Japan Visa Renewal - 1 or 3 Years: A Coin Flip?
For the last several years, I’ve renewed my visa at the Yokohama Immigration Office in Motomachi. While the process was fairly painless for me until last year, I was always disappointed to receive a one-year visa each time. Several friends and acquaintances had received three-year visas through the Shinagawa office by that time and I wondered if getting a one-year stamp vs. getting a three-year one was simply a matter of where you dropped off your application. Had I been able to last year, I would’ve at Shinagawa. However, my official address was in Kawasaki City (right on the border of Tokyo) so I had to go to a Kanagawa Prefecture branch of Immigration.
Last year, the renewal process was particularly painful because, due to a nasty phone call, there was an investigation concerning my eligibility to remain in Japan on a work visa. I sweated for over two months wondering whether I would lose my permission to reside in Japan and would suddenly be sent home. It was like my life was frozen at that point. I couldn’t make any plans at all. I just had to sit and wait. It dragged on through my summer vacation, which sucked ass because I was afraid to spend any money on travel or entertainment for fear of having to have as much in savings as possible in case I was suddenly required to return home. I won’t go into details about the circumstances surrounding the fateful phone call, but let it be known that immigration horror stories do happen.
Anyway, since I had changed my address last year to a downtown Tokyo one, I was able to apply at Shinagawa this year. I applied this year with confidence, thinking I would likely get a three-year visa this time, allowing me to not have to hassle with Immigration until 2012. Part of the reason I was so confident comes from a co-worker’s experience with both Yokohama and Shinagawa. He had told me that every time he applied with Yokohama, he received a one-year visa, but the first time he applied at Shinagawa, he got the three-year number.
Well, I’m here to tell you today that I now have the same experience my co-worker has; I received a nice, fresh three-year stamp in my passport today.
I guess in the long run, going the immigration office once a year vs. once every three years isn’t really worth much discussion, but I am definitely relieved to not have to worry about the visa renewal process until 2012.
Anyway, for those of you who are now residing in the land of the rising sun, or who have done so in the past, here’s a poll to see if there is some merit to my assumption that you’re more likely to receive a three-year Japan work visa at Shinagawa than Yokohama.
Loading ...
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...
Japan Visa Renewal - 1 or 3 Years?…
What factors come into play when Japan Immigration decides whether you deserve a one-year visa or a three-year visa? Is it just as random as flipping a coin?…
Heh, I’ll let you know in a month or 2 - gotta renew for the first time this month. I came in with a 3-year visa, but as my work sitch has changed I’m not sure what’ll happen. It will be at Shinagawa though, so fingers crossed.
[Reply]
as far as i’m aware (and i may be completely wrong), immigration policy is to give everyone a one-year visa for the first two years of their stay. On the third application, they are able to grant a three-year visa at this point but they do look at factors such as whether you’ve changed jobs, address etc and may only approve a one-year extension if they feel your circumstances are variable. Most people i know usually get offered the three-year visa by the end of the second or third one-year extension… these people are all applying in shinagawa though.
[Reply]
I used to live in Yokohama and they gave me a three-year visa, but when that expired, they inexplicably gave me a 1 year visa.
Then I moved to Tokyo where I recently got a 3 year visa again.
I think it’s totally random what you get!
A 3 year via is nice, though. I’m tempted to quit my job and go backpacking for 2 years, then return. It’s nice knowing that’s an option!
[Reply]
From what I’ve seen it’s all random.
[Reply]
I wonder how much their decision is influenced by the applicant’s Japanese language ability. I’d be pretty screwed if I didn’t automatically get 3 years with the spouse visa…
[Reply]
It has nothing to do with your Japanese language ability. They have no way of testing it and don’t try to tax your speaking when accepting or dealing with your application.
It’s based on the whim of the person processing the application form and how your stability is viewed. People who remain with the same company and at the same address are viewed more favorably than those who change jobs a lot or move around frequently. The greater your stability, the higher the chances of a 3-year visa.
That being said, it really is down the the officer who processes the application (who probably isn’t even the one who accepts it at the counter).
[Reply]
@Darg:
Yeah, I’m sure you’ll get another 3-year pass.
@upstairs for thinking:
Actually, almost every newbie I meet these days comes over with a 3-year visa. I have a feeling that since the implementation of the airport fingerprinting program, they’re not feeling the need to be as strict about visa validity periods.
Still, the Yokohama office sucks ass, IMO.
@Roaf:
Just another reason why I’m glad I moved to Tokyo.
@Sixmats:
A lot of people think so.
@David:
Unless they’re doing the language ability checks during the few moments that applicants are at the counter, there’s no process for gauging Japanese ability going on that I know about.
[Reply]
Well, I got a three year visa due to a gal that I am married to. My lawyer says he might be able to get me a permanent visa when it comes time to renew again; I don`t know about that.
[Reply]
@freedomwv Why do you need a lawyer? From what I understand you can file all those papers yourself.
[Reply]
It seems no one in Yokohama gets a 3 year stamp. We only can guess why. But tell me, aren’t you willing at all to talk about that nasty phone call?
[Reply]
My experience is the same as what upstairs for thinking said. Anyway, I decided to write a 3 instead of a 1 on my renewal form and that was that.
[Reply]
@freedom:
I’ve heard of foreigners married to Japanese nationals getting PR after only 5 years. Supposedly, the standard for everyone else is 10 years. Can’t confirm, though.
@Antonio:
Sorry, can’t disclose those details
[Reply]
Hyogo (Kobe) seems to work like this.
Your first visa you’ll get a one year. Everyone after that you’ll get a 3 year one. I think they are more liberal about giving visas to western Europeans and Americans however. I changed my visa from tourist to specialist in humanities in country even. (Something they say they won’t do.)
Gotta get the 配偶者 then your set. Since I got mine last year I’ve been free from any visa worries.
[Reply]
I live in Saitama, but still went to the Shinagawa office. There was no restriction on that for me. Got a three year as well. Everyone I know did. If you ask for the 3 year you seem to get it in Shinagawa.
[Reply]
I got a 3-year VISA all 3 times I applied. Never once got a 1-year VISA. All applications were done at Shinagawa.
Time for me to look into PR I guess. What are the advantages of PR?
[Reply]
>What are the advantages of PR (Permanent Resident Visa)?
Well, I haven’t had to go to the immigration office for years…and never will have to go again (unless I want to go overseas on holiday (a “Re-entry Permit” is still needed)).
Actually, I’m considering Naturalization now.
[Reply]
Three years at Shinagawa straight off the bat (conversion from temporary to working visa).
[Reply]
@Brand X:
Had a 3-year request on my papers every time at Yokohama, but never got it there.
@David:
I’m sure you’re happily married, but I’ve gotta be free and single, baby!
@Jordan:
That supports my belief that almost everyone going through Shinagawa gets the 3-year jobbie.
@Billy:
I guess the biggest advantage of PR would be not having to apply for a visa extension anymore. However, I believe you’d still be required to get a re-entry permit every time you leave the country and stand in the monkey line when you come back, along with the rest of us knuckle-draggers
@Mr.Penguin:
I believe your demeanor as a fine, upstanding gentleman helped things along for you.
[Reply]
First couple of times I kept getting a one year visa at the Yokohama Branch. Then just last year I got a three year visa all at the same office.
[Reply]
My story is exactly the same as yours McAlpine
[Reply]
it absolutely seems random. My friends and I lived in Kansai. Some of us who lived in Osaka (like myself) got 3 years and some didn’t. Same for the guys in Kyoto. We tried to figure it out ourselves. Some suggested that maybe those of us who got 3 year visas were more polite. It certainly wasn’t because we spoke better Japanese. Congrats on your 3 year visa!
[Reply]
@McAlpine and Locohama:
Glad to hear the Yokohama office finally did you a solid.
@Liv:
From what I hear, things seem to be more random in Kansai. Guess there’s some truth to that, eh?
[Reply]
From a 1 year visa, I applied again for another 1 year (as per company instruction) but Yokohama immigration gave me 3 years. Guess I was lucky?
[Reply]
I live in Hyogo and I came over with a 3-year visa.
[Reply]
Same thing here. A coworker and I went in to get renewals at the same time. He got a three year, I got a one year. It makes no sense at all.
[Reply]
Leave your response!
Recent Comments
Highest Rated
7:10 Feed
Click now!
7:10 Friends
Archives
Most Commented
Recent Posts