Important Notices
Procedures
Categories
Procedures
Do not send anything to the Embassy/Consulate-General. Bring your documents to the interview. Before making an appointment,
make sure you have all the necessary documents.
Assemble all documents that pertain to your case. For countries maintaining national police records, a certificate from the national police or judicial authorities must be submitted. For countries not maintaining national police records, a certificate must be obtained from each locality of residence. A police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been arrested for any reason, regardless of the length of residence. Police certificates are valid for one year. They must be valid when the visa is issued. Police records from certain countries are considered unobtainable. Please inform the embassy/consulate immediately if you cannot obtain a specific record.
For information on obtaining police records from other countries, please see this site. Police certificates are not required from the United States.
Note: Japanese Police Certificates are sealed. If the seal is broken, the certificate is no longer valid. Do not open the certificate prior to submission to the Embassy/Consulate.
All applicants must provide a local Japanese address. This includes members and dependents of the U.S. military, who must use their
base's local address if no other local address is available.
Once you have all the necessary documents:
PASSPORT: A passport must be valid for travel to the United States and must have at least six months validity beyond the issuance date of the visa. Each child 16 years or older who is included in his/her parents' passport but whose photograph does not appear in the passport must obtain his/her own passport.
BIRTH CERTIFICATES: You will need one original or certified copy of the birth record or family register for each visa applicant. The certificate must contain the seal or signature of the official custodian of the record and also show that it is an extract of an official record. You must also submit birth certificates for all unmarried children under 21 named in the original petition, even if they are not applying for a visa.
UNOBTAINABLE BIRTH CERTIFICATES: If an official birth certificate is not obtainable, present the best possible secondary evidence, such as a timely registered baptismal certificate, hospital certificate, school records and/or a notarized affidavit from your parents. In general, secondary evidence is not accepted unless there is proof that an official birth record is unavailable from the issuing office.
PHOTOGRAPHS: Please submit two identical color 5cm x 5cm photo with a white background, taken within the last six months. The head (measured from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin) should measure between 25 to 35mm with the head centered in the frame facing straight ahead. All applicants must provide photos, regardless of age.
EVIDENCE OF DISSOLUTION OF PRIOR MARRIAGE(S): If you were married previously, obtain one certified copy of your divorce decree(s) or death certificate(s) to prove the dissolution of each prior marriage.
EVIDENCE OF RELATIONSHIP: You will be asked to submit evidence that you have previously met your fiancé(e) and proof of an ongoing relationship with your petitioner. It is useful to submit letters, photographs, or other evidence of your engagement with your visa application.
POLICE CERTIFICATE: Each applicant aged 16 years and older must submit a certificate from the appropriate judicial or police authorities of the applicant's country of citizenship or current residence where the applicant has resided for at least six months since the age of sixteen. The applicant must also submit certificates from the appropriate judicial or police authorities where the applicant has resided for twelve months or more since the age of sixteen.
COURT AND PRISON RECORDS: Persons convicted of a crime must obtain a certified copy of each court record and any prison record. The records are required, even if the applicant was acquitted or benefitted from an amnesty, pardon or other act of clemency., regardless of whether or not they may have benefited from an amnesty, pardon or had their conviction record officially sealed. This also applies to juvenile offenses.
MILITARY DISCHARGE RECORDS: A certified copy of any military record must describe the nature of any military service the applicant has performed. Pre-WWII Japanese military records may be obtained through the Prefectural Government, Welfare Section, or through the Relief Agency, Ministry of Public Welfare. Records from the Japan Self Defense Forces are available from the unit commander.
EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT: Evidence which will show that you and your children, if any, are not likely to become public charges in the United States. To find out more about what type of evidence may be presented to meet the public charge provisions of the law, see here. The Affidavit of Support (I-134) and supporting documents are unacceptable if more than one year has elapsed since the date of issuance.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION: Applicants for K visas must undergo medical examinations at facilities designated by the embassy. Applicants are responsible for making their own arrangements for the medical examination in time to suit their travel plans. Applicants must bring a passport or another photograph-bearing travel document, any vaccination records, a passport-sized photograph (30mm x 40mm). You may obtain the medical examination forms from a doctor of designated facilities.
EXPACK: All applicants must provide a self-addressed, pre-paid envelope (EXPACK 500) for the return of their passport and documents. The "ExPack 500" is available in convenience stores and post offices throughout Japan.
Important Notice: Before the interview, please read.
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