Renewals - new rules

[BigInJapan]

PR holders don't need to put their passport info, period of stay info, or job info on their ARC. A lot of ward offices don't seem to know this, I had to push for it when I got my first ARC after getting PR. In the passport and period of stay fields there are just *** instead of information. There is no job/employer field on my ARC.

My ARC also shows *** for period stay (I have PR), but I didn't know you could have the passport # removed.
Will do that next time, as well as have my name put back as the householder.
Several years the small town office where I lived at the time said that they had to change it from me, to my wife's name as their new application did not recognize foreigners with a Japanese spouse as the householder.

[Yokohammer]

Will do that next time, as well as have my name put back as the householder.
Several years the small town office where I lived at the time said that they had to change it from me, to my wife's name as their new application did not recognize foreigners with a Japanese spouse as the householder.

As far as I know this is still true. It is where I'm at. If you're living with a Japanese spouse the ward office will only recognize the Japanese national as the householder, even if you're PR.

Another of the warm, welcoming, non-discriminatory policies you discover as you get settled in your new home.

Yokoso!

[FG Lurker]

[Yokohammer]

[FG Lurker]

[aquamarine]

Just thought I'd pipe in. I received my renewed visa and it's a little odd. I received a one-year extension and when I asked if it could be re-produced as a 3 year, I was told it's impossible due to my current job situation. My friend who just started with the same company was just renewed and she received a three year.

-same company
-same title
-say salary
-same responsibilities

What the heck?

[wuchan]

Just thought I'd pipe in. I received my renewed visa and it's a little odd. I received a one-year extension and when I asked if it could be re-produced as a 3 year, I was told it's impossible due to my current job situation. My friend who just started with the same company was just renewed and she received a three year.

-same company
-same title
-say salary
-same responsibilities

What the heck?

The guy stamping your paperwork probably got in a fight with his wife the day before.

For some reason the visa guys are anything but consistent. I know people with good jobs who got stuck with the one year extension because they were from a "bad country" and others who got PR after only four years working part time.

[Taro Toporific]

. I received a one-year extension ...My friend who just started with the same company was just renewed and she received a three year...What the heck?

Da, she's cuter than you.

[Greji]

Da, she's cuter than you.

Gives better head?

[taisaku]

Last month I renewed my visa. They officially call it "extension of period of stay", they don't call it a renewal. Anyway, I first went there to ask what I needed to bring (I don't live very far from the Shinagawa immigration office so it was for me the most convenient way to do).
At the information desk I was informed that approximately one year ago the forms changed and that more information is needed from the company you work for. It was then explained to me that companies are divided into four categories. If you work for a company which falls into the first or second category you don't have to bring any additional documentation. Your company needs to fill out a form (which they gave me) and the company hanko, plus the official one of the shachou, needs to be put on it. If your company falls in category three or four then you need to bring additional documentation. This could include statements that you have paid your taxes. Unfortunately was the paper with all the explanation about this only available in Japanese and not in English, so I can't explain the finer details here. I could not find this document, or a similar explanation, on the website of the immigration office.

It turned out that the company I work for falls in the second category and I did not have to provide any additional documents, or evidence to proof that I pay taxes. I received the postcard within one week of applying for the extension, and received a three year extension, as requested.

[omae mona]

Last month I renewed my visa. They officially call it "extension of period of stay", they don't call it a renewal.

In fact, if we're going to get technical, none of us actually mean "visa" when we are talking about visas. The visa is technically the one-time permission to enter the country and is used at the moment you enter. It's canceled immediately by the immigration officer at the airport. Actually, I reckon most FGs on this forum come from countries with a "visa waiver" agreement with Japan, and have actually never held a visa to enter Japan.

Once you're in the country, you're dealing with your "period of stay", not your visa. Just about everybody calls it a visa nonetheless. Perhaps we should say "POS" instead....

Anyway, glad to hear your visa renewal went smoothly!

[wuchan]

Actually, I reckon most FGs on this forum come from countries with a "visa waiver" agreement with Japan, and have actually never held a visa to enter Japan.

I had my pet license before I came this time. Got it through the japanese consulate back home.

[Coligny]

I had my pet license before I came this time. Got it through the japanese consulate back home.

Wait ? it's the quarantine office that delivers a certificate of health after the 2 weeks observation period...

Stupid part is... you have to bring your pet by yourself from the airport to quarantine... You can give them any animal you want... they have no way to check...

[wuchan]

Wait ? it's the quarantine office that delivers a certificate of health after the 2 weeks observation period...

Stupid part is... you have to bring your pet by yourself from the airport to quarantine... You can give them any animal you want... they have no way to check...

.................



I'm the pet.



As far as animals go, the quarantine is on the fourth floor at narita. The 180 day "quarantine" is served in your home country after the animal receives all the shots then it, in the US, has to be examined by a USDA vet. When you arrive in Japan you are given a paper that tells you where to pick up the animal. You then go to the fourth floor to find your very scared pet and watch the Japanese vet examine it and all the paperwork.

[omae mona]

Actually, I reckon most FGs on this forum come from countries with a "visa waiver" agreement with Japan, and have actually never held a visa to enter Japan.

Another nonsense point from omae mona, posting before drinking his morning coffee. I may as well have been brain dead.

Obviously, as wuchan pointed out, unless you entered Japan as a tourist and changed status after you arrived, you certainly did have a visa particular to your status: spouse, employment-related, religious activities, etc.

I think my main point that we no longer hold "visas" technically, once we enter the country, was still correct (for those who want to be nitpicky about terminology).

[IparryU]

So today, I went to immigration with my ward office tax certificates and my passport and I have a shiny new 3 year visa.

Ok so i need to go renew my visa child or spouse of japanese national.

I should bring:
Passport
Updated gaijin card
Ward tax certs
Juminhyo (family registry thingy)*
Proof of Marrige from Ward office
money to pay for all of the services
pre-filled out paper work to quicken the process

*me and my wife/kids have separate juminhyo because of the national health insurance. they said that I am FG and cant be on the same list as my J-wife/kids... WTF?

am i forgetting anything besides a pen?

[dimwit]

am i forgetting anything besides a pen?

Yes you are forgetting the pint of blood you'll need for signing everything.

[GomiGirl]

Sorry but I don't know anything about spouse visas or national health as hubbilicious and I are both FG's. The visas that we have are slave wage visas.

But in my experience, they will usually tell you very quickly what else you need to have. Pre filled out forms is always the best idea.

[IparryU]

Sorry but I don't know anything about spouse visas or national health as hubbilicious and I are both FG's. The visas that we have are slave wage visas.

But in my experience, they will usually tell you very quickly what else you need to have. Pre filled out forms is always the best idea.

ya i just wanted to know in advance so i dont get there and they say, "oh, you need this, now get it and come back."

i called and they said to just come and they will evaluate when I am there... dont trust that.