Ok…so I (American Citizen) am confused about something as I let my spouses family help me get a Japanese COE and I started to read around and I am a little worried. I have been married to a Japanese Citizen for 20 years and she wants to spend with her parents so we will move to Japan in June.
We applied for a COE a few months back and the COE was approved. The COE was sent to my wifes parents house as that is where we will stay for a few weeks while we get a place to rent. I have copies of it scanned by my wifes sister. I don’t have the actual document in hand its at her parents house.
For some reason the office where they applied for the COE told them to just come in normally as a tourist and then come to the immigration office when I arrive. After reading around I think this is may be incorrect.
Apparently if I am come in a as a tourist I would have to leave and re-enter with the COE? I have 20 days before my flight and I am panicking that I have been told incorrect information.
What are my options if I have an actual approved COE but not in hand? Should I tell her parent to mail it (the COE) to me overnight as I leave in 20 days? I have everything lined up (remote work, finances, etc.) and no this one thing I was told was OK may not be. None of this is clear and any guidance would be of help.
Thanks
by Exciting-Tart8282