Job Discussion Forums

fion · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 69 Location: tokyo

Aargh, it's that time again. I'm due to get extension on visa (Humanities and International whatsit) and I am what's loosely called 'self sponsered' , also known as an 'independant' visa. This means I don't have a full-time job, I have several part-time jobs.

Last time round, I needed to provide corporate information and a certificate of employment from only ONE of my part-time jobs. Does anyone happen to know if this is still the case? I could get the info from other employers, but it means a bit of running around and general inconvenience. On the other hand, it would be a bit of a scunner to trek to Shinegawa, wait all day in the queue, and be told I had to get more details and come back again. Aargh!

Btw, how is Shinegawa visa office these days? Has it improved any?

And while I'm at it, has anyone used the alleged (because I'm not sure if it still exists) immigration office at Tachikawa? How are the queues there? Is it easy to get to from the station? And does it still exist?

Thanks in advance for any pointers. Wpuld appreciate comments from anyone in my position who has done this recently

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Hi Fion,

I don't know about self-sponsored visas but I was just at Shinagawa two weeks ago lodging my visa renewal application.

It wasn't too bad... I had to wait about an hour but when I got to the counter the lady was extremely nice and friendly. I had all my paper work in order so it literally took me less than three minutes to lodge it. She stamped my passport and even commented how "kirei" my hand writing was. I did however see lots of people being told to come back again because they didn't have sufficient information and/or their paperwork wasn't in order. A lot of the clerks on the counter seemed very cold and hard... If you didn't have everything exactly as it should be they told them to go away, no correspondence entered into. So I think to save yourself potential stress and hassle, just get all the certificates of employment from your employers.

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

But I had friends who had to go and renew their Humanities etc visa (yes, not technically correct) at Shinagawa.

From what they told me, it's best to give as much info as possible. You are after a 3 year renewal, is that right? Then hunt around for as much information as your other employers will give you. Some of the decisions made at that office seem to be unfair to some foreigner teachers - ie "My friend got 3 years but they only gave me 1!"

It's fair to guess that those who only were given a 1 year renewal didn't have enough information to give officials. And how about your ward tax? Do you pay it? In Kyushu it's been the norm for a while for officials to expect you'll show them you've been paying. Every time I renewed I showed my ward tax voucher and how I was up to date with payments.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I've never had to show anything ward tax-related at the Immigration office in Shinagawa, although I wouldn't be surprised if they introduced that at some point.

I also got a 3-year renewal last time in spite of being short a few documents- my previous employer ignored my repeated requests to send me the letter of release and tax certificates, but I was told that it probably didn't matter. I'm pretty sure it's related to who you talk to and what kind of day they're having, because there doesn't seem to be any logic to the 1 year/ 3-year thing. Confused

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

By that I mean - one of the big 4, a high school, college, uni, international school or whatever?

I had the impression that it doesn't matter that much if the employer you're working for is somebody Immigration knows about.That might be why they can not bother about the letter of release or tax certificate because your current employer is one they know of.

When I last went to Immigration in Kyushu in Japan, I took a lot of info as my employers were all small schools. Immigration hadn't hear of any of my employers. I had to 'self sponsor' like Fion, so I'm wondering if that's the situation

fion · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 69 Location: tokyo

Thanks for the CONSTRUCTIVE comments here folks.

paulh wrote:
Do they give visas for people who can't spell?

That wasn't really relevant paul, but I'm sure you meant to be helpful. Of course I spotted the mistake but I had a lot to do that day and let's face it this is a daves forum not a job application. Assume you guys had the intelligence to figure out what I meant, yes?

glenski wrote:

"General inconvenience" is a responsibility, not something that immigration really cares about to make your life easier, you know.

Er, why bother posting that Glensk? I think I already know that immigration are not in the business of making my life easier. I have dealt with them before after all. It's reasonable for me to try to minimize my running-around time, though. We all have a busy schedule.

Well anyway I'll give it a bash next week some time and let you know how I get on. That might be more helpful to other people than paul and glanski's comments.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

fion · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 69 Location: tokyo

Sorry canuck, too difficult for me. I had hardly ever used a computer before I came to Japan and as you'll see from my post count I have not often used one since. If you don't want to make allowances, just ignore my posts, I'm not trying to annoy anyone.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Jon Taylor · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 238 Location: Tokyo

This is supposed to be a helpful job forum.

Wht do regular posters (Canuck, Paul H) feel that they have to make nasty comments....

1. Spelling - Who gives a rat's arse whether spelling is correct or not.....why not answer the posters question..

2. Quote - I'm sure the poster appreciated the sarcastic comment thankyou Canuck.

What a sorry pair of arseholes.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

bornslippy1981 · Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 271

Avoid the Shinagawa office on Monday. I waited almost 4 hours before my number was up, and I arrived 30 minutes before the booths opened.

Picking it up and getting a re-entry permit only took about 45 minutes though.

Filinadian · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

Fion

I recently got my visa renewed for 1 more year. I live in Saitama, near Omiya, and so I decided to go to the Saitama office here in Yono. It was a breeze. I got there at 9am, right when the doors opened, I only had to wait 10 minutes to process the visa. Getting the stamp was a bit of a nuisance however, because I had to go out of the office, go to the convinient store buy the stamp and go back to the office to get the visa put in my passport. I wish you could just buy the stamp right there instead of leaving the office, but for some reason I guess it makes the job easier for them, not having to handle the cash.

Anyways, going back to my point, if you don't mind the commute, then you can check out the visa office here in Saitama. The station is Kita-Yono on the Saikyo line. Depending on where you are coming from, it is only 1 station away from Omiya. You have to take the local train though, because if you take the rapid you have to either get off Omiya or Musashi Urawa and tranfer to a local train to get to Kita Yono.

Good luck with your visa renewal. I hope this helps. Take care.

Filinadian