Zairyu card - report change of job?

[yanpa]

I just realised I hadn't informed the Authorities of my changed employment circumstances, then again the zairyu card only has space for residential addresses and now I can work in my desired profession (Nigerian street tout) without any restrictions, I guess there wouldn't be any point anyway. Anyone know anything to the contrary?

FWIW I see the zairyu card also has space on the back for a 在留期間更新等許可申請欄, which presumably will replace the stamp they used to put in the passport, so I guess that might be handy if one forgets to apply for an extension in a timely manner.

[wagyl]

If yours is a work visa, yes you have to inform the authorities, and it is no longer the municipal office but Immigration
If yours is a spouse visa (and I recall that you transferred the firm grip on your testicles from your boss to your wife), you don't have to tell them about your employment but you must tell them when you trade in for a newer model.
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/index.html

so I guess that might be handy if one forgets to apply for an extension in a timely manner.

...and decides to do a little photography down Taiji way.

[sublight]

I went down to the Immi center after starting a new job last month, only to be told that I didn't need to report a change of job because I had PR.

Felt like a bit of a dope, but at least I didn't have to wait in line for it (even made it to work on time).

IIRC, the woman at the counter said you needed to report a job change only if your visa is dependent on your job.

[omae mona]

Under the old alien registration card system, you clearly did not have to report job changes if your visa was not tied to your employer. However, I do remember that on some of the friendly pamphlets about the new immigration system a few years ago, there was some vague language that actually made it sound as if even spouse visa and PR holders (and the like) might need to start reporting employer changes for the new zairyu cards. I was rather upset about that, but glad to hear from sublight that it turned out not to be the case.

Yanpa, your zairyu card was issued when you switched to a spouse visa, right? Does it even *list* your employer on it?

[yanpa]

Under the old alien registration card system, you clearly did not have to report job changes if your visa was not tied to your employer. However, I do remember that on some of the friendly pamphlets about the new immigration system a few years ago, there was some vague language that actually made it sound as if even spouse visa and PR holders (and the like) might need to start reporting employer changes for the new zairyu cards.

That's the impression I got from somewhere too.

I was rather upset about that, but glad to hear from sublight that it turned out not to be the case.

Yanpa, your zairyu card was issued when you switched to a spouse visa, right? Does it even *list* your employer on it?

Yes, and no - just says "就労制限なし" or something.

[yanpa]

If yours is a work visa, yes you have to inform the authorities, and it is no longer the municipal office but Immigration
If yours is a spouse visa (and I recall that you transferred the firm grip on your testicles from your boss to your wife), you don't have to tell them about your employment but you must tell them when you trade in for a newer model.
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/index.html

Thanks

so I guess that might be handy if one forgets to apply for an extension in a timely manner.

...and decides to do a little photography down Taiji way.

I'll be down there as soon as I can get my hair dyed green.

[yanpa]

I went down to the Immi center after starting a new job last month, only to be told that I didn't need to report a change of job because I had PR.

Felt like a bit of a dope, but at least I didn't have to wait in line for it (even made it to work on time).

IIRC, the woman at the counter said you needed to report a job change only if your visa is dependent on your job.

Thanks. Incredibly, that makes sense, but TIJ and one learns never to make assumptions about rules being logical.

[Samurai_Jerk]

My company recently hired an FG (software developer FYI) that was between jobs because he got laid off by his previous employer. His status had been engineer (技術) but immigration changed his status to 就労 (I can't remember what it said in English exactly but it means seeking employment). I saw a copy of his Zairyu Card because HR came to me for advice as the FG sempai and it clearly stated in Japanese, "no permission to work" (労働許可ありません or something like that). I didn't hear this directly from him but apparently he was told that if you lose your job you have to change to that status and have 6 months to find another one or GTFO. That helps prevent people from doing part-time work while they're looking for another full-time gig which I think has always been technically illegal but pretty common. It also keeps you from staying for your full period of stay if you aren't working. It makes sense that they'd start better enforcing the existing rules but the downside is that if you do find something in that 6 month period you can't start working immediately as you have to change your status again. It took the guy we hired about a month to get permission to work again. I'm not sure how that would work if you got an offer in the last month of your 就労 period.

Anyway, that's the first I've heard of a case like this. Has anyone else?

[inflames]

My company recently hired an FG (software developer FYI) that was between jobs because he got laid off by his previous employer. His status had been engineer (技術) but immigration changed his status to 就労 (I can't remember what it said in English exactly but it means seeking employment). I saw a copy of his Zairyu Card because HR came to me for advice as the FG sempai and it clearly stated in Japanese, "no permission to work" (労働許可ありません or something like that). I didn't hear this directly from him but apparently he was told that if you lose your job you have to change to that status and have 6 months to find another one or GTFO. That helps prevent people from doing part-time work while they're looking for another full-time gig which I think has always been technically illegal but pretty common. It also keeps you from staying for your full period of stay if you aren't working. It makes sense that they'd start better enforcing the existing rules but the downside is that if you do find something in that 6 month period you can't start working immediately as you have to change your status again. It took the guy we hired about a month to get permission to work again. I'm not sure how that would work if you got an offer in the last month of your 就労 period.

Anyway, that's the first I've heard of a case like this. Has anyone else?

Yes - from 2008 or so I knew someone on a specialist in humanities visa who got canned right before it expired. He went to immigration and they gave him that.

If you get an offer in your last month you have to apply ASAP and that stops the clock from you being kicked out.

I found out that the engineer has been combined with specialist in humanities.