Explanation about visas for second, third, and fourth generation Japanese-Americans.
Let me introduce you to visas for second, third, and fourth generation descendants of Japanese people.
For second-generation individuals, there’s a visa category called “Spouse of a Japanese National or Child of a Japanese National". For third-generation, it’s “Permanent Resident", and for fourth-generation, it’s “Specific Activities".
Second-generation Japanese: “Spouse of a Japanese National or Child of a Japanese National"
Who qualifies as “Spouse of a Japanese National or Child of a Japanese National"
Those born as children of a Japanese national are eligible for the “Spouse of a Japanese National or Child of a Japanese National" visa. Even though they are born to a Japanese parent, they might not be automatically considered Japanese.
For instance, if a Japanese father and a foreign mother are not married and the child is born in the mother’s home country, without acquiring (or choosing) Japanese nationality.
A common scenario is when the child is not acknowledged by the father at birth, but later, the foreign mother works to have the father acknowledge the child, or they may go through legal battles for recognition, even resorting to court orders for acknowledgment.
Such acknowledged children are referred to as non-legitimate children.
On the other hand, children born to legally married parents are called legitimate children, but both legitimate and non-legitimate children qualify under the “Spouse of a Japanese National or Child of a Japanese National" visa category.
Additionally, even without blood relation, if one is a special adoptee, they still qualify under “Spouse of a Japanese National or Child of a Japanese National".