Are smaller Bureaus more lenient or nicer than others regarding Japanese ability?
A received a question a while back from a potential naturalization applicant who asked me if it was possible to use a Legal Affairs Bureau for his naturalization application that is not the bureau which would be closest to either his home or work. This person, whose first language was French, told me he had a bad experience with interviewing in Tokyo because the case worker felt that his Japanese language ability was not good enough to meet the requirements for naturalization. For those that don't know, there is no actual clause about Japanese language ability in the requirements for naturalization. However, having "abilities" and skills that are deemed useful and relevant enough to support a modest, stable, lifestyle financially is a requirement. Thus, for that requirement, they are looking at a variety of factors: Your formal education level (college) Your career related certifications in addition to one's diplomas Your employment / income stability and pa...