I have been in Japan over 11 years now, make enough money. I have been married for about 7 of those 11 years here. No crimes all that good stuff. I applied about 4 years ago under marriage but was rejected. Wife read the letter and threw it away so just got to guess at the reason being my visa was still 1 year spousal visa not 3.
Anyhow this time around I am considering just applying under the 10 year route and not involving the wife. It seems like a lot less paperwork since it is difficult getting her to get her own information and complaints all the way. Does either route have particular advantages I should be aware of when choosing?
9 comments
> the reason being my visa was still 1 year spousal visa not 3
That would do it. A 3+ year “period of stay” is a requirement for all PR routes.
> Anyhow this time around I am considering just applying under the 10 year route and not involving the wife.
**Someone please correct me if I’m wrong**, but based on the wording on the [ISA page for PR applications](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-4.html):
> １ 申請人の方が、日本人の配偶者、永住者の配偶者、特別永住者の配偶者又はその実子等である場合
> ２ 申請人の方が、「定住者」の在留資格である場合
> ３ 申請人の方が、就労関係の在留資格（「技術・人文知識・国際業務」、「技能」など）及び「家族滞在」の在留資格である場合
> ４ 申請人の方が、「高度人材外国人」であるとして永住許可申請を行う場合
it doesn’t seem like you can use the #3 application forms if you’re not on a working status. Personally I think the spousal application is easier anyways. You’re wife doesn’t have to do much, as her husband you can gather most of the her documents.
What’s the duration on your current zairyu card?
Did you not put “wife, kids, job, stability, more kids, aiming for PR because I’m 108% stable” in the “reason” field on your last SOR renewal?
Have you also been stable, not oscillating between employers, earning “enough” but preferably a lot, not criming, paying taxes/pension/healthcare, and pumping out sprogs like they are in actual fact going out of style?
To be perfectly frank, you should have been on PR about ~~8~~ 6 years ago.
Apply again, and don’t give them a reason to say `DENIED`.
You will definitely get it this time.
Pro-Tip: Tell your darling not to shred your mail until you’ve looked at it.
Edit: fixed self-righteous maths cockup. I think, not sure.
It might be worth shelling out the ¥150,000 or so on an immigration attorney to make sure you’ve dotted your i’s etc.
Do you have a 3+ year visa this time?
Have you paid all your pension and health insurance within the last 2+ years? Without being so much as a day late?
Have enough money to support the amount of people in your household?
It’s pretty much guaranteed if you have all those things, and no crimes or anything like that like you said
> It seems like a lot less paperwork since it is difficult getting her to get her own information and complaints all the way.
what kind of wife is that?
>Wife read the letter and threw it away so just got to guess at the reason being my visa was still 1 year spousal visa not 3.
Yep that’ll do it. Surprised they actually took the application, normally they just tell you to reapply when you’ve got >1 year.
For your reason sentence, I would like to buy a house for my growing family since I will be living the rest of my life here.
Do not under any circumstances put “My miserable miserable life” just think it loudly, they’ll take pity on you.
Love – old married guy with a house.
Assuming your wife is cooperative, is either route significantly simpler than the other? I’ll hit 10 years of residence and 3 years of marriage around the same time, so I was wondering which would be easier for me.
AFAIK, if you’re on spousal visa (and on a 3 year one as well), you can’t choose to go the other route.
And actually, the other route is more paperwork. I did that, married but on engineering visa. Wife is STILL your sponsor, but since I was not on a spousal visa, she had all the reporting needs of a regular sponsor. 2 or 3 years of tax reports instead of 1 etc.
BTW, if you get a simple power of attorney from her, you can go and fetch all the necessary papers yourself. No need to involve her any further. My wife is similar, she rather sign a paper that lets me do this stuff on her behalf that bother herself with a city/tax office.
Use an attorney. Remember Japan and beurocracy are a pain. A good attorney will have you sorted and as long as you didn’t mess up along the way; you have a golden ticket.