Job Discussion Forums

[pnksweater]

My husband will be returning to the states for three weeks in June for his brother's wedding. His visa will be valid when he returns but not for much longer. My question is this-1) should he head to immigration in Shinagawa and get a re-entry stamp and try to renew his visa when he returns to Tokyo. OR should he skip the re-entry stamp and reapply while in America? And 2) What kind of information is needed to reapply for a dependant visa?

Immigration here doesn't really cover Q and A and I don't really feel like calling the embasy in Seattle just to make sure. As I won't be joining him on the trip I want to make sure that he has all the paperwork in order before he leaves Japan. Also, is the reapplication process any more time consuming thant the original? Last time it took him 3 days in Seattle. As he's only going to be in Seattle for 3 or 4 days... he will be cutting it close.

Anyone have experience on this or know of a site with VERY detailed info on visa issues?
Thanks
neko

[Celeste]

I would recommend that he renew his visa before he goes back. THat way if anything should happen to go wrong during his trip (flight cancellation etc.) then he won't have the added worry about whether or not he can get back into Japan. I think that when it comes to renewing visas, it is best to leave a bit of time before the end of the visa (a few weeks at least) in order to avoid overstay complications.

[Speed]

I agree w/ Celeste.

Get the re-entry permit and re-apply from Japan before going back to the States.

If there're any problems with your hubby's visa renewal attempt from the US and he doesn't have a re-entry permit - he'll have a headache like no other.

If he applies from within Japan - even if his application for renewal passes the expiration date of his current visa, as long as he has the document with his application processing number on it (he'll get this when he applies), he'll be fine.

Like Celeste said, get the renewal process started a few weeks/ a month before the current one expires. (Maybe even 2 months before).

I would never leave Japan without a re-entry permit unless I was certain I wasn't coming back to Japan and was willing to give up my visa.

[PAULH]

You forget that if he leaves the country without a reentry permit his current work visa becomes invalid. He would have to come back on a tourist visa and risks being turned back at the airport as having no valid visa.

get the re-entry and it will save you all kinds of problems later on.

PS Im not sure if you can leave the country when a visa is going through the process of renewal. Better check with immigration whether its OK to leave the country when you are renewing. With immigration, never assume anything.

[pnksweater]

PAUL- no need to insult anyone's intelligence. I didn't forget about the loss of the current visa. My husband would do the application back home. My husband doesn't have a *work* visa, he has a *dependant* visa. It was such a snap to apply for in the first place (back home) it seemed silly to waste the hours and hours getting to and waiting at immigration-twice. He leaves in a few weeks and won't have time off untill the trip. He certainly won't try to renew the visa if it means not leaving the country.

Again, does anyone know the best way to reach Japanese immigration? So far I've had no luck by phone.