The next step.

As written in the previous post, the most difficult step in preparing for Carol's immigration has past. Now, we can really get ready to move forward.

As for the next step, we foresee the following:
1. 25th July: Go to JP Consulate to apply for spouse visa.
2. In 5 days: Visa is ready and given.
3. Carol packs and prepares for her move.
4. Latest October: Carol moves to Japan.
5. Upon arrival, if Carol passes the passport control, she has entered Japan for good.

From this point on is just my note, but a review of what we need to do after Carol arrives Japan.
1. Within 90days after arrival: Go get alien resident card (外国人登録証明書): Gov't office (市区役所)
2. Before next departure: Go get re-entry permit (再入国許可書): Immigration Bureau (入国管理局): Expires one time single permit or 3yrs multiple permit.
3. Already done: Go to post office and apply for change of registrant: Post office
4. Whenever possible: Apply for social insurance and security (社保・年金): Through Jin's company

Other items to prepare:
- Before Arrival: Stamp (印鑑): Get in HK.
- After arrival: Mobile phone: Get in JP
- After arrival: Bank account: Get in JP.
- Credit Card - Jin's family card: Should be alright with Jin's.
- SUICA/EDY - Already has it: 無問題.

After the arrival, in order to sustain status, below needs to be considered:
・Renewal of Certificate of Eligibility: 在留資格認定証明書更新 （2009 March)
- current certificate has 1 year expiry.
- need at least three year, so need to renew once in order to apply for permanent alien.
・Permanent Alienship: 永住権
- after three years of marriage, and more than one year of residing in Japan
- this proves permanent eligibility to stay in Japan and thus does not need to be renewed.
・Re-entry Permit: 再入国許可
- expiry has two scheme: one time or three year multiple entry.
- the re-entry permit must be in line with the certificate of eligibility.
・Foreigner's Registration ID: 外国人登録証明書
- there isn't an expiry of the registration card, but there is an expiry date on the card (need to check).
- need to go to city hall government office (市区役所) for application.
・Naturalisation: 帰化申請（http://kekkon.homn.net/kika.html）
- over 20 years of age.
- has good status.
- has a way to live with his/her own work, or by his/her spouse or other family member.
- doesn't mind giving up his/her old nationality.
- has not performed terroristic operations to Japanese government.
- has married to a Japanese and lived more than three years in Japan.
- has married to a Japanese for over three years, and has lived in Japan for more than one year.
- has no problem living in Japan, both linguistically and understanding of culture.

That's it for now. It really the final countdown for Carol to move to Japan. やっとだね（＾＾ｂ

Certificate of Eligibility arrived!!!!!

Today marks a significant event of our project!!!!!

As I had written on the previous post, we have been long waiting for this certificate to be issued. If we look back, this certificate was the certificate we had been working so hard to apply for it without any flaw, errors, or mistakes. The 100 page application had resulted in an expedited issuance of this certificate.

Now, Carol can apply for the spouse visa which will only take several days, and then she is good to stay in Japan as my spouse!!!!!

I will be visiting Hong Kong once again later this month, so I will be taking this certificate and together, go to the Japan Consulate in Hong Kong to apply for the visa.

Finally, it is again good to be a junior applicant.

Discussing with a senior friend (not the age, just that she had done the transition from HK → JP recently), we found out that there are several actions we need to take:

1. Apply for Re-entry permit (再入国許可) from Immigration Bureau.

2. Alien resident ID (外国人登録証明書) from Government office 横浜中区役所.

3. Apply for resident registration at post office, so that post sent to my address under her name can come without any errors.

4. Register for social insurance (社会保険 or 国民保険) to be done through Jin's company.

Still, a long long process goes. And even on top of this, our senior had explained that the Certificate of Eligibility is only valid for one time use. The re-entry permit is the one which is required when coming back to Japan after coming with spouse visa. Essentially, below is the status:

1. First time to Japan: Certificate of Eligibility & Spouse Visa

2. x times after coming to Japan: Re-entry permit & Spouse Visa

**Note: Spouse Visa is valid for 3 year. After then, Carol may have the choice of:

a. Renewing the Spouse Visa (in which case she needs me to renew the Certificate of Eligibiilty)

b. Applying for Permanent Alien 永住権 (in which case she needs me to apply for the 永住権)

c. Naturalise to a Japanese [In fact, she should be able to apply for that even now... still haven't checked the detail yet.....]

In any case, our union will be coming shortly!!!!! Yey!!!!! Another step towards the start day of our happy happy union!!!!!

One month past...

1st of July marked the full 4 weeks since I had went to the Immigration Bureau. Indeed, the application takes much time. However, as time passes by, we are sure that the day the certificate will be issued is coming closer day by day.

During these worrying days, Carol had come to Japan for a visit. We feel more that we both are in dependence of each others' existence and closeness. We both feel extremely comfortable and safe when we are together. However, when we have any time where we cannot get a hold of each other, we feel soooo insecure.

We feel this is a very natural and healthy feeling. It is partially true since we are far away now. However, the real challenge comes in when Carol comes to Japan and we can ALWAYS be together. As long as we don't forget this feeling, we should be fine.


So, still another some time to go for the certificate to be issued, but we will just pray for it to be issued earlier!!!