Ryan Ginstrom wrote:

> "Eric Takabayashi" <etakajp@yahoo.co.jp> wrote in message
> news:41657043.54A5BE9A@yahoo.co.jp...
> > cc wrote:
> > > Shouldn't you contact  a specialist ?
> >
> > That's the next question, but thanks to you and Ryan anyway.
>
> My sister used one of those lawyer types for her (non-Sepponian) furriner
> husband. Cost around $1,000.
>
> Cheapskate that I am, I did it all myself. Granted it was pre-9/11, but even
> so it took about 3 days of straight paperwork, not to mention the legwork
> (yes, they required an AIDS test back then as well).
>
> Ah, yes -- get to immigration at 8am to line up, get to the window at noon
> so you can get a number to wait at another window, be given a number for the
> wrong window and have to start all over the next day.
>
> I'd do it in Japan at the consulate if at all possible. At least here you
> are a human being.

Have to go through the Embassy in Tokyo. Even the Consulate warns they cannot
advise people on immigration. At least much of it can be done by mail in Japan.
My mother will have to suffer if she needs to sign anything at home.

It is a real disappointment to find that the process to get into Japan and get
a permanent resident visa, involving a wait at home of a few weeks from start
to finish and accomplished locally in minutes of requesting or submitting
papers, was easier than getting my wife into the US will be.