[buraian-kun]

*sigh*
I lived in a small town in Japan from 1998-2001, so I'll need to get a police certificate.

Has anyone done this? Where exactly do I apply for this? Should I contact the prefectural government? Please tell me I don't have to contact the local police department in my former village. My Japanese has gotten pretty rusty and getting the message across would not be easy.:no

Cheers,
-Brian*

[IanW99]

Check out Police Certificates for Japan (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/policecertificate/ij/japan.htm)

Ian

[Chiba]

Not sure how this works if you're not still in Japan, because I had to be finger/palm printed at the main police office of the prefecture where I was living at the time. My colleague here in NZ is just going through the visa process now, and he has to be printed at NZ Police so that his prints can be sent to Canada for checking. Regarding Japan, once we'd figured out where to go and what forms to fill in - and it took a native Japanese speaker to do this - then the actual process at the police office in Japan wasn't too bad; they were really helpful.

[buraian-kun]

Thanks Ian and Chiba.

I've read the page on the NZIS site and it seemed to imply that I will have to contact the prefectural police office directly. However, since folks living in NZ are directed to the embassy or consulate in NZ, it seems that I should also be able to get this done through a consulate here in the 'States.

Crossing my fingers.

Kampai!
-Brian*

[Watna]

Those police certs are the most difficult thing on the visa application. I'm having terrible trouble getting mine and my OHs because we need them from Ireland and we are in NZ. The fact that he is a kiwi but needs them from Ireland as he lived there for three years is causing me no end of trouble. If I didn't have to get these stupid certs I'd have my residency in 4 weeks!

Best of luck op, I know how frustrating it can be! If it's any help to get them from Ireland I had to write to the district superintendent with all my details and addresses I'd lived at in the area. However, these were the Irish police's rules, not the NZ immigration service. Fingers crossed you can go through the Japanese embassy!