Job Discussion Forums

[hobbes]

So I'm currently in Japan with possession of my Certificate of Eligibility and will make the run back to Korea next week. Any help as to how long this process takes and the price????? I'm figuring on only staying a night but could use the help from anyone who's done it before.....

[Akula the shark]

Pretty simple, get there early in the morning and pick up the visa the next day.
Fairly painless process, I went and put in my application, went and did some sightseeing, went out and got heavily drunk, went back to my lodgings, went to the embassy the next day hungover, got the visa, went to the airport and flew back to Japan, all on the company.

[6810]

that sucks.

Any reason you had to do the visa run? A mate of mine recently got his visa changed from tourist to specialist humanities without having to leave Japan and thus saving a whole bunch of ￥

[rai]

Yeah, I was under the impression that the rule had been changed, too.

[hobbes]

Apparently it can be done in country but the powers that be decided to do it this way....it's not my dime so I'll go with the flow.

[6810]

Well, remember that the powers that be aren't always right and are often inflexible and lazy...

That said, a day trip to Korea isn't a bad thing.

All I am saying is that I know from experience that it doesn't have to go that way. And I am curious as to why.

When my friend did it, his company and immigration said he had been in the country for less than 30 days. Under these circumstances it was fine. But I don't know if that is across the board...

[kitano]

Sounds very strange. I haven't heard of anyone having to leave the country to change their visa for over five years! I would double double check that is is neccessary!