nikkeijin visa

Hello again!

I have a question regarding the nikkeijin visa. I am a fourth generation, half Japanese American. I'm hoping I can get the nikkeijin visa, but I'm not sure if it's possible. Being who I am, can I get this visa?

Again there's no such thing as a "nikkeijin visa", essentially it was an informal nickname for the official "long term resident" visa status (which is not to be confused with permanent residency"), "mainly" brazilian-japanese got this status, and it turned out to be a disaster for the Japanese government, and they grant these only on special cases these days.

Being "fourth generation" "half" Japanese-American really pushes it and I highly doubt any application for Long term residency status (which is actually only good for 3 years, renewable).

I am also a 4th generation Japanese-American, and we are simply considered Americans as far as immigration is concerned and must go through the same visa processes as those without Japanese heritage. The long term resident visa is a special case visa that doesn't really apply unless you have some sort of special circumstance, so I'd suggest looking into other visas instead, specifically the work visa as it is the most likely to apply to your situation.

If your grandparents are Japanese nationals then you can apply for the "nikkeijin" visa. As John pointed out, it's actually called a Long Term Resident visa.

It's a whole lot easier just to apply for a regular working type visa (English instructor on a Specialist of Humanities for example), become a student then it is going to shoot for a 4th generation Japanese getting a long term resident visa.

If your grandparents are Japanese nationals then you are at most 3rd generation nikkeijin. Still one generation short for the OP to qualify for special long term resident status.

If your grandparents are Japanese nationals then you are at most 3rd generation nikkeijin.

Not necessarily. A 2nd generation or even a 4th generation Japanese-American can be a Japanese national.

If she has a Japanese parent then she can get a Child visa. If she has a Japanese grandparent then she can get a LTR visa. Bringing the "#th generation" into this topic just confuses things.

just to clarify.

My great grandparents were Japanese nationals (maybe meiji or taisho era), but both of my grandparents were born in America. My dad is full Japanese, but born in America. I'm half Japanese and born in America.

both of my grandparents were born in America

They can still be Japanese nationals even if they were born in America. But if they're not Japanese then you can forget about the visa.

Do you mean as in they're American citizens, therefore not Japanese or they're not genetically Japanese therefore they're not Japanese?

As far as I know my grandparents are American citizens.

Not necessarily. A 2nd generation or even a 4th generation Japanese-American can be a Japanese national.

I'm sure there are instances where this may be the case, however I think we're talking semantics here and I agree that the generation designation just confuses things. For example, I'm 4th generation, and my wife is Japanese. If we move to the US our daughter could be considered 1st, 2nd, 2.5, 4.5, or 5th generation depending on how one interprets the definition. Then there's always repatriation, dual citizenship, and obtained citizenship to confuse the matter.

If she has a Japanese parent then she can get a Child visa. If she has a Japanese grandparent then she can get a LTR visa.

There's no doubt that one can get a "child of a Japanese national" visa if they have a Japanese parent, but do LTR visas apply to all nationalities with Japanese grandparents? It is my understanding that LTR visas are special circumstance visas subject to designation by the Minister of Justice, rather than a regular status of residence. And that this particular application of the LTR status was granted specifically to certain nationalities (Brazilian for example).

just to clarify.
My great grandparents were Japanese nationals (maybe meiji or taisho era), but both of my grandparents were born in America. My dad is full Japanese, but born in America. I'm half Japanese and born in America.

It sounds like you don't qualify for a long term resident visa even if it does apply to Americans as you don't have grandparents with Japanese nationality.

Do you mean as in they're American citizens, therefore not Japanese or they're not genetically Japanese therefore they're not Japanese?
As far as I know my grandparents are American citizens.

Genetics are not taken into consideration. Only nationality. If your grandparents are not Japanese citizens then they are not Japanese as far as immigration is concerned.

Anything preventing you from applying for a regular working type visa?

A "long term resident" visa is really given in special circumstances nowadays, like I mentioned they pretty much ran into a bunch of problems with the brazilian-japanese getting them.

Ok, last question.

I have a great aunt who's related to me, but she's only half my aunt. My great grandpa had a child with another woman. She lives in Shibuya. Is she helpful to me?

Do you think that story would spin with Immigration Authorities?

by your response i'm guessing no... but I'm asking because I don't know.

I have a great aunt who's related to me, but she's only half my aunt. My great grandpa had a child with another woman. She lives in Shibuya. Is she helpful to me?

In short, no. If, however you can convince the minister of justice that that you are her sole means of support and that she depends on you for survival, then possibly they may grant you a special long term resident visa. The process would likely be long, expensive, and have a low chance of success however.

Do you mean as in they're American citizens, therefore not Japanese...

As far as I know my grandparents are American citizens.

I mean Japanese citizens. You seem to be overlooking the fact that it's possible for them to be both American and Japanese citizens at the same time. If you want this visa you better find out for sure.

do LTR visas apply to all nationalities with Japanese grandparents?

I've never heard about it being offered only to people from certain countries.

I mean Japanese citizens. You seem to be overlooking the fact that it's possible for them to be both American and Japanese citizens at the same time. If you want this visa you better find out for sure.

How would it be possible for the OP's grandparents to be legal dual citizens. Doesn't the 1985 nationality law essentially make that impossible?

http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7118b.html

do LTR visas apply to all nationalities with Japanese grandparents?

I've never heard about it being offered only to people from certain countries.

Any links that describes LTR visas for nikkeijin. I'm not finding anything online?

How would it be possible for the OP's grandparents to be legal dual citizens. Doesn't the 1985 nationality law essentially make that impossible?

It doesn't make it impossible. Take a look at the case of Albert Fujimori. Japan publicly accepted his dual nationality status.

The OP's grandparents were born in America, making them American citizens. If their parents registered them in their koseki then it also makes them Japanese citizens. The 1985 law doesn't automatically take away anyone's citizenship. So unless the grandparents formally renounced their Japanese citizenship, they would still be Japanese--just like Fujimori.

Any links that describes LTR visas for nikkeijin. I'm not finding anything online?

I didn't find anything conclusive from an offical website either. Everything I read either didn't specify a country or it said Brazil, Peru, Philippines, etc. Like this link shows the required documents for a criminal background check for nikkeijins.

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/keiziban/happyou/nikkei.html