I met my fiance in Canada and we lived together for three years. We originally planned on getting married and I would sponsor her permanent residency in Canada, but gave up on this and changed our minds and decided to try to make a life in Japan.
She is back in Japan now and working at her old job and I am still in Canada. Our plan is for me to go to Japan, get married, and then I would get a spousal visa and begin working there. I have looked at information online and there are a few things I'm not clear on.
It seems that the steps I am supposed to take are
1) get a COE
2) go to Japan
3) get married
4) get a spousal visa
But what I'm not clear on is if I can even get a COE for a spousal visa yet given the fact that we are not married. Do I need a COE to go to Japan? No, as a Canadian, I can go there on a tourist visa for 90 days, but can I then get a COE and apply for a spousal visa while I'm there? Would it matter that I didn't get a COE before landing? Again, the fact that we're not yet married is what is confusing me on the steps to take.
I'm wondering if I can simply
1) go to Japan on a tourist visa
2) get married
3) apply for the spousal visa with or without a COE (not sure how it would work)
I'd appreciate any advice, thanks.
by stormofthestars