I am Army vet Married to Solider currently in Iraq. I want to move to Japan while he is deployed. .......?

Question

Is this possible? I want to live Yokota Air base area. I know I will not be able to live on post, but I will be able to GO on post, as I have ID, and use medical facilities, right? Can I get an apartment in Japan, or do I need special paper work? Can I use Bank of America on post?
Also, will I be able to get a job on post? Will I need a visa? Do they have child care?
I really want to do this very badly! I know it might take alot of work, but I am willing. I will be traveling with my 2 children ages 3 and 2. PLease help me with any info or web sites you may have. Thanks!!

First of all, let me express my COMPLETE SHOCK at some of the negativeness in responses here. Seems to me like some of you *MIGHT* be incapable of realizing a dream...thank GOD I am not one of these TYPES of people. Second: I simply ASKED what I would be able to attain through the military...I did NOT ask if they would SUPPLY everything for me. I HAVE BEEN TO IRAQ as a SOLIDER and for one of you to comment on me being selfish towards my husband, (whizzing bullets? GROW UP) you are what I would call, a shallow soul. I won't even waste my energy to pity you, that is how much your comment means to me.
Out of pocket expense is not a big deal. Did I say anywhere I am finacially instable? no. Sorry Folks, but just because my husband is a solider does not mean I have to live in his shadow. (I wish more military wives would realize this) FOr the Military attorney, thank you for your more *FACTUAL* advice....I appreciate it.

ps. I did not take the kids away...LOL, the US Government took their daddy away. Mouse....really..you are a bore.

pss. As for my SPOUSE serving in IRAQ, what may come to you as a surprise is that he FULLY supports my idea...(because it was orginally HIS)

Answer 1

Not impossible, but probably more difficult than you can imagine. Because you are not going on orders, you will have to go through the whole process of being a non-citizen resident/tourist and acquire passports and visas at your own expense. This will be a HUGE drain on you time-wise and financially. This problem is TRIPLED because you have two small children.

You will be able to access services on post, but they will be limited as you are only in a "tourist" status to the military over there. Many services are intended for soldiers and their family members who are there on orders.

You won't likely be able to get a job on post - same problem - no orders. Again, same problem with child care.

I've seen people trying to do this when I was in Europe, and it is agonizing and never goes well. I was an attorney who had to personally deal with these matters for the Army.

Because of force protection/security, you will run into all kinds of headaches trying to be an "ex-pat."

For the sake of sanity and safety/comfort of your and your children (as well as the sanity of your spouse serving in Iraq) don't do it. Can't tell you that it can't happen...but the cost is not worth the benefit you are looking for.

Answer 2

You can move anywhere you want to move. But don't expect the military to move you without orders. And because you have no orders to live there you would be like a regular private american citizen wanting to live in another country.

If you have a military ID then you will be able to go on base and use base services. As for getting a job, well that is hard to say. The base will already have plenty of people already living there that want to have jobs. You can apply but you may not get hired.

Do you know anything about the Japanese culture? Are you Japanese? Or is this just sort of a spur of the moment thing?

Whatever you decide to do good luck. I have lived in Japan and loved it. I would go back in a heartbeat if my husband got orders to go.

Answer 3

Impossbile. You have to be command sponsored to live in Japan. You spouse has to be stationed there in order for you live there and get benefits. Of course, you could move there on your own dime but you and your children would have no medical, no BAH, and basically have to fund the whole thing through your/your husband's pocket. You wouldn't even be able to use any base facilities. Overseas bases are not like stateside bases.

Answer 4

you will NOT.

you will not qualify for SOFA sponsorship if he is not actually stationed in Japan. which means you would NOT be covered or protected by US law and would have to conform to Japanese law regarding length of stays, ability to work or rent a home, etc.

you will be unable to get any job on base, nor will your children be eligible for on base childcare. Nor would you be able to use the bases' medical facilities. you need SOFA sponsorship for all of these things.

Additionally, it will ALL be out of pocket, you will only get BAH based on his duty station, you do NOT qualify for COLA, you will be unable to secure a Driver's license without going through Japan's considerable(and EXPENSIVE) training.

Frankly, it is wildly unrealistic of you to even THINK about this, let alone with two toddlers.

Answer 5

Do you really need to bother your spouse with something like this as bullets are whizzing pass his/her head .

Why NOT wait til the Spouse comes back to the states. As if the spouse is NOT station in Japan is it fair to the kids?
And if spouse CAN'T get transferred to Japan then what ??
Sounds like your running away or better yet trying to take the kids away from their mom/dad ??

Answer 6

you will ought to pay out of pocket any and all expenses linked with that flow. If he grew to become into on desktops orders, the government could pay to flow your very own property to his new accountability station.