Job Discussion Forums

[Solana]

Hi,

In short, I'm in the process of renewing my visa which expires on Jan. 3. My passport expires on May 8. Will the immigration office renew my visa with a little over 5 months left on my passport? I understand now that U.S. passports renewed abroad take longer to process now (it used to be fast) and I'm getting very anxious as the holidays are coming, offices close up, and I have precious little time left.

Is there anything I can do with the time I have left?

[Inflames]

I'm a bit confused because you say "I'm in the process of renewing my visa"

Do you have a stamp from immigration in your passport saying you've applied for renewal?

If you do, I wouldn't worry. The immigration office seems to examine paperwork carefully before accepting an application.

If not, I'd go there (to immigration) and ask/apply. Immigration seems far more likely to accommodate you here. Once you get your new visa, just send everything off to the consulate/embassy.

Although it seems that US passports are renewed quickly when overseas (less than a month, so it's still fast), this is almost certainly not enough time given the holidays.

[Glenski]

You should be fine with that much time on the passport.

I assume you have already started the paperwork on the visa renewal. Find out when immigration is open. Jan. 3rd may still be closed, so you would need to inform/nudge them about the urgency of your renewal, or at least confirm that if it takes longer that you are ok to "overstay".

[Apsara]

I agree, 5 months left on a passport should not be an issue. It's only if you are coming in as a tourist that most countries want to see 6 months or more on your passport.

Have you been into Immigration yet? There's no need to renew your passport before you apply for your visa extension, so if not, finish getting all the paperwork you need and get down to Immigration soon- it gets busy at the end of the year.

As Glenski says, they won't open until the 4th of Jan, so it will need to be this year.

[Solana]

Thank you inflames, apsara and glenski, for your input. I went to Immigration today with my senior teacher and everything's ok. They stamped my passport with my renewal application date so I'm ok just in case it's a little late, and yes, I can wait until after the visa is done before going to the Consulate.

They don't expect my renewal to be late, though. Within the next 2 weeks, they said, at least before holidays start.

Actually I wasn't going to be renewed and would have had to leave by Dec. 23 so it's an enormous relief. (New teacher they hired couldn't come at the last minute so I'm being kept on until the end of March.)

A bit of advice to newcomers: If your passport's expiring, renew it asap so you're not biting your fingernails at visa renewal time. And, if at all possible, start your contract sometime other than a holiday period!

I'm also taking my driving test this week since my international permit is also expiring ... you know, that fun activity that 9 out of 10 foreigners fail the first and second times ... *and* writing up monthly goals for January, *and* preparing holiday class parties, etc., etc.

Whew! I've never been so glad to see time off coming up.

A prosperous New Year to all!

[Hot-Carl]

[Apsara]

[Solana]

[Glenski]

[Hot-Carl]

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

Text deleted

[Solana]

Shiori, I think he meant how many kids do I teach. The answer is 25 in different classes (not a lot compared to my previous jobs here), but that's really not the point, at least not until evaluation time. Like almost every teacher at this time of year, I've got lots of Christmas party preparations for all my classes as well as MCing our annual school-wide party. It takes a lot of extra time but it's really hitting me this time because of all the official things I've got going -- driver's test, visa renewal.

How many of you passed your driver's test here the first time?

BTW, I'm not a guy, I'm a 55-year-old woman.