Job Discussion Forums

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

My husband and I came to Japan back in November. I have a working visa, but he only has a temporary visitors visa. He has applied for a dependent visa, but something with the paperwork happened and it got delayed. His visa is about to expire, so he is leaving Japan and going back to the US for about a month and then is coming back here.

My question is: Is he going to have to surrender his Gaijin card at the airport? Is there anyway to keep it? Would a re-entry permit help? Unfortunately, I can't seem to get a straight answer from immigration or at the city hall.

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

Nobody forces people to surrender their alien cards. They are supposed to know when they should. Don't sweat that part.

I am not sure whether a reentry permit is allowed for a Temporary Visitor's visa. I suspect not. Ask immigration again, but I suspect temporary is just that: temporary.

Because his visa application is in the works, be careful whether leaving will void that application. I don't think it will, but unless he absolutely has to leave, I recommend staying. Find out.

The visa application is in progress. Good! Ask for its status. We don't know the nature of the delay, but if you can explain that, too, perhaps immigration will hasten its issue.

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

Is there anything in his passport to say that he has an ARC? If not, then I don't see how they will know he has one. If there is, then I'd say he will have to hand it over, as a temporary visitor's permit (does he have a visa or just the usual visa waiver?) doesn't come with any rights of re-entry.

Definitely check what effect leaving will have on his application, as Glenski suggested.

pnksweater · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I don't think a re-entry would cover someone on a temporary visitor's permit. And I have been asked to surrender my "gaijin card" at the airport before when departing without a re-entry permit. They voided my visa and collected my card.

As for the dependent visa- I have run into snags with those, but while applying at the consulate in America. They did a criminal search for my husband's name and came up with some guy incarcerated in the 70's. My husband politely informed them he hadn't been born yet and to cross check the ss number. Needless to say the visa came through shortly after that. Follow up on this.

I Oughta Know · Joined: 28 Jan 2010 Posts: 9 Location: Tohoku

Definitely no re-entry for temp visitors. He will just have to get a new temp visa when he returns.

You may be ably to get an extension through the same office you applied for a dependent visa. That is the best action plan (and it IS possible, despite what they tell you).

If he leaves, then he is legally required to surrender his ARC, and I suggest he does it, otherwise he runs the risk of having future visa complications.

I also believe that the dependent visa application process will have to be restarted, from outside Japan, but that might not be 100% correct. He may be found ineligible for the visa, if approved after his re-entry. Best bet is to try and stay.....once he has the DV then he can get a multiple re-entry permit and come and go as he pleases.