Job Discussion Forums

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

My apologies if this has been discussed before, after a thorough search I was unable to find any answers

I'm curious as to why I've received a 3-year visa from the Japanese consulate, when my contract with the school is for only 1 year.

Is it common for the consulate to issue 3 year visas, or do they normally do it for 1 year?

I am definitely not complaining, but it was a bit of a surprise for me.

Why would they give me a 3 year visa when my contract is only for 1 year? Have I just gotten lucky or is this standard procedure?

many thanks

Tonester · Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 6:34 am Post subject:

Sendrigo,

It depends on where you are from and the type of visa you applied for. I'm from Australia and have an instructor's visa for 3 years. From what I've read it's all about your home country. If you're chinese, you'd only get a 1- year visa but from countries like the UK, NZ and Australia- 3 years is the norm.

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

There is no norm!
Visa durations are granted at the whim of immigration. There is no way to determine how long it will be.

Be satisfied that you got one for 3 years. If you choose to leave your job, the visa follows you.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

3 years, good for you. Most people only get 1 year to start and then after that, many get 3 years (but not always).

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I got a one-year visa when I arrived, and I am currently in the process of renewing it. I requested a three-year visa (I don't know how much longer I will stay, but why not go for the max?), but who knows what I'll get? I think it depends on the mood of the immigration officer on the day that my request is processed.

d

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

denise,

You or your employer can request anything you want, but you have absolutely no guarantee of getting it. This is what I meant by being at the mercy (or whims) of immigration. My old employer asked for a 1-year visa for me, and I got a 3-year one.

I have asked around and tried to figure it out. There is no formula for getting either visa.

Age of applicant
Nationality of applicant
City
Month of the year when applying
Previous experience or not
Time of day when applying
Day of the week when applying
Gender
Asking or not asking for a specific term
and more...

chixdiggit · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 60 Location: ROK

Okay I'll keep it short, I've seen this posted on numerous occasions and people keep saying one is "lucky" to have received a 3 year visa. I received a 3 year visa 4 years ago and even then it wasn't that much of a surprise. Glenski, it indeed is at the whim of immigration, but the "whim" is not so arbitrary as your posts have implied. They have been encouraged by the government,to grant 3 year visas for the last few years, A student of mine who works at Immigration has confirmed that almost all Americans and Canadians who come to work in Japan have received a 3 year visa over the past 2 years regardless of contract length. I will not speak for other nationalities as I didn't discuss that with him. However, for the aforementioned countires, 3 years is now the norm, not the exception.

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

I had a three year visa under a NOVA sponsorship when I first came to Japan. A few others I met did too. However, after about six months after I started working all the new teachers were issued a one year. I heard this was done at the request of NOVA because too many teachers were bolting to private schools on visa's still under their sponsorship, often before the first year contract was up.

I know that is not the reason, but it was interesting fodder for teachers room converations.

vash3000 · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 56

Interesting.

Well, I can only say that I received a one year visa. I`m Canadian...and this is the second time I`ve been in Japan. Now, I`ve talked to others, and they all received one year visas when coming to work in Gunma. When I asked my employer about this, he responded that I had a one year contract, so:

"One year visa."

My experiences, so far, suggest that the length of your visa is determined by where you work. Put me up for the Nova conspiracy theory, unless someone can explain why everyone at my current school received a one year visa.

The odds on that being a random event are pretty high, particularly if immigration is being encouraged to hand out 3 year visas.

(Of course, it could be a Gunma thing.)

Best,
V.

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

Iwantmyrightsnow · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 202

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

Perhaps I should have specified this.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/08.html
VIII. Period of Validity of a Visa

In principle, single-entry visas are valid for three months and double-entry visas for six months. Multiple-entry visas are valid for 12 months, although in the case of nationals of countries that have reciprocal arrangements with Japan, the period of validity is determined in accordance with the arrangement (for example, three years or four years).
Please note that the period of validity of a visa does not mean the permitted period of stay in Japan. It signifies the period in which the visa can be used at the time of entry into Japan. (For example, in the case of a visa valid for three months, the holder can use it to enter Japan any time in the three months from the date of issue. After three months, however, the visa becomes invalid, so it can no longer be used.) Specifically, the period of validity is calculated from the day after the visa's issue.

And since these are the most common work visas people teach on...

Instructor*
(3 years or 1 year)

Specialist in Humanities/
International Services*
(3 years or 1 year)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html#b

...I wrote what I did earlier.

Iwantmyrightsnow,
What kind of visa do you have?

Iwantmyrightsnow · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 202

I have a 3 year instructors visa now.

The 6 month one was my first instructors visa after changing from humanities. I think it really just was at the whim of an immigration officer.