Visa applied. Notification Postcard.

[plastiktec]

[Iraira]

They told you to bring money...which generally means "no sweat baby".

[FG Lurker]

If they have asked you to bring money then you're almost certainly in the clear.

[nightsinosaka]

I just renewed mine last month. They asked me to bring 4000 yen as well, and I got a 3 year visa.

yeah, like the other guys said "If they asked you to bring money you're probably in the clear".

[wuchan]

I just renewed mine last month. They asked me to bring 4000 yen as well, and I got a 3 year visa.

yeah, like the other guys said "If they asked you to bring money you're probably in the clear".

"pay us"= We don't care.

Pay, and keep paying (visa, re-entry permit, visa, re-entry permit, visa, re-entry permit.........) and maybe someday they will approve your permanent resident card, someday.

[FG Lurker]

Pay, and keep paying (visa, re-entry permit, visa, re-entry permit, visa, re-entry permit.........) and maybe someday they will approve your permanent resident card, someday.

Getting PR was less involved than getting my first spousal visa and WAY less involved than getting my pre-college student visa.

[Number11]

I think permanent residence visas are easy and painless here, and the newly proposed system has no re-entry permits. I have permanent residence visas in two countries now, so I can speak from at least a little experience.

I'm curious. What country is easier or less expensive than Japan to get a permanent residence visa?

[FG Lurker]

I'm curious. What country is easier or less expensive than Japan to get a permanent residence visa?

It is definitely easy from a procedural standpoint to get PR in Japan. It's also very easy to maintain PR here as you don't need to reside in the country for x days per year to keep it. However most people need to live in-country for quite some time (5 years or so if married, up to 10 years or so if not) before applying for Japanese PR. This is quite different from many countries AFAIK.

[GomiGirl]

If you get rejected, you get a letter with a date that you need to either put in your re-application or leave. They do include the forms for reapplying. (My boy had 4 reapplications before he got his approved so can speak from first hand experience)

The fact that you got a postcard means that everything is fine. Just get your stamp and take it all in and you will have a shiny new visa. Get your reentry at the same time.

[omae mona]

Agreed with all the above. I've always wondered why the postcard is so vague. Why don't they explicitly write that your application was accepted? I have a hunch it is some kind of legalese; perhaps your application is not technically accepted until you actually show up at the window to pick it up, for example. I bet in the past, some jerk like me tried walking around with his passport and an "accepted" postcard for a year, so in response they removed the word "accepted".

In response to number11, I agree the paperwork is relatively easy for PR, but the qualifications are ridiculous. I know two people who have been here 18+ years that can't get PR. One person is on an incompatible visa from an incompatible country, and one person is just deemed unworthy (possibly due to his bad hairdo).

By the way, I'm very excited about the change in reentry permits, too. They're not going to be completely gone, but if I recall, you won't need a reentry permit for any reasonable length trips out of the country No more annoying visits to the Shinagawa immigration office for me, ever!

[wuchan]

I think permanent residence visas are easy and painless here, and the newly proposed system has no re-entry permits. I have permanent residence visas in two countries now, so I can speak from at least a little experience.

It is easy if:
You have been here long enough legally (in other words, payed for a bunch of visas and re-entry permits)
You are they type of person japan wants to keep
You defected to north korea.

[GomiGirl]

[quote="omae mona"]Agreed with all the above. I've always wondered why the postcard is so vague. Why don't they explicitly write that your application was accepted? I have a hunch it is some kind of legalese]

Or possibly for privacy? Stop all the nosy neighbours knowing that you have your visa approved.

Hang on - TIJ - nothing is private. My bad.

[Mock Cockpit]

By the way, I'm very excited about the change in reentry permits, too. They're not going to be completely gone, but if I recall, you won't need a reentry permit for any reasonable length trips out of the country No more annoying visits to the Shinagawa immigration office for me, ever!

Yeah me too, no more gaijin tax. I went into the local office in December to get a new re-entry permit and the guy said "this doesn't run out until Dec 2009". I looked at him sheepishly, called myself an idiot and walked out. Fuckety fuck fuck fuck.

[Number11]

Apparently we'll be able to leave for up to a year without a re-entry permit.

Most of the time someone deemed unworthy of PR has skipped out on some ku taxes somewhere along the line. The rejection rate is pretty low for honest people who lived and worked where they say they did and paid their taxes. I don't think those are unreasonable things to ask of people who apply for permanent residence, right?

[Taro Toporific]

..The rejection rate is pretty low for honest people ...blah, blah, blah.... I don't think those are unreasonable things to ask of people who apply for permanent residence, right?

Nope.

[plastiktec]

well as it turns out there are 3 types of postcards.
the original which you filled out at immigration is the approved one it seems.
there is a seperate one if you failed.
and another one if they need more documents.

But if it says to bring 4,000yen for a revenue stamp youre good to go

[Billy]

How long did it take after your application to receive the postcard in the mail. I just applied today and my mail is being forwarded to another address. So I wanna keep my eyes peeled.

[omae mona]

How long did it take after your application to receive the postcard in the mail. I just applied today and my mail is being forwarded to another address. So I wanna keep my eyes peeled.

You might have a problem. I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's almost certain they stamp the postcards "do not forward", so the post office will return it to Immigration if you're not physically at the address. Last time I did one of these, I seem to recall they issued several reminders that your name better be printed on your mailbox, or you would probably not get the postcard.

If I were you, I'd contact immigration and give them your new address.

(I know this doesn't answer your question directly, but I think you might have a more pressing concern than the timing!)

[Billy]

I think I already asked them about forwarding to my new address but I'll double check. That would be a real pain in the ass if it takes extra long because of an address mixup.

Thanks for the info.

[Visitor K]

dont worry too much, my postcard did not get delivered (i have no idea why, my name was on the mailbox along with japanese roommate's names) but i was able to call immigration and see when it was ready.. the only thing was that - since japan is an incurable bureaucracy - i had to wait in a seperate line just to get the postcard back at the immigration (i guess they really need that postcard!).

[Billy]

Oh, that's good to know. I don't mind waiting in line. I guess I should worry more about whether or not they'll send the card rather than if the mailman delivers it or not.

Thanks for da info

[Billy]

Followup to this thread - Today, exactly one week after applying at the immigration office, I received the postcard which was forwarded to my new address.

[omae mona]

Congrats! Good to know they will forward postcards.

[Billy]

The postcard told me to go to "counter A" which is the permission stamp counter. I had to buy a 4,000 JPY 'change of status' stamp in the convenience store downstairs, hand in the paper with the stamp on it, wait about an hour... then they gave me my 3 year VISA.

I then went back downstairs and bought (2) x 3,000 JPY stamps and applied for my re-entry permit. It took about 1 minute to get the re-entry permit which is also good for 3 years.

Easy and straight forward.

[Iraira]

The postcard told me to go to "counter A" which is the permission stamp counter. I had to buy a 4,000 JPY 'change of status' stamp in the convenience store downstairs, hand in the paper with the stamp on it, wait about an hour... then they gave me my 3 year VISA.

I then went back downstairs and bought (2) x 3,000 JPY stamps and applied for my re-entry permit. It took about 1 minute to get the re-entry permit which is also good for 3 years.

Easy and straight forward.

should have also gotten your automated gate stamp, so you don't have to wait in line with the tourists.

[omae mona]

should have also gotten your automated gate stamp, so you don't have to wait in line with the tourists.

Little harm done. You can do the application at Narita, too, and then immediately use the automated gate. The application process plus going through the automated gate is still faster than waiting in the regular line!

P.S. this information is about 18 months out-of-date so please use it at your own risk.

[Iraira]

P.S. this information is about 18 months out-of-date so please use it at your own risk.

I did the automated gate three days ago....J-immigration dude personally escorted by jet-lagged ass over to the gate, and I was through and searching for my luggage in about 30 seconds. I felt special, loved, respected, although no hand job was offered, requested, nor received.

[Billy]

should have also gotten your automated gate stamp, so you don't have to wait in line with the tourists.

Damn! I'll back to Shinagawa to get it. Thanks for the tip.