Job Discussion Forums

[Sage]

I just got my visa application in the mail and I was only granted a one year visa, not a three year visa. Is normal for a company (ECC) to grant a one year visa? And, how hard is it to renew the visa at the end of the year (and upgrade it into a three year visa)?

Thanks, Sage

[Glenski]

I'm afraid you misunderstand. A company or school does not set the time limit for your visa. Immigration does. I have tried for 5 years to figure out what their criteria are for 1 or 3 year visas, but there are none. You get what immigration gives you, and there is nothing you can do to "prepare" for it.

Typically, people get a 1 year visa their first time. After that, you are at the mercy of immigration's whims.

How hard is it to renew a visa? Easy. Just visit immigration twice. First time, you fill out the renewal forms and present your passport and alien card. Second time, you buy the necessary stamp and sign the papers. Just allow 4-6 weeks, depending on the time of year you do this. Sometimes it comes in 2 weeks, but you don't want to risk overstaying your current visa due to delays in processing.

[Sage]

Thanks as always Glenski. You are ever a font of knowledge.

I'm finally getting to Japan and the last thing I want to do is leave it in a year. *grin* It's good to know the renewal process is fairly simple. And, with my visa/birthday being within a week of each other, it�ll be easy for me to remember when to renew it.

Thanks again,
Sage

Birthday: 4 days
Japan: 8 days

[Gordon]

Sage, if this is your first visa, then 1 year is totally normal, as Glenski stated. When I renewed my visa this summer, I asked immigration politely if I could get a 3 year visa. They smiled (not joking) and said they'd see what they can do. It doesn't hurt to ask. BTW I got the 3 year visa renewal

[shmooj]

[foster]

when I left Canada, I got a 1 year Visa. When I renewed my Visa, I was given a 3 year without asking or even hinting. Luck of the draw maybe? I know people who got 3 year Visa's out of Canada the first time. Their theory was because I had a brand spanking new passport, I only got one year the first time.

Who knows....??

[BenJ]

hmm i thought it was font...

[homersimpson]

I suppose I lucked out. My initial visa was a 3-year and my renewal was for three years as well. As Glenski rightly points out, there seems to be no criteria for granting either a 1- or 3-year visa. Perhaps immigration officials flip a coin.

[voodoochild]

I also got a one year visa and was wondering the same thing as Sage, glad to hear its straightforward to renew but then again I will probably have to go the self sponsor route next time and that wont be easy.

[Smooth Operator]

JET Programme participants get a three year visa from the start, or at least in my city they do. It didn't always used to be this way, as I got only 1 year on my first year on JET. The visa policy apparently changed in 2001 to get stricter on illegals and overstayers (the number has fallen every year since 1993) but more lax on legitimate workers...

[rcn]

I just renewed my visa and did get 3 years. In the section that asks "how long do you wish to renew your for visa and why", I wrote 3 years and b/c I wanted to work!

I was also worried(renewing every year is not only a hassle, but expensive) before renewing and asked my company if they could give me a 3 year visa. However, as stated before, immigration decides NOT your company. My manager(Japanese) has been helping teachers submit documents for visa renewal for the past 12 years. She also said "it depends on the mood of the person at immigration. Sometimes they'll give you 1 year, sometimes 3". It's obvious that it's the luck of the draw.

Good luck!

[Gordon]

The whole issue of 1 year or 3 is completely at the whim of immigration officials and is so Japanese. There is no policy, they just do what they want and whether they like you or not.

[Wolf]