Job Discussion Forums

[dove]

My visa will expire in late January of 2007. I am renewing my job at my school and they will of course continue to sponsor me. I am wondering about the time frame that is involved with renewing visas in Japan. For the people who have renewed in Japan, how long does it usually take to get the new visa? How soon before your expiration date were you given the paper work? How long were you without your passprt? I am asking because I plan to travel to Vietnam in December and I need a tourist visa....I am worried that my passport will be in the wrong place at the wrong time when I need to apply for both visas. Thanks for your responses.

[Glenski]

Renewing a work visa may take 2-6 weeks, depending on how busy immigration is.

Nobody (certainly not my employer) "gave" me any paperwork. Renewing is the visa holder's responsibility, so it's up to you to go to immigration and get the paperwork. Of course, you'll have to go twice -- once to apply, and once to pick up the visa.

You are NOT without your passport. Immigration puts a pending stamp in your passport and gives it back to you right away.

If you plan to leave the country, ask immigration if it's all right during that pending time. If so, make sure you have a re-entry permit, or you will definitely lose the visa upon returning to Japan. I have a feeling that immigration will tell you that during this pending period, you are not allowed to leave the country, but please confirm this.

[Apsara]

I was told directly that leaving Japan with an "Application" stamp in my passport would result in the cancellation of my visa. I hope you get back early enough in January to apply- do not apply and then go to Vietnam before you get your visa. Since you say late January, it should be okay if you get back in early January.

My visa also comes up for renewal in late January each time. I have often gone on short New Year trips, arrived back on say the 5th of Jan, and then gone straight away to apply for my visa. For me it's only ever taken 10 days or so before I've got the postcard in the mail, you then have to go back to Immigration to have your passport stamped though, and it's possible for it to take longer. It doesn't matter if your visa expires in the meantime, as long as you have that Application stamp in your passport.

Due to problems getting all the paperwork last time I applied 4 days before my visa was due to expire- it wasn't a problem.

Once at the airport as I was leaving for my New Year holiday the Immigration officer asked me if I knew I had to come back before my visa expired if I wanted to continue to live in Japan- I told her I would be back two weeks before the expiry and she seemed okay with that.

[Apsara]

Glenski, I think the OP is talking about the documents that the company has to provide in order for the visa to be renewed- profit and loss statements etc. The company certainly does have to give you the paperwork. In my case they also had a supply of application forms, although you may have to go to Immigration for these.

By the way, don't wait for your company to give you the paperwork on their own time- be proactive about it. About a month or more before you want to apply, talk to management, make sure you get it with plenty of time to spare.