After how many days will I receive a call about the results of my naturalization application? What will be required of me?
After applying for naturalization and having an interview, all you can do is wait for your naturalization to be approved.
However, while you are waiting for the results of the naturalization application, you may receive a call from the Legal Affairs Bureau.
This article discusses the cases when you receive a call from the Legal Affairs Bureau while you are waiting for the results of the naturalization application.
Such calls are considered a routine part of the examination process, and applicants should not panic if contacted. It simply means the bureau is confirming up-to-date information before making a final decision.
The basic schedule for applying for naturalization
After you apply for naturalization to become a Japanese citizen, you will be invited for an interview a few months after your application.
This interview will determine whether you meet the requirements for naturalization and whether you have sufficient knowledge of the Japanese language.
After the interview for naturalization, there is basically nothing you can do but wait for the result of the application.
It usually takes about 3 to 5 months from the end of the interview to the naturalization result.
However, while you are waiting for the result, you may receive a call from the Legal Affairs Bureau.
In some cases, especially if the number of applications is high, the review process may take longer than five months, so periodic checks by phone help the authorities ensure the applicant’s information remains accurate.
Reasons for calls from the Legal Affairs Bureau
If you receive a call from the Legal Affairs Bureau while you are waiting for the results of your naturalization application, you may be concerned that something is wrong with your application.
But even if you receive such a call from the Legal Affairs Bureau, it does not necessarily mean there was a problem.
Did you get married or have a child? The reason an applicant receives a phone call while waiting for results has not been officially disclosed, but the call is usually only to check if there have been any changes since the application was submitted.
Typical changes that may trigger a phone call include marriage, childbirth, job changes, changes of address, or legal issues such as unpaid taxes or traffic violations.
Questions the Legal Affairs Bureau may ask
When you receive a call from the Legal Affairs Bureau, you will usually be asked the following questions.
- Have you changed your address?
- Have there been any changes at work?
- Are you planning to travel abroad?
- Have you recently been charged with a traffic offense recently?
- Did you get married or have a child?
All questions refer to changes that the applicant should notify the Legal Affairs Bureau about as soon as they occur.
It appears that the Legal Affairs Bureau makes a call to make sure there are no changes in important matters related to the naturalization application.
If the applicant fails to report such changes proactively, it may be seen as a lack of transparency, which could negatively affect the decision on the application.
For example, if the naturalization is approved, the address is important information to be published in the Official Gazette.
If you change your address after you have filed a naturalization application but do not inform the Legal Affairs Bureau of the change of address, the address on your resident card and the address published in the Official Gazette will be different.
If there is a change in information that the Legal Affairs Bureau asks about over the phone, such as your address or place of employment, you should notify the Legal Affairs Bureau immediately.
It is advisable to keep a record of all communications with the Legal Affairs Bureau, including the date and content of phone calls, to avoid misunderstandings and to demonstrate your cooperation in the process.
