Job Discussion Forums

mooncrater · Joined: 04 Feb 2009 Posts: 4

I have a one-way flight booked for 7/30 to Japan. I sent in my materials for my work visa approx. 5 weeks ago. If I do not receive my work visa in time, will immigration give me trouble since I do not have a return ticket and my work visa is still processing?

seklarwia · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:56 am Post subject:

Ahh... my birthday! Very Happy

You've still got a little time so don't freak out yet.

You can't leave until you have received your CoE anyway which your employer will send to once they have it, since that's what you need to take to your embassy so that you can have your work visa issued.

If you are concerned, why don't you ask them to let you know if they have it yet and when they send it to you.

If you try to come here with the CoE in hand without having had it processed by a consulate/embassy in your home country, immigration could give you all kinds of grief.

Some people have mentioned supposed changes to the regulations which means you do not have to take your CoE to an embassy out of Japan to have the work visa issued anymore. But I remember Interac being very adament that we must take our CoE to be processed and our visa issued before coming into Japan.

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

Immigration likely won't be the one to stop you. The airline will.

mooncrater · Joined: 04 Feb 2009 Posts: 4

the thing is that i don't want to contact my employer out of fear of them dumping me altogether. this wonderful ALT dispatch company hired me, and i submitted my visa papers to them, and then they told me they over-recruited so they cannot guarantee a position. they said they would still process my work visa though, and contact me if something opens up but you can't take their word for anything. i'd rather not bug them about it in hopes that my work visa will still sail on through and perhaps go with another company.

does immigration in tokyo send you the CoE directly to your home address, or do they send it to the employer, and then the employer to me?

people travel to Japan on tourist visas, find a job, and then stay in Japan while their work visas are being processed from what i understand - they don't have to go back to their home country and register with the Japanese embassy/consulate.

if i don't receive my CoE before I leave, it can always be sent to my home address in the US, and then I can have someone send it to me (at a friend's house) in Japan. this means that i would be entering on a tourist visa with a work visa processing or en route.

would the airline turn me away if i had a one-way flight w/ no work visa? is this something that can be "debated" or are they very strict? i didn't know the airlines had anything to do with this unless they are held responsible for bringing people w/o proper papers....i'm a little fuzzy on how this is determined...

i can always push my departure date back to avoid any problems, but that's $180 in fees....or i could get a round-trip ticket, but that's money that i will sorely need in japan...

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

mooncrater · Joined: 04 Feb 2009 Posts: 4

thank you....that makes things much clearer.

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

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you (for that COE). Why would any company who is NOT your employer feel obligated to process your visa paperwork?

Immigration sends the COE to the employer, who then sends it to you.

seklarwia · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:05 am Post subject:

The CoE is sent to your employer who will forward it on to your.

If they are not planning on giving you a position its likely they'll not send you the CoE which they have sponsored. For all you know, the may already have and be holding on to it as we speak. So you have nothing to lose with enquiring whether your visa has been processed or not.

If they decide not to employ you and keep your CoE, you will have to start the process again when you find another employer, which means not being able to work for up to a further two months as you wait for your new CoE.