My wife (Ukrainian) and I (American) are currently in the US. We left Ukraine after the invasion happened and she got a tourist visa here. Her Visa expires in August, after which we will be going back to Ukraine through Poland to stay with her parents in Kyiv, mostly because she misses them more than anything.
We both found a position teaching in Japan. Our school will start the COE process in the middle of July, which means we won’t expect one until Mid- August or later (after we’re out of the US).
For my wife, she can apply for the COE in any neighboring country with Ukraine. But they refuse to let me apply for one because my Ukrainian residence permit expires in July, and I won’t be a resident.
I promised my wife that we wouldn’t be apart, and I can’t let her go back to Ukraine alone. Is there any way to apply for a tourist visa in the US now, use it to get to Japan, and then use the COE to apply there? Or change my status or something…
The school mentioned that they had done this in the past and that it may be possible. But, I wanted to get some insight from others.
Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Edit: Wow! Color me shocked…the embassy in Romania agreed to let us apply there even though I’m not a resident. Really unexpected turn of events after being tyrned down from 3 other embassies in nearby countries. Never been so thankful that Ukraine has so many neighbors. I really appreciate all of the info though, extremely helpful.
7 comments
You cannot switch from a tourist visa or a visa waiver program to a work visa while in-country anymore, not to mention it’s immigration fraud to use the tourist visa for job-hunting.
If I were you, I would be very concerned that your “school” said that it had used this method in the past, if that is indeed what they claimed.
This information is irrelevant as *regular* tourist visas and the visa waiver program have been suspended.
Unfortunately this is almost certainly ***not*** going to be possible.
Couple of reasons:
#1: Tourist visas are currently only being issued to people on package tours. This is unlikely to change by the time you need to be making the visa switch.
#2: Immigration cracked down on converting from tourist visas to working visas in 2019. It is currently only possible in extreme “special circumstances”. Your wife would almost certainly qualify given the current situation. You, an American, won’t qualify.
While it’s definitely noble that you don’t want to leave your wife alone, you’re pretty much guaranteed that you will need to get your visa in the US. It doesn’t have to be a *long* separation, though. Once you receive your CoE you can fly back to the US for a week to do the visa process.
No idea what the situation is like in Ukraine right now, but would it be possible to renew your residency there first, then apply with the COE in Poland?
Two possible options.
1. Stay in US and apply for your wife’s green card. As long as her green card application is filed, She doesn’t need to leave US once her tourist visa expires. US might also have some special program for Ukraine right now. Talk to an immigration lawyer in US or refugee program officer.
2. I don’t know if US has any special war related refugee program for Ukraine, but Japan does. Contact local Japanese consulate and ask if they can help her move to Japan. Your work offer might be an asset in her Ukraine related special application. Two main things Japanese resettlement program is looking for connection to Japan and existing support network in Japan. Your work offer just might do the trick for both of you. Once you guys are in Japan, you could bring her parents to Japan.
It doesn’t make sense to go back to Ukraine right now. Everything will get harder from moving to Japan/ immigration perspective. IIRC from NHK TV News, there is no Japanese consular service in Ukraine, and everything being done from Poland.
Edit: Unless things change recently, you can get her tourist visa extended within US without leaving US.
Edit: Also, Ukraine is special case right now so any restrictions on conversion from normal tourist visa to work visa within Japan can be overridden. At least, I have seen several cases being mentioned on NHK TV news where person was granted status of stay and work. During covid19, visa conversion, work auth etc was routinely granted. Covid19 special permission program either ended very recently or will end soon.
As others have said, you’re not going to be able to switch from a tourist visa (even if you could enter as one, which you probably won’t be able to).
Keep in mind though, it only takes around a week from application (with certificate of elligibility) to issuance of visa, and then that visa is good for 3 months. There is nothing saying that you’d have to fly from the issuing country to Japan.
So you stay with your wife in Kyiv or Poland or wherever she is until you both receive your CoEs. She applies for her visa, takes around a week. Once she has her visa, you both head back to the states for a week or two, get your visa. Then you both enter Japan together.
I’m really glad it worked out for you! That’s awesome 🙂
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