Change of residence status: Tourist to Spouse

Anyone who just applied for a change of status of residence? From a tourist/temporary resident to a spouse of Japanese national without doing the COE route? Any updates if this has been prohibited? I�fve read in the previous post which was 2-3 yrs ago that theyve done it with no problem. I�fm just wondering if processes have changed? My husband and I are planning to go to the immigration for the change of status. We�fve prepared all the required document im just a bit nervous but praying for the best.

They are not going to like that.

Please keep us updated because everybody have been talking about the new rule regarding the transition from "tourist visa" to another visa while being already in Japan.

COE is only applicable if you plan to do the Visa from abroad/not in Japan, as you will need to bring your COE to nearest Japanese embassy in your country and make Spouse Visa application. Once Visa approved, you will fly into Japan and show your visa & COE to the immigration at airport, where they will give you the actual Spouse Visa with Resident card.

For Visa application inside Japan, it should be Change of Status (from Temporary/Tourist Visa to Spouse Visa).

I just turned in an application today with my wife. They gave us some more papers we needed to fill out in Japanese and told us to bring them back when we finish and then they�fd accept it.

I assume once they accept the papers the chance of success is high? Hopefully wouldn�ft be denied. Anyway, going back to turn in the papers Thursday or Friday then I�fll update when I hear back. But they were very nice and gave us all the papers we needed so I assume it�fll go smoothly.

Hey max! Would you be so kind to share what type of papers they�fve asked you to submit? Ive been solely relying on this post on the website since I tried contacting the immigration in Nagoya (since we live near there) and no one can help me out in english.

http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/IMMIGRATION/ZAIRYU_HENKO/zairyu_henko1.htm...


Are you under a tourist visa?

Will update everyone what will happen. My visa will expire in the middle of March hopefully i wouldnt need to go back to my home country and take the COE route.

I'm going to be doing exactly this in April. I will be getting married first and then applying for a change of status from tourist to spouse.
I hope we will have a kind experience such as yours Max.

Yes I�fm on a tourist visa, US citizen. It looks like you�fve got the form they gave me (number 8 on the site you linked, the PDF).

We were missing that form when we went to turn in the application so they gave it to us and told us to come back when we filled it out. I guess immigration still allows changing from tourist to spouse but they don�ft like when people try to change to student/work visa. Or maybe it all depends on the specific immigration office.

Hey @max,
So they didn't ask you to submit the coe right?
Was wondering what they asked for as a proof of residence card.
It's number 11 in this link:
http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/IMMIGRATION/ZAIRYU_HENKO/zairyu_henko1.htm...

They didn�ft ask me for residence card, I guess since I�fm a tourist. About the COE, well...

Went back with the papers today and got called up to a different officer, one we didn�ft speak to the other day. He immediately became pretty angry when we handed him the change of status form and then he pulled out the COE papers from a drawer and said we have to apply for COE and then apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy in America. He wouldn�ft listen to anything my wife said.

Luckily the same woman was there who gave us papers last time. We told him to ask her and so the two of them began to argue a little about it. Finally she went to print some papers or make a call and then she returned and explained to the guy that i could indeed apply for change of status while on a tourist waiver. He seemed really confused but then luckily we got to deal with the woman instead of him.

She took our application and told us she can accept it but she can�ft guarantee it�fll get approved. Also she told my wife to write the reason I needed to change in country. This part seems important. They want a good reason why you can�ft go back to your home country and apply or a visa at the embassy.

So I saw today that it totally depends on which officer you speak to. I didn�ft know they�fd changed the rules or gotten stricter otherwise I�fd have done things differently. I�fll update when I hear back about whether or not I get approved for change of residency.

Hidayahz

Was wondering what they asked for as a proof of residence card.
Do understand that change of status is usually for those resident in Japan who has status, thus they require proof of resident, zairyu card/resident card. In some special circumstances/situation the do allow
change of status for non-resident, not everyone, and as mentioned by Max it is all dependent on which officer you deal with.

But then again since there are many misuse of this change of status by non-resident, immigration is getting strict and handling it case by case. Especially those change status to student/dependent/work will most probably advise/require to go through COE - Visa process.
Those changing status to spouse of Japanese may be able to do it but then again no guarantee. You have to make your case.

So technically non-resident change status in Japan is not accepted process by immigration.

I�fm so curious to what reason would be acceptable for them to accept people with tourist visa to change to spouse of a japanese?

It is rare and also depending how busy it is at the immigration. You just give them extra work load.

Which area has the nicest immigration officer? (nagoya or osaka or tokyo)

@..
Thank you for reclarifying that. I'm aware about the whole situation of visa/residence card/status difference, I just needed confirmation from the poster regarding what he exactly did since this thing is quite unprecedented after the change of rule last year.

@Max
Thank you so much for the update! And yes, would be grateful to hear about the latest development on your application. Hope it goes well!

Hey @max
Did you pay a 4000yen for the revenue? Because I didn�ft pay and I read a blog about it that it should be paid if they approve your visa change. It�fs making me nervous

I also did the change of residence status from tourist to spouse. Immigration accepted my application but ask for other specific requirements to be submitted via post within a week.

IO also said to me and my husband that tourist visa holders technically are not allowed to do this but mentioned that they cannot stop it so I�fm really wondering why my application got accepted but I�fm thankful at least there would a possibility for it to be approved even not guaranteed.

My visa also is expiring in 2 weeks. I guess I can only just pray for positive results

I also didn�ft pay the 4000 yen. Immigration officer said I didn�ft need to pay that now; not until I get the letter in the mail. So hopefully that�fs true. I haven't heard anything back yet but it�fs still early. I�fm just hoping it doesn�ft take long.
What other documents did they ask you for?

Accepting application and approval/granting status is two different thing.

@IA , the 4000yen (revenue stamp) is only required when your change of status/renewal is approved.
As for your current visa expiring soon, IF your application is accepted your should get an
�\�¿APPLICATION stamp on your passport and this will automatically extend you current visa another 2 months or until your application is decided.

If your application is approved, you will receive a postcard (something like this https://bit.ly/2IjEVNB )
which will details what to bring.

@max they just asked a proof that my husband and i used to work in my home country before (where we met) & another paper from the city hall (kekkon jikou shoumeishou). So i think it�fs just a case to case basis.

@IA i see! Maybe I misunderstood due to language differences. Prior to accepting my application the IO was discussing about the COE route as the proper way and where they cannot extend the visa. I�fm not sure. But my concern is I didn�ft write my details in a post card and was informed that once they receive the lacking requirements via post they will just call us if it�fs approve or not. It worries me that I didn�ft write in a post card like how would they send me confirmation without it. It�fs shallow but I don�ft know why it worries me

Just want to share that i got my gaijin card. Applied march 4 then received post card march 11 (they wrote the postcard for me thankfully) got it yesterday march 13. Given 1 year. If you have questions maybe i can help based on my experience. Thanks everyone

Wow that's super quick! Congratulations! I probably will have questions in the future so I'll reply to this thread again for some answers.