Job Discussion Forums

thermal · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 60

Hi,

I have been studying in Japan on a student visa, however my school finished on the 20th of March. I was told by the school that I need to leave the country after about 2 weeks as they inform immigration that I have stopped studying and my visa is cut.

I have a wedding I want to attend on the 18th of April and I asked the school if they think this would be ok. They responded with "Uhhh, yeah, it should be ok". As such I was planning on leaving on the 20th, however this is also looking doubtful. My final pay packet is going into my account on the 30th of April and I have learnt that if I am not in the country there is pretty much no way I can get at this money.

As such I am now thinking of going back to Australia on the 2nd of May.

Do you know how dangerous this is? Do you know what penalties I would face if "caught"? Is it safe to go to immigration and tell them of my situation and ask for some leeway?

Any advice is appreciated.

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

The school is well within its rights to stop sponsorship and notify immigration when you finish. Only immigration can invalidate the visa, though.

Get a Temporary Visitor's visa, which is good for 90 days. Many foreign exchange students at my uni do that when they graduate so that they can job hunt or stay for other reasons.

Or just leave the country and return (if you can afford it) without a reentry permit. That will automatically make you a tourist.

Do NOT overstay your visa. Serious consequences are possible. Fines, detention, deportation, and being blacklisted from returning for 5 years.

thermal · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 60

How do I get a temporary visitor's visa without leaving the country?

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

status 1b
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html

Go to immigration and apply. Geez.

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

If your visa is cancelled/cut short by Immigration, then it is very risky for you to still be here after the end date as you will be an overstayer. This doesn't just mean a slap on the hand or a small fine in Japan, it means possible detention, a fine, and almost certainly a ban from entering Japan for up to 5 years, which is likely to affect your chances of travelling to a number of other countries as well.

Don't stay past the end of your visa whatever you do- people seem to be able to have student visas changed to tourist visas fairly easily at Immigration- much better to go that route.

thermal · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 60

I went and spoke to Immigration. Turns out the school had been giving me bad advice. They were stating that you have 2 weeks to leave the country after you stop study, but this was just them being overly cautious.

The way it actually works is that you are entitled to stay in Japan until the end of your visa as written on your passport. It is not like your visa is cut. However if you do quit school you are expected to either find a new school or leave the country. If you do decide to leave the country you do have more or less as much time as you want to do all the preparations you need.

However, if you are not studying for a long period and haven't left Japan then immigration may start wondering if you are staying in Japan for work rather than study, which is not the purpose of your visa. I was told that it is not like my visa is cut or anything and that even if I leave in May it is no problem.

Thanks for your help guys.