This article is written by a Japanese local.
When marrying a Japanese national and applying for a “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” visa, many people mistakenly believe, “We officially registered our marriage at the city hall and are legally married, so the visa will naturally be approved.” However, in immigration procedures, this naive assumption leads to fatal consequences.
In the screening by the Immigration Services Agency, the overwhelming #1 reason for spouse visa denial is “doubts about the genuineness of the marriage (suspected fake marriage).” No matter how wealthy you are or what status you hold as a business person, Immigration will mercilessly deny your application if there is no “objective evidence backing up your relationship.”
This article thoroughly explains the core of building evidence—how to convert invisible elements like “love” and “emotions” into “objective facts (evidence)” that convince Immigration, logically clearing the screening process.
1. The Examiner’s Perspective: An Audit Process Constantly Suspecting “Fake Marriage”
The role of an Immigration examiner is not to bless your marriage. Due to a historical background where fake marriages for work visas were rampant, examiners conduct a strict audit (due diligence) of submitted documents with the strong suspicion: “Is this marriage just a sham to get a visa?”
“Red Flags” Monitored by Immigration
If your case falls under the following, it will be flagged as a “red flag” in Immigration’s system, and you will be required to submit far more meticulous and extensive evidence than usual.
- Large age gap: Generally, an age difference of 10 years or more.
- Extremely short dating period: Cases where the time from meeting to marriage is less than half a year, which is easily deemed as insufficient relationship building.
- How you met: Meeting through “matching apps,” “SNS,” “marriage agencies,” or “nightlife establishments (host/hostess clubs).”
- Language barrier: When the couple lacks a common language and it is unclear how complex communication is conducted.
- Divorce history: Having multiple past divorces with other foreign nationals (or Japanese nationals).
2. The “Questionnaire” is Not a Love Letter, but a Legal Statement
When applying for a spouse visa, filling out a multi-page “Questionnaire” is mandatory. Some people write long, emotional paragraphs here, like “Meeting him was destiny” or “We love each other deeply,” but this is completely meaningless in a legal screening.
The document describing your relationship history is treated as a legal “statement.” What the examiner wants is “objective facts in chronological order,” such as “When (year, month, day, time),” “Where,” “Introduced by whom (or on what app),” “How the relationship deepened,” and “When the proposal happened.”
If there is even a single contradiction in dates or a description that does not match the photographic/communication evidence mentioned later, it will be deemed a “false declaration” and immediately denied. You are required to construct logical sentences conveying only facts that anyone can understand.
3. How to Build “Objective Facts (Evidence)” to Completely Dispel Doubts
To prove the genuineness of the marriage, it is essential to present evidence as a “continuous line” rather than “isolated dots.” Having “just a few beautiful photos” from a wedding or trip is extremely weak evidence to prove the continuity of the relationship.
① Continuity of Communication (Communication Records)
Submit call and chat histories from LINE, WeChat, WhatsApp, etc. Instead of just extracting words of love, it is crucial to evenly extract a “history of continuous communication without interruption” over months or years, including trivial daily exchanges. For communications in foreign languages, attach a Japanese translation summarizing the main points.
② Proof of Travel History and Physical Contact
If you went through a long-distance or international long-distance relationship, the “fact that you spent time and money to actually meet” becomes powerful evidence. Submit copies of passport entry/exit stamps, flight ticket stubs (e-receipts), and hotel reservation confirmations, numbered to perfectly match the chronological order in your relationship history document.
③ Interaction with Relatives and Friends (Ensuring Public Recognition)
Photos taken together with each other’s parents, relatives, and friends are extremely important. The fact that the marriage is publicly recognized by third parties (especially family), rather than being a closed relationship between just the two of you, is highly evaluated in clearing suspicions of a fake marriage. Always add captions stating “when, where, and with whom” the photo was taken.
4. Advanced Proof Approaches to Recover from Disadvantageous Situations
Even if multiple “red flags” mentioned above apply, it is possible to win approval through a logical approach. The key is to “anticipate the doubts Immigration might have and prepare objective answers in advance.”
For example, if you met on a matching app, submit the app’s usage history or screenshots of the date you matched. If there is no common language between the couple, objectively show your efforts to overcome the communication barrier by attaching translation app usage histories, textbooks showing you are currently studying Japanese (or the partner’s language), or receipts from a language school.
5. Practical Q&A on the Genuineness of Marriage
- Q: We don’t have a habit of taking pictures, so we hardly have any photos of just the two of us. Will we be denied?
A: A lack of photos itself is a negative factor, but it won’t cause an immediate denial. Instead, you need an approach where you thoroughly gather other “objective facts” besides photos—such as communication records, receipts from shopping together, and if living together, utility bills or lease agreements—and attach a written explanation providing a rational reason for the lack of photos. - Q: We haven’t been able to formally greet each other’s parents yet. Is this a problem?
A: Immigration believes that “if there is a true intention to marry, it is natural to report and greet the parents.” It is advisable to clearly state rational reasons why the greeting hasn’t happened—such as the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distance, or parental opposition—and, if possible, submit additional documents like a “letter from the parents acknowledging the marriage.”
A spouse visa screening does not measure the depth of your love; it is an “audit process of factual consistency.” Do not underestimate obtaining a visa as a mere submission of paperwork to a government office. Gather objective evidence thoroughly and construct a flawless logic with the same level of tension as handling a corporate financial audit or due diligence.