Applying for reentry outside your jurisdiction

[Enuff Stuff]

Looking for some advice about my current situation. I now the best thing to do will be to see a lawyer, but right now I'll settle for you guys.

Here's the deal:

Permanent residence since 1997

Multiple reentry permit valid until August 2012

Resident outside Japan since August 2009

Planning to enter Japan in the summer of 2011 to visit relatives in Kobe, then leaving again to return to my job in the ME

Sold off everything from my last Japanese residence in Fukuoka; no plans to return to that city

Have not registered a change of address with the authorities; my gaijin card still has my old Fukuoka address

Would like to apply for a new reentry permit in Kobe, allowing me reentry until 2014

So, I'm wondering how to handle this.

The authorities say here that you must apply for a reentry permit at your local office, which for me would be Fukuoka. Anyone have experience applying for a permit outside your jurisdiction?

If I don't visit Fukuoka, will I need to first change my address to my in-laws' Kobe address and then apply for the reentry permit?

Any other ideas?

[Fullback]

Don't you have to enter the country at least once per year for your PR status to remain in effect?

If that is correct, your passport and immigration control data will show you out of the country for over a year and I think that would mean your visa is no longer valid.

[Enuff Stuff]

That would be bad news.

But I knew a Tibetan in Nepal who went back only every 2-3 years. Somehow he managed to keep his PR without an annual visit.

Good karma, perhpas.

[Greji]

That would be bad news.

But I knew a Tibetan in Nepal who went back only every 2-3 years. Somehow he managed to keep his PR without an annual visit.

Good karma, perhpas.

The best thing I can think of off the top of my head is beat it over to the nearest Japanese embassy/consulate and come up with the best story you can. i.e. I was planing on returing last month to Japan and business/death in the family/pregnant goat/ or anything believiable, came up and I am not able to leave until next week for Japan (or what appropriate date time lie sounds good). If you are lucky and get a nice guy (they occasionally pop up in the gaimusho), he may extend your visa appropriately. Otherwise, I would guess that you will have lost your PR.

[WesTokyo]

There are lawyers (agencies) that will process your visa (re-entry) for you, my office used to do it for all the gaijins, have not visited imm in almost 6 years...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

If your re-entry permit is still valid, you don't need to do anything.
Come back into the cuntry, re-register at the Kobe address, saying that you've just moved there from Fukuoka, and you should be OK.

[Enuff Stuff]

Just back from Japan and thought I'd post an update in case anyone ever finds this thread after finding him or herself in a similar situation.

I reentered Japan and the only problem I encountered was not having a reembarkation card affixed to my passport. The immigration officer gave me one to fill out, noted that I had last left Japan 2 years previous, stamped my passport and waved me through.

The Kobe ward office staff asked why I wanted to change my address now, two years after having left my Fukuoka address. I told them the truth, that I needed a new reentry permit and if I didn't register my address in Kobe I would have to travel to the Fukuoka immigration office to get one. They were happy to help me and were in every way accommodating.

Getting the reentry permit took less than 30 minutes, a busy day - according to the officer - at the Kobe office.

PR is still in hand and my reentry is now secured until 2014.

Ramadan Kareem.

[FG Lurker]

I didn't see your post originally but what you experienced is what I understood should happen. AFAIK there is no requirement to enter Japan once a year to keep your PR, you just need to come back during the validity of your reentry permit. Glad it turned out well for you.

[maraboutslim]

Thanks for following up and posting the results! (and glad it worked out perfectly for you).