Job Discussion Forums

[Rooster_2006]

So my boss has told me that she wants to re-contract with me (good news).

I would really like to maximize my chances of getting a three-year extension of stay this time instead of the one-year extension. However, there's one problem. Apparently, the previous teacher got two one-year extensions because, in his words, "[my boss] only applies for one-year visas (sic)."

How do I convince her to apply for a three-year extension of stay?

Can I apply for the extension myself? Would that help or hurt my case?

Is there any documentation I can provide that might increase my chances of getting a three-year extension? I have:
- Passed the JLPT N4
- Passed the Kanji Kentei Level 7 (I have been studying hard and will likely pass Level 5 in January)

Since I've heard that longer periods of stay are granted taking language skills into account, I am wondering if I should enclose these certificates. I know they're low-level, but it's still better than no Japanese at all.

Thanks.

[seklarwia]

The application form has two boxes: one year or 3 years. And surely you will be asked to fill it in since it requires education info and the like not to mention a signature from you. Just tick the 3 year box when you fill out the form. After that it's entirely up to your immigration officer whether they will give you the extention you want; your employer doesn't have the power to you a 3 year extention should they choose.

I gave in every piece of paperwork that was required (which included employer documents and employment contract) for my first renewal and only got a one year extention. This year, the officer I dealt with only took my app (he even turned away the certs proving payment of income tax, NHI and residence tax and didn't even glance at anything from the employer which showed that they intended to renew my contract) and guess what?

I think that the fact that they didn't take my employment contract which showed that I was only being offered a (less than) one year re-contract actually helped my case; as far as the officer was concerned, I had almost finished my 2nd year at my school and was planning to remain there so they obviously liked me enough to keep me on.

I think your language ability is only taken into account for PR apps. I certainly wasn't given the option to show any language ability.

[Rooster_2006]

First of all, thanks for your reply.

[Inflames]

[Rooster_2006]

[Glenski]

At one time I tried every combination and permutation of factors I could think of to determine why some people got 1- vs 3-year extensions. In the end, it didn't make any difference.

So, just tick the box yourself and hope for the best. Immigration works in mysterious ways. As long as your company is legitimate (as proven by the documents they have to provide to immigration), it shouldn't matter if it's big or small.

[PO1]

I agree with Glenski. I don't think it really matters what you put on your application. You could speak fluent Japanese and have a Doctorate and they'd probably sometimes give a one year extension. I really think it depends on what immigration office you go to. I have a friend who got a three year extension, yet I got a one year extension for a spousal visa. So it's really just a lottery or depends on the whim of immigration that day.

[rtm]

[Apsara]

When I got my first 3-year extension I had only asked for 1 year because the 3-year thing was new and I didn't know it was an option- at the time there wasn't a 3-year box to tick, you had to write how long you wanted the extension for.

I also got 3-year extensions while working for a very small company (not an English school) where I was one of only two foreign employees, so the size of the company doesn't necessarily have anything to do with it either in my experience at least.

Another time I got a 3-year extension even though I applied 2 days before my visa expired and was missing some documents.

Basically it's all in the hands of Immigration- nothing you or your employer do now is likely to make much difference.

It's the same with 1 and 3 year spouse visas- who gets what seems very random at times.

[OneJoelFifty]

Everyone I know that has renewed their visa in the last few months has been given 3 years, some of whom previously only had one-year extensions. Might be a coincidence, might be informal policy. When I went to renew mine just after the earthquake, I was given a one-year extension along with a letter, in English, explaining that in prefectures affected by the quake all extensions made before August 2011 would only be for one year. As that's passed, perhaps they are easing up.

[Glenski]

[quote="rtm"]

[Rooster_2006]

[Glenski]

I wouldn't expect them to be that clearcut, more like general guidelines.

[Rooster_2006]

[Cool Teacher]

Don't let the manager fill out your immigration form. Thing is maybe she downloaded it from the webstie and expects you to take it off there when it is a form you should fill out.