Living separately from my wife while I'm on spouse visa

[A7mouse]

Hey everyone,

First a little background info on me: I'm American. I'll be 22 soon. My wife is Japanese and I have a daughter soon to be 2 years old. I came to Japan in August 2006 on a 90-day Fiance Visa, changed to a 1-year Spouse Visa, in 200７ I renewed my Spouse Visa for a 3-year one of which I'm now almost 1-year through.

My wife graduates university in Tokyo, March 2010. However, I intend to enter a Japanese university in Kyushu, April 2009. Matriculation after 23 becomes a bit tricky from what I hear. I'm planning to move to Kyushu by myself next week to focus on studies for my exams. This amounts to about a year and a half living separately.

My questions are:
(1) Will living separately from my wife put my visa in jeopardy? Are they gonna throw me out if they catch me?
(2) Is it going to prohibit me from renewing my visa next time?
(3) Is it possible to renew my spouse visa even if we're living separately? (I can't see that this would be the case, but extra information never hurt)

I'll probably ask the nyuukan, but I'd be really grateful for any input or advice you could give me, or any experiences you could relay.

Thanks a lot,
a7mouse

[KirinMan]

1) Will living separately from my wife put my visa in jeopardy? Are they gonna throw me out if they catch me?

No, your wife is the sponsor of your visa, so as long as you are married you can live and work anywhere within Japan. However remember that you need to register in the city that you will be living in as required for your "gaijin" card.

Your spouse visa allows you to live and work in Japan as a Japanese person, with the only requirement that you register in the city you are living in.

(2) Is it going to prohibit me from renewing my visa next time?
Why should it?

(3) Is it possible to renew my spouse visa even if we're living separately? (I can't see that this would be the case, but extra information never hurt)


You dont need to notify immigration that you are living separately while attending school, but I would STRONGLY RECOMMEND having either you or your wife contact your local immigration office for further details instead of asking a bunch of rather well informed strangers give you advice on matters like this.

Get it straight from the horses mouth and not the ***.:wave:

[Glenski]

I came to Japan in August 2006 on a 90-day Fiance Visa, Impossible, there is no such thing. Perhaps you are confused and just didn't know you were here as a tourist (90-day stay granted to Americans, but it is NOT a visa).

Living separately MIGHT influence its renewal, but just explain with paperwork related to your schooling. Being prepared and professional helps smooth out wrinkles with immigration. They are particularly strict right now because of security concerns and because they are on the lookout more than ever for false marriages.

[manners]

It is common for Japanese to live apart when they are forced to move by their companies. There is a word for it in Japanese "tanshin funin".
Contact immigration.

[Glenski]

True, manners, but Japanese citizens don't require spouse visas (or any other types) that require renewal/extension just to stay in the country legally. It's a fair question.

[KirinMan]

They are particularly strict right now because of security concerns and because they are on the lookout more than ever for false marriages.
If you have any children it helps with immigration as well. I too came here on a tourist visa after getting married in the states. We never went the finance visa route.

When my wife and I were first changing my visa over and the immigration authorities noticed that we had a child as well things went very smoothly.