Things to Do While Dating a Foreign National

Introduction

When you ask married couples what they wish they had done while dating, common answers include living together briefly to understand each other's habits, or getting to know each other's parents. These are certainly important in international marriages too.

However, there are two things unique to international marriage that you will be especially glad you did:

• Keeping a daily activity diary
• Taking plenty of photos together

These two practices will make it much easier to fill out the "Questionnaire" and submit photos required for the spouse visa application.

About the Spouse Visa Application

When a Japanese national and a foreign national marry and plan to live in Japan, the foreign spouse needs to change their status of residence to "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" (or apply for a new one).

The spouse visa has no employment restrictions, making it very convenient. However, because of this, immigration authorities strictly examine applications to prevent sham marriages. As a result, various documents must be submitted.

About the Questionnaire

One of the required documents for the spouse visa application is the "Questionnaire." It includes a section where you must describe the history of your relationship with specific dates.

You will be asked for the exact date you first met, when you went on dates, when you decided to get married, when you visited each other's parents, and more. These dates are easy to forget over time.

Keep a Daily Activity Diary

If you regularly record "when, where, with whom, and what you did," filling out the Questionnaire becomes much easier.

Simple tools like your smartphone's notes app, calendar app, or services like Evernote are sufficient for recording your daily activities.

By recording not just the day you first met, but also dates, the day you decided to marry, and the day you met each other's parents, you can create a more credible Questionnaire.

Take Plenty of Photos Together

Taking photos together on dates is also very important. The spouse visa application requires photos as evidence of your relationship.

Photos from the following situations are particularly effective:

• Photos from dates together
• Photos with each other's families
• Photos from trips together
• Photos from events and anniversaries
• Natural photos from everyday life

Since photos contain date and location information, they serve as strong evidence to prove the timeline of your relationship.

Other Helpful Preparations

In addition to keeping a diary and taking photos, there are other things you can do during your relationship to make future procedures smoother.

Research Your Partner's Country's Marriage System

International marriages may require procedures in both Japan and your partner's country. Researching in advance what documents and procedures are needed in your partner's country will help you avoid last-minute stress.

Introduce Each Other to Your Families

The spouse visa review places great importance on the authenticity of the marriage. Introducing each other to your families and having family-level interactions is an important factor in demonstrating the genuineness of your marriage.

Keep Records of SNS and Messages

Records of conversations on LINE, Messenger, and other platforms can serve as supplementary evidence of your relationship. It is a good idea to save important conversations as screenshots.

Summary

It would be very unfortunate if, after falling in love and deciding to marry, your application were suspected of being a sham marriage due to insufficient documentation.

If you are dating a foreign national, please keep these two things in mind:

• Keep a daily activity diary
• Take photos together on dates

These preparations will not only help with your future spouse visa application but also serve as precious memories of your time together.