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Court Records

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Applicants who have been in court or prison must present original or certified copies of each court or prison record along with an English translation, certified by the translator. These records are required, even if an applicant was released or benefited from an amnesty, pardon or other act of clemency. For information on receiving court records from a country other than the U.S. or Japan, please visit the State Department’s Visa Reciprocity and Country Documents Finder

How to obtain Court Records in Japan:
Japanese court records can be obtained from the District Prosecutor’s Office (“chiho kensatsu cho”) where the court proceeding was held. The applicant must also submit copies of all pertinent sections of the laws under which the applicant was charged, along with an English translation, certified by the translator.

How to obtain U.S. Court Records:
U.S. police reports and court records can be obtained from police office where you were arrested or from the court where you were convicted.