American nationality / VH
Spouse of Japanese → Permanent Residence
As anyone with existing experience as a foreign ex-patriot living in Japan will know, dealing with the government is always a headache. Strict procedures and often contradictory instructions between the English and Japanese versions of government websites can cause confusion and frustration. I prepared my own application and accompanying documents for my initial entry into Japan on a spousal visa. However, for Permanent Residency, we decided to seek additional support to make sure we were following the correct procedure.
And we were glad we did! Mai’s expert advice truly helped us navigate through some tricky circumstances. Applying during COVID, government delays were certainly expected, but following Mai’s advice for document preparation paid off. Due to the government’s delay in processing (over 8 months!), our initial application submission didn’t include the most recent tax documentation. However, with Mai’s help, we were able to determine what we needed to do to correct the situation, and she reassured us that everything was normal and would be OK.
And she was absolutely correct! My Permanent Residency was approved, and the process was as smooth as you could expect in dealing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I would wholly recommend Mai’s services when applying for Permanent Residency. While it’s absolutely possible to do it on your own, there are several potential pitfalls, and having the peace of mind from the assurance of a professional was invaluable for me. Thank you to Mai and Permanent Residence Consultation in Japan for the wonderful support.
