South Korea Visa Runs

[basuotoko]

Hey, guys. I did a search on the forum, but couldn't turn up anything on the subject of visa runs. The problem is, as much as I don't want to do it, the Japanese government is being slow with my work visa request and it looks like I may need to leave the country because my three month tourist visa is set to expire soon. Ah, the problems of the ex pat life...

I've heard for years that people in this particular situation have made short trips to a nearby country, usually South Korea, and then return to Japan for another three month tourist visa. I've also heard that the Japanese government frowns upon it, and some problems could arise with immigration.

What a pain in the neck. Since I'm waiting for my work visa, I'm currently not working and I don't have much money. I would really hate if I have to go all the way back to the US and wait it out. I figured if anyone has experience in this area, it'd be one of you guys. Any info is appreciated.

 

[Davey]

When you are waiting for an answer of your visa that you applied for you can't leave the country... anyone else can confirm this?

 

[Glenski]

Consider it confirmed. You void your visa application if you leave the country while it is being processed. Ask immigration if the "pending" stamp in your passport will allow you to stay over the time limit of your tourist status. It probably does. Don't know your timelines, but you do realize that Golden Week is in process, and that shuts down government offices.

 

[basuotoko]

Thanks for the info so far. It was kind of bad timing with Golden Week, but hopefully things get put in motion this week and I hear some good news soon. The company that's arranging my visa actually told me it would be necessary for me to leave Japan if it didn't come on time, so maybe they don't actually know what they're talking about. I'll talk to them again and see if I can't find any more information. Thanks again.

 

[Glenski]

Yes, your potential employer doesn't understand the system. Don't rely on him to give you info about the visa system here. Trust only immigration (and you'll find that there is some gray area there, too, but at least it's official gray). As long as you have a pending stamp in your passport, you should be ok.

 

[basuotoko]

If anyone's curious, I ended up going to South Korea (I had no choice) and came back on a one way ticket but was stopped at the immigration in Nagoya. It wasn't too bad though, after I talked to an immigration officer in Japanese and he checked with my contact at the English school here in Japan, I was allowed to pass on a fresh tourist visa.

So if anyone does this, make sure to bring contact information of your employer, because immigration will probably want to check that out.

 

[ArmandV]

If anyone's curious, I ended up going to South Korea (I had no choice) and came back on a one way ticket but was stopped at the immigration in Nagoya. It wasn't too bad though, after I talked to an immigration officer in Japanese and he checked with my contact at the English school here in Japan, I was allowed to pass on a fresh tourist visa.

So if anyone does this, make sure to bring contact information of your employer, because immigration will probably want to check that out.

Good idea. I guess this is a case of "honesty is the best policy." If you're up front with immigration, and can document things, you should be okay.

 

[lenajiang]

Good idea. I guess this is a case of "honesty is the best policy." If you're up front with immigration, and can document things, you should be okay.

Yes ,I agree with you !"Honesty is the best policy" ,i like it.

 

[toritaiyo]

Kudos for being honest. That is really good.
I was wondering:
Isn't a person not allowed to work if they are on a tourist visa? If that's the case then why would giving them your employer contact make the difference? Don't get me wrong, I'm not "knocking it" (in fact, I'll probably be using it), I just don't understand it.

 

[Glenski]

Isn't a person not allowed to work if they are on a tourist visa?

No, you can't work because you are a tourist, not a registered (visa-holding) worker.

 

[Ewok85]

To clear some things up - there is no such thing as a "tourist visa".
A visa is something you arrange before coming to Japan. When you arrive in Japan, immigration will look in your passport - if you have a visa then 99% of the time they will allow you into the country, and give you a status of residence that matches what the visa was. So if you have an "Instructors visa" you would receive a one or three year status of residence - instructor.
This means you can stay in Japan until the status of residence expires, doing whatever is allowed by that status of residence (in this case, teach). Visas cease to exist the minute you go through immigration.
A "tourist visa" is when you have no visa in your passport, and you are given a short-stay status, where you are allowed to stay in Japan for a short period of time, with restrictions such as you are not allowed to work etc.
If you want to work, then get a proper visa. Theres no excuses, if you don't qualify, then make yourself qualify for one.
As someone else said - if you leave Japan while a change of status of residence is being done, your change becomes void, and you have to start from scratch. If you have a pending stamp in your passport, that is just as good as having a complete 'status of residence' stamp as far as immigration is concerned. I had a funny situation last year when I filed for a renewal the day before my expire date, and for over a month had to carry a passport and alien card that in essence said that I was "illegally overstaying", except for the vague and open ended "pending" stamp

Kudos for being honest. That is really good.
I was wondering:
Isn't a person not allowed to work if they are on a tourist visa? If that's the case then why would giving them your employer contact make the difference? Don't get me wrong, I'm not "knocking it" (in fact, I'll probably be using it), I just don't understand it.

Its the person who is going to employ him, and is doing his visa change. Doesn't mean they are paying him yet.

 

[toritaiyo]

To clear some things up - there is no such thing as a "tourist visa".
A visa is something you arrange before coming to Japan. When you arrive in Japan, immigration will look in your passport - if you have a visa then 99% of the time they will allow you into the country, and give you a status of residence that matches what the visa was. So if you have an "Instructors visa" you would receive a one or three year status of residence - instructor.
This means you can stay in Japan until the status of residence expires, doing whatever is allowed by that status of residence (in this case, teach). Visas cease to exist the minute you go through immigration.
A "tourist visa" is when you have no visa in your passport, and you are given a short-stay status, where you are allowed to stay in Japan for a short period of time, with restrictions such as you are not allowed to work etc.
If you want to work, then get a proper visa. Theres no excuses, if you don't qualify, then make yourself qualify for one.
As someone else said - if you leave Japan while a change of status of residence is being done, your change becomes void, and you have to start from scratch. If you have a pending stamp in your passport, that is just as good as having a complete 'status of residence' stamp as far as immigration is concerned. I had a funny situation last year when I filed for a renewal the day before my expire date, and for over a month had to carry a passport and alien card that in essence said that I was "illegally overstaying", except for the vague and open ended "pending" stamp
Its the person who is going to employ him, and is doing his visa change. Doesn't mean they are paying him yet.

Thanks. I was helpful.

 

[KirinMan]

A "tourist visa" is when you have no visa in your passport, and you are given a short-stay status, where you are allowed to stay in Japan for a short period of time, with restrictions such as you are not allowed to work etc.

It also depends upon the country from which your passport is issued. There was a time when Japanese travelling to the US had to go to the US Embassy or Consulate to apply for a short term, otherwise more commonly known as tourist visa.

Which was attached and stamped into the holders passport.

 

[Ewok85]

It also depends upon the country from which your passport is issued. There was a time when Japanese travelling to the US had to go to the US Embassy or Consulate to apply for a short term, otherwise more commonly known as tourist visa.
Which was attached and stamped into the holders passport.

Japan has agreements with 62 countries (and regions) in regards to the visa waiver. If you aint on the list at the page below, you have to arrange a visa before coming, otherwise you can stay for one to six months depending on the agreement for sightseeing etc.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/02.html