Job Discussion Forums

[kahilm]

So I'll be changing my visa status from specialist in humanities to instructor soon. Right now my specialist visa is until July, 2011 (3 year) and I have a multiple re-entry permit as well.

When I change the status to instructor, do I have to buy a new re-entry permit? I really hope not but I feel like they'd try to squeeze another 6000 yen out of me if it's at all humanly possible.

[Glenski]

Never saw this question before, but my educated guess would be that you will have to get a new reentry permit.

The REP is tied to the expiration date of your current visa, so if you change that, you should (IMO) have to change the REP, too.

But ask immigration and let us know what they say. Who knows?

P.S. Are you that bad off financially that you can't afford a mere 6000 yen for the next 3 years?

[G Cthulhu]

My reasoning would go in the opposite direction; the reentry permit is not tied to the current visa per se: it is issued on the basis that they previously checked you *had* a valid visa and that you should be allowed to enter and leave. That doesn't really change - all that's happening is that the old valid visa SOR is being replaced by a new valid SOR.

I would just ask at the same time the SOR change is made - a casual, 'Oh, will the date on this reentry permit need to change? I want to make sure I'm doing ewverything right and your expertise and guidance would be gratefully accepted because I'm just a silly gaijin <bowbowapologizenod>"

Let us know which option they go for (adjust date or new permit).

[Khyron]

The re-entry permit IS tied to your current visa, or at least it was when I changed my visa status last in 2007. I was told, directly from immigration, that I had to get a new re-entry permit with my new visa. A few was paid, and a new re-entry permit was had by me.

You'd better prepare that extra 6,000 yen that they want to squeeze out of you.

[kahilm]

[kahilm]

Well, I just got back from the lovely Shinagawa immigration office and the nice lady told me I don't need a new re-entry permit. It gets me a little worried, though, that she said I don't need one and Khyron said I do need one. Hmm...

[Glenski]

So, did she say whether your reentry permit expires according to your old or new visa?

[kahilm]

She said the re-entry permit will be a little short if I get a new 3-year "instructor" visa. So it will still expire according to the length of my old, "specialist in humanities" visa. If I just get a 1 year stamp, then... actually I'm not sure. I'll bring it up again when I go to renew at the end of that year, I suppose.

[G Cthulhu]