Job Discussion Forums

jillybean · Joined: 01 Jul 2011 Posts: 32 Location: JAPAN

So...I was about to go in and submit my visa renewal paperwork when I looked at my passport and saw that my visa does not expire until April. I have been here for 11 months, this is my first visa. I thought that my visa was only good for one year, and that I would have to renew it sooner than April. I have not heard of a year and five months visa before! I entered the country the last week of Jan. and I thought that is when the visa would expire.
Unfortunately, no one at the immigration office speaks English, and I am the only teacher at my school, and the boss is also unaware of what to do.
Any input would be very much appreciated!

seklarwia · Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:46 pm Post subject:

Did you enter the country as a tourist and apply for you COE and visa here?

If so, your visa would have started the day it was issued and not the day you landed.

If not, look at the landing permission stamp you would have gotten at the airport on arrival. It will have both the date it was issued and the date it expires directly below. And just above the entry airport name, it will have the visa length. For example mine says in order:

LANDING PERMISSION
Date of issue: 23 Mar 2009
Until: 23 Mar 2010
Status: Instructor
Duration: One year
Haneda A.P.

Are there really discrepancies between these three bits of info on yours?