Visa application stamp

[oyajikun]

Is it possible to leave Japan with only a Visa application stamp on my US passport? I've decided to quit my job and go back home but I'm a bit worried after reading about all these immigration horror stories.

Thanks for any help.

[Taro Toporific]

Is it possible to leave Japan with only a Visa application stamp on my US passport? I've decided to quit my job and go back home but I'm a bit worried after reading about all these immigration horror stories.

CONGRADS on leaving at the right time...NOW. :P

I cannot imagine why leaving Japan with only a Visa application stamp would be a problem. But hey, waht do I know?
Call your embassy or call the "Immigration Information Center" directly http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/IB/ib-18.html

Lis of all foreign embassies in Tokyo
http://www.tokyoembassy.com/

[oyajikun]

Is it possible to leave Japan with only a Visa application stamp on my US passport? I've decided to quit my job and go back home but I'm a bit worried after reading about all these immigration horror stories.

I cannot imagine why but hey, call your embassy or call the "Immigration Information Center" directly http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/IB/ib-18.html

Lis of all foreign embassies in Tokyo
http://www.tokyoembassy.com/

Yeah, I called the US embassy alreay but they didn't know...

I'll give immigration a call now, thanks.

[amdg]

only a Visa application stamp??

What visa do you currently have?

[oyajikun]

only a Visa application stamp??

What visa do you currently have?

I have an Apllication Stamp on my passport. I wanted to change my status from SOFA (previous employer), to a working Visa (current employer).

I just got off the phone with la migra, and they told me that I must go to the office that I applied to, to cancel my application. *Fingers crossed*

Thanks for the links!

[maraboutslim]

I did it several times in the '90s since there was always like a four month processing time to get my next six month visa! In other words, say my visa was expiring in march; i'd go in to renew it in like january and they'd give me the application pending stamp but i wouldn't get the real thing until like may. Over and over again. (after four or five six-month visas they finally trusted me and gave me a one year and then a three year).

You still have to get your re-entry permit or you'll have to start over from scratch when you get back to Japan... since you have to go get one of those, you can ask all the details when you are there but as long as the rules haven't changed you should be able to do it just fine.

FYI, if you are waiting for a green card in the usa, you can't leave the usa unless you come up with a really good reason such as a death or health matter in your family (and they want supporting documents) or that you must travel for business reasons. The latter is easier to 'fake' when your Japanese wife simply wants to go home for shogatsu.

[maraboutslim]

Oh, i totally misunderstood. you don't want to come back to japan! in that case, forget everything i just said, ha! (but i'll leave it there in case someone else actually has the question that goes with my answer!)

[Steve Bildermann]

Technically your visa is 'extended' during your application waiting time therefore leaving Japan will not be a problem especially as the new nationwide immigration 'real-time' computer system is now on-line.

Immigration officials at any port of entry/departure can call up any visa/personal details almost instantaneously. It was this system that caught Mr. Fischer who up to then had been coming and going on the same passport without any problems.

If you have a valid waiting stamp in your passport they will no doubt tell you that it will become invalid the instant you leave but other than that you should be ok. Just make it clear you understand that you will lose any visa status when you leave.