Leaving while visa application in limbo?

[GomiGirl]

Got a visa question of my own..

My boy has a "designated activities" (Preparation to leave Japan) visa as his working holiday ran out while we were applying for the work visa.

The new work visa application was submitted around 6 weeks ago and not heard anything yet - should be any day now though.

The problem is we are booked to go on a holiday leaving on the 1st July. Will they grant a re-entry permit while the visa application is being processed?

Anyone got advice? Planning to drop down to immigration next week if still nothing arrived.

[omae mona]

Got a visa question of my own..

My boy has a "designated activities" (Preparation to leave Japan) visa as his working holiday ran out while we were applying for the work visa.

The new work visa application was submitted around 6 weeks ago and not heard anything yet - should be any day now though.

The problem is we are booked to go on a holiday leaving on the 1st July. Will they grant a re-entry permit while the visa application is being processed?

Anyone got advice? Planning to drop down to immigration next week if still nothing arrived.

Well, at a minimum make a phone call to the Immigration Information Center at 03-5796-7112. They may not be helpful, but if they are, it could save you the painful trip over there.

I really don't know the answer to this one. The "preparation to leave Japan" status is pretty serious business, I think. I've seen one before, and I think they really mean "We're going to be nice for now, but get the hell out by the specified date, or else." On the other hand, I've basically heard that if you have the "application received" stamp for a new visa in your passport, you're OK staying in the country past the expiration of your current status of residence. My hunch (but just a hunch) is that he's OK staying in Japan past July 1 if the visa doesn't arrive, but they aren't going to issue a new re-entry permit or honor an existing one if he tries to re-enter the country.

I bet that the new visa will arrive in time, though.

[GomiGirl]

yes that is the case.. it was the only visa that they could give him as his working holiday visa had finished. they were very nice to us and said that it was just to allow him to stay while the new application was processed. The "designated activities" visa is really a one that means they have no other category to fit you in but they think that you are OK for the present. If they didn't want you they would just deny everything and tell you to get the hell outa dodge. We had put in an application before the working holiday visa ran out but it had to be resubmitted as some of the paperwork was wrong but we had an interview with them and they just told us which papers to fill in and to come back. All very nice and pleasant.

So he has the application stamp in his visa which means he doesn't have to leave when this temp visa runs out (it already has actually).

[Guy Incognito]

I hear the Pastafarians are recruiting missionaries..thats always good for a visa

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?p=155597#post155597

[Taro Toporific]

...The new work visa application was submitted around 6 weeks ago and not heard anything yet - should be any day now though.
The problem is we are booked to go on a holiday leaving on the 1st July. ....

I'm in the same situation. Monday afternoon (June 18 ) was at the Shinagawa Waste Burning and Immigration Center. When I asked about going on a holiday while my application was still being processed, the clerk at the application counter just smiled and slowly said, "Don't leave."

Then, I asked how many weeks will it take for my application to be processed, I got more smiles. When I mentioned in the past it was always 6 weeks or less to process my visa renewal application, the clerk said she had, "no idea but more than 6 weeks." My impression was she was trying to say they were running behind in visa processing recently.

Bottom Line: Immigration didn't want to tell me when I was getting out of limbo---Have a Japanese call up.

,,,My hunch (but just a hunch) is that he's OK staying in Japan past July 1 if the visa doesn't arrive, but they aren't going to issue a new re-entry permit ....

When I asked last Monday, they said a "pending application" is good for as long as it takes for them to complete the processing.

[GomiGirl]

so you cancelled your holiday?

[Taro Toporific]

so you cancelled your holiday?

I put it off until Oct since it sounded to me like Tokyo Immigration is having a backlog. I was planning on leaving by July (but I am lucky I didn't buy an air ticket).

[GomiGirl]

we have tickets and hotels booked.. blimey..

[Taro Toporific]

we have tickets and hotels booked.. blimey..

The whole conversation I had on Monday was with a newly-hired clerk who spoke near-native English. She seemed to be sympathetic to my, "desire to return home after a long stay in the hospital" (I was laying on the BS real thick), but she seemed to be trying to tell me I should not get my hopes up. However, there was butthead bucho silently supervising her every move, so maybe she was being forced to say the "party line".

[halfnip]

Interesting stuff---I was in that shithole all morning today as well.

If I were you, GG--I would be safe as you mentioned and shoot down there to see what they say. I'd never really trust the Immi people at the airport as if anything pops off and the shit hits the fan, you have no options than to listen to what they say. Although I did have a good experience one time when I carelessly tried to leave on a single entry re-entry permit and the lady stopped me and said, "You know if you leave, you ain't coming back, right?" I nearly shat myself, but she ended up getting me a multi-entry permit right there on the spot.

I'd figure they'd tell you to stay put until things are processed though... I hope things work out for you!

[Taro Toporific]

...booked to go on a holiday leaving on the 1st July....

It's T-minus six days and counting.

If it makes you feel any better they have been sitting on my visa renewal application for four weeks now....Not a peep from them (they sometimes ask for additional documentation after two or three weeks when solar sun spot cycle at its high).

[Doctor Stop]

My boy has a "designated activities" (Preparation to leave Japan) visa as his working holiday ran out while we were applying for the work visa.

Can't you get him classified as a dependent?

[DrP]

I just got my visa re-upped in the nick of time and asked about the same issue (leaving before the visa was granted). The answer was basically - sure you can leave, however your status upon returning is basically 'tourist'. Therefore, your original visa application is nulled and you have to start the process again. There are some considerations, however, for family or medical or legal emergencies. I don't think vacations to Bali count.

If he came over on a working holiday and you've made application for a regular working visa - and it's the first one - I'd guess there's not much risk in just cancelling the application and re-applying when you return from your trip. After all, the considerations for granting the visa are still the same - it just takes the immigration officials awhile to process new applications.

BTW - I was granted my visa and re-entry permit in just under 2 weeks. But it was same status and I did give them all the correct docs on the first visit.

[maraboutslim]

Everytime I renewed my visa, I would submit the application two months prior to expiration, and I'd get it back like two months late (i.e. 4 months to process!). I'm sure there were times when I travelled during that limbo period. I hope they'll let your boy do the same GG. Otherwise, leaving and returning as a tourist sounds like a decent idea.

[Taro Toporific]

[Immigration has] been sitting on my visa renewal application for four weeks now....Not a peep from them...

Oops, I lied.
Today I received in the mail my [color="Red"]RED COUNTER (No.A)[/color] postcard telling me to pick my pet license (spouse visa).

[GomiGirl]

Dammit - should be any day now.. but damn if it isn't nerve racking.

[Ptyx]

I was in a smilar situation last year. I was in-between companies and made the mistake of telling them that (don't tell them anything !) and they refused to let me get a stamp to leave the country and come back on my visa.
I went to three different counters to cry and finally a woman from the information counter told them to give me the stamp.


The thing is, they wanted me to reapply for a visa with my new company before giving the stamp. I was able to do without thanks to the lady from the information counter but since they told me it was possible while being in visa limbo i don't see why it wouldn't be possible in your man's case.

So Nthing what people have said check with them to see if you can get the stamp during the application period.

Also, i waited next to three months before having a reply for my current visa, i actually never received it. I called to check what was up and they told me to just come and pick it up. Even though i had filled the postcard (and bought the stamp) they were supposed to send me, they never did.
I didn't throw a fit and didn't even ask for the stamp money back, i just went there picked up the visa and went back to work as fast and silently as i possibly could. This place scares the shit outta me. Every time i've applied for a visa it didn't go smoothly, either on my side or on theirs.
It was my fourth time and it's still as fucking stressful as it was the first time.
It's like your life is in the hand of an army of really bored office ladies.
Anyway just call them, the visa might already be there waiting for him and if it's not call every week.

Good luck with the visa, i understand the anxiety.

[American Oyaji]

Man, I never had ANY of those problems. Since Hachinohe is a port town, they have a visa office near the port. The guy there started off hassling my wife (talking real gruff-like and beligerent) until I spoke up and asked in Japanese what the problem was. He chilled the F out real quick. Stamp stamp and we were on our way. The next two times, I went by myself and stamp stamp, no problem either time, in and out in less than 10 minutes. I didn't even fill out any paperwork.

[GomiGirl]

ARRRGGGHHHH

Update. Rang immigration today. Application still in processing without an answer yet. They gave us two options - neither very attactive:

1. Stay and wait (and so miss holiday and suffer 100% cancellation)
2. Go and come back on a tourist visa and reapply when get back.

Problems with (2) are as follows:
- booked to come back on points and thus one way so unlikely that they will let him in without purchase of another ticket proving that he has a way out of the country again
- has to get a special "get out of japan visa" that effectively cancels his application. Cost is ¥4,000 but that is really not the issue.
- has to wait and apply again - this will be the third time due to paperwork issues on applicaiton number 1 and so they will most likely frown upon the third application.

ggrr.. have to head down to immigration tomorrow and talk to them personally and see what we can do. any tips for making nice with the immigration officers?

[CrankyBastard]

GG, I hate to have to say this but, "What's more important at the mo, the visa or the holiday?"
Good luck tomorrow.

[Taro Toporific]

... any tips for making nice with the immigration officers?

Frankly, I would just write off the vacation since refiling would be your boy's, "third time due to paperwork issues on application number 1 and so they will most likely frown upon the third application."

But you might as go down to the Information Desk first and see if you can't either:
1) Get the butt-head bucho in charge everything to offer his advice because you and your Japanese is so charming, or
2) Get the youngest shinjin girl who speaks rather pleasant homestay English to tell you what are the "real chances" (however she might not know).

[ichigo partygirl]

Oh goodluck girl i really hope you can sort something out. Id hate for you to miss the lovely trip you have planned

[GuyJean]

I've heard posting naked pictures of yourself on FG puts the immigrations dudes in your favor.

GJ

[Doctor Stop]

I've always had mine renewed fast, in one or two weeks. Of course I know a few people that had to wait months. My suggestion is to avoid Shinagawa and try one of the smaller branch offices, if only because the lines are shorter.

[Greji]

[quote="GuyJean"]I've heard posting naked pictures of yourself on FG puts the immigrations dudes in your favor. ]

Good point. If you would like to proceed with that application, I will help GJ ensure that you get any stamps in your book, you would like and maybe a couple that you wouldn't. After all, whatta you going to expect from the Roppongi Hills Branch Immigration Office?

[GomiGirl]

Fuck shittity Fuck...

no love from Immigration today. They said "a month" but methinks that is their standard reply. Offered to send more paperwork if they needed anything to help along the process but they just said that they had everything and to just wait. Leaving the country would just cancel the application.

Last ditch effort though, spoke to a friend who does heaps of visa applications for clients and she suggested a cover letter sent to explain that the reason the first one was rejected was just to a paperwork error and then from advice from their office submitted the correct forms again. Also that if they needed any further information to please feel free to contact us and we will provide immediately. Hopefully that will help bring the application to the top of the pile. Long shot I know..

[Greji]

Fuck shittity Fuck...

That is excellent advice and I would add, hand carry it to immigrations yesterday if not sooner. Wear your heavy eye make-up and looking over your friend's shoulder at the immigrations dude, do a lot of eye batting. Give him that old golden gai "see you later as soon as I can dump this FG" look!

[Taro Toporific]

Fuck shittity Fuck...
no love from Immigration today. They said "a month" but methinks that is their standard reply....

Oh well..Scratch that vacation. I really feel for you.

If it makes you feel any better, over the past 23 years I've have two non-refundable airfares voided because of visa/passport hassles. Once because of the lazy, dogshit, unqualified, scumbags at the US Embassy and the other time because Tokyo Immigration "lost" my visa application for more than six months.

[CrankyBastard]

Tough break, GG.
But those "Designated Activity visas" aren't given out as a snap decision.
In my humble opinion he'd best wait it out.

[GomiGirl]

Visa denied!! New plan of action... Not sure on reason just yet - just got the letter yesterday.