| What's
the procedure for marriage between a Japanese and
an American? |
 |
| I'm an American. Up until
now, I've come to Japan numerous times on business,
but recently I've come on the premise of marrying a
Japanese woman that I've met. I'm thinking that I'd
like to marry her and start an English conversation
school in Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture. Please
let me know what the procedure is for marriage, as well
as what I need to do with my visa status. |
| |
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| Here's an explanation of the procedures you'll need
to follow for your marriage. You could go to the States
first, get married, then later on follow through with
marriage procedures in Japan, OR, live in Japan and
follow the procedure for marriage here, which is what
I'll explain. Since you live in Kurashiki City, you'll
need to complete a "Certificate Of Legal Capacity To
Contract Marriage" at the American Consulate in Osaka.
Although this term can be difficult to understand, in
short, you'll need to make the following sworn affidavit
at the Consulate. In front of the Vice-Consul, you'll
state your name, date of birth, address, passport number,
and other vital information, and then swear that according
to the laws of the state you live in, there exist no
obstacles to marrying a Japanese woman. The Vice-Consul
will then sign the document, and it will be complete.
The document can also usually be translated into Japanese
as well. |
| Next, you'll need to bring this affidavit, your passport,
visa, and alien registration card, along with a copy
of her family register and certificate of residence
to your City Hall and report the marriage. This report
of marriage is called a konintodoke, and because it
requires the signatures of two witnesses, it's best
to get the form beforehand from city hall and have your
witnesses fill it in. Anything submitted in a foreign
language will need to be translated into Japanese. When
the marriage registration is accepted, your marriage
in Japan will be considered approved. |
| Finally, you can go to your nearest Immigration Bureau
office and follow the procedures to change your visa
status to that of "Japanese spouse." With this, you
can freely manage an English conversation school. |
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