of abandonment, death of parents or divorce, if the child was adopted.
- Parent-child relationship document (for children born out of wedlock).
- Court decision that the adult child has been under a parent’s custody for up to 2 years.
- Police clearance certificate.
- Certificate of clean criminal record of the adult child.
F2 Visa
Another type of US Family visa Japanese residents can obtain is the F2 visa. This visa permits spouses, minors and adult children of US Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) to enter the US and stay with them.
Just like the F1 visa, the F2 visa is also capped with about 114,200 visas issued to applicants per fiscal year. This visa is referred to as the Second Preference Family visa, and it is divided into two, types namely:
- The F2A visa created for the minor children and spouses of LPRs. Annually, this visa is capped at 79,940 (about 70% of the F2 visas).
- The F2B visa created for adult children of LPRs who are more than 21 years old. Annually, the F2B visa is capped at 34,260 (close to 30% of the F2 visas).
F2A Visa
The F2A visa is created for minor children or spouses of US Green Card holders. This visa is also a type of US Immigrant visa with which Japanese residents can join Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) in the US for the foreseeable future.
The F2A visa is limited and in high demand, therefore, there is a long waiting period. However, the family members of LPRs will be awarded permanent residency in the US upon receiving the visa, allowing them to enter the country, pursue their academic goals, and live and work there.
Requirements for F2A Visa
Japanese residents (spouses and minor children) applying for the F2A visa must meet certain requirements. They include:
- Get your international passport that must be valid for at least 6 months after entering the US.
- Get the confirmation page of Form DS-260 (Immigrant visa application form).
- Provide your two passport-sized photographs that meet the requirements of the US visa photos.
- Present a signed Affidavit of Support (Form-I-864) from the LPR or US-based petitioner.
- Present adoption or birth certificate, if you are the child of a US Lawful Permanent Resident.
- Bring a marriage certificate to show that you are an LPR’s spouse.
- Get a divorce or death certificate to show that your marriage was officially dissolved, if you were married previously.
- Present your medical examination certificate obtained from a doctor licensed by the US authorities.
- Provide your military records, if you engaged in military service.
- Get your Police clearance certificate. It must prove that you have not committed any crime that may have caused you to leave Japan and seek a visa to enter the US.
F2B Visa
The F2B visa is created for spouses or unmarried adult children of US Green Card holders. A Japanese adult child who can qualify for this visa must be unmarried, adopted by or born to a US permanent resident, and must be above 21 years old.
However, if you cannot present documents to prove that your parents live in the US or if you are married, you may not qualify for the F2B visa. Japanese spouses and adult children can join a family member who lives in the US. With this visa, they can also live, work, and study in the US legally for the foreseeable future.
Requirements for F2B Visa
Spouses and adult children of US-based family members seeking to obtain the F2B visa need to meet the following requirements. They include:
- Get your two passport-sized photographs that conform to the US visa photo requirements.
- Present an Affidavit of Support (Form-I-864) that was signed by the LPR or US-based petitioner.
- Provide your international passport. It must still be valid for at least 6 months after entering the US.
- Get Form DS-260 confirmation page.
- Bring your adoption or birth certificate, if you are a child of US LPR.
- Provide a divorce or death certificate to prove that your marriage was officially dissolved, if you were married previously.
- Bring your military records, if you carried out military service.
- Present your Police clearance certificate.
- Bring your medical examination certificate which you obtained from a doctor authorised by the US authorities.
While applying for the US Family visas, note that you may be required to provide additional documents to support your application depending on your situation. That being said, you must ensure that all documents you provide must be translated into English by a legalised translator and duly notarised.
Gathering the required documents for your US Family visa application may be overwhelming if you are applying for the first time. For this reason, you’d need one of our professional immigration lawyers at Total Law to guide you upfront. For more information about US Family visas for Japanese citizens, or how we can help you gather your documents, call us today on +1 844 290 6312 or message us online.
Family Visa Application Process
Overview
The application process for obtaining a US Family visa typically begins with a US-based family member (sponsor). Then, Japanese citizens who want to apply for a US K1, K2, F1, F2A, and F2B Family visa, to enter the US and stay with a family member, must adhere to a certain step-by-step guide:
Step 1. File Form I-130 or Petition Form I-129F
Your relationship with the US-based family member determines the type of form they will file. The US-based family member must file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative for F1, F2A, and F2B visas) or Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) for K1 and K2 visas) to the Department of Homeland Security (as part of USCIS).
The petition’s goal is to verify that they are in a relationship with you. The USCIS requires your US-based sponsor to cover the petition’s expenses. The US-based petitioner will receive a response from USCIS following the petition’s processing, which may indicate its approval or rejection.
If the petition is denied, the LPR is entitled to rectify any concerns and submit again after seeing the reason for its rejection. If the petition is approved, the documents will be sent to the National Visa Centre (NVC) for further processing.
The NVC will send the approval documents to the US-based family member and the applicant (spouse or child), together with a case, an invoice identification number, and directions on what to do next. The documentation will also contain all the information on the fees to be paid and how they will be paid.
Step 2. Applying for the Visa
The NVC will notify Japanese applicants when they must begin their application process from Japan. Then you must apply for the specific US Family visa that suits your situation at the US embassy or consulate closest to you.
Step 3. File Form DS-260 or Form DS-160
At this stage, you must file Form DS-260 (Immigrant visa application form) or Form DS-160 (Non-immigrant visa application form). The application form you must choose will depend on whether you want to obtain the F1, F2A, or F2B visa (for immigrant visas), or K1 or K2 visa (for non-immigrant visas).
Once you’ve entered your information online, including the reason for your visitation, you must submit these documents online. A confirmation number page will be provided to you upon completion and submission of the form; this page needs to be included in your documentation file and sent to the NVC.
Step 4. Carry Out Medical Examination
Japanese residents seeking to enter the US must pass a medical examination and take the vaccinations recommended by the US authorities. The licensed doctor will assess your health and write down a report.
Step 5. Bring Your Documents
You need to prove to the NVC and the US consulate in Japan that you deserve to be issued a US Family visa by providing all the required documents to support your application.
Step 6. Be at the Visa Interview
After the assessment of your documents by the NVC and they have proved that you meet all the requirements, an interview will be scheduled for you at the US consulate. You must answer some questions to prove the authenticity of your submitted documents.
Step 7. Get the NVC Packet
Upon the approval of your visa application by the US embassy, you may enter the US soonest and possibly permanently depending on the visa type. A sealed packet will be issued to you and must only be opened by the US immigration officers upon your arrival in the US.
How Can Our Lawyers at Total Law Help You?
Several US visa options for Japanese families exist, and the specific visa type to choose depends on the relationship a Japanese applicant has with the US-based family member. Additionally, the visa type largely determines the requirements you must meet to qualify.
Our immigration lawyers can help you go through the rigorous processes of obtaining a US Family visa. Our immigration lawyers are professionals who already know how to navigate the various stages of your application process.
We can help you organise your documents and even help file a solid application on your behalf to the standard of the USCIS. For more information about the Spouse visa process for Japanese citizens in the US, how to apply, or other services we offer, call us today on +1 844 290 6312 or message us online.
Advice Package
Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.
Application Package
Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Fast Track Package
Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.
Appeal Package
Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.
The Advice Package
During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.
The Appeal Package
By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
The US Immigrant visa allows for a temporary stay in the US. Whereas a Non-immigrant visa visa allows for permanent residency in the US.
Yes, you can travel outside of the US provided your US Family visa is still valid.
Yes, you can obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) when you enter the US on a US Family Visa, provided you meet the requirements.
