How long to leave Japan to renew VISA?

[Elizabeth]

Thanks Mike, thats what I will do, now onward with the visa quest...

Apply at the post office for a passport. Ooops....is that "visa" before or after you've actually landed a job ? lol

Jeez, if anybody ever reads this in the future, feel free to email or PM me to figure out how this all panned out (make sure to put Japan something in the subject), Im learing a lot, and have a lot more to go Im sure.

Threads seem to get buried pretty quickly around here nowadays. Better check back in to educate us all yourself when you have a chance .

 

[Glenski]

is that "visa" before or after you've actually landed a job ? lol

Passport first. Willing employer second. Visa next.

 

[SNMP]

Thanks everybody who offered information from my original post 'How long to leave Japan to renew visa?'
Checking in to let you know what I have learned:
Ok, so I did not go through all the old posts again, but I just wanted to check back in to say that I ended up living in Japan for a year, while I ended up being sponsored and didnt need to leave and come back to renew my visa, I met MANY people who had done this, and yes, it is still an option. I have heard mixed reviews on how long you need to leave for, and I'm sure you can read more about that here, but if you leave for a weekend, it is supposedly sufficient. If you try it multiple times, they may question you and you need a valid reason to support you returning, like visiting family, or whatnot. but it can be done.

 

[Clee]

90 day Tourist waiver

Hello there,
Sorry if I am reiterating anything; the comments left here seems the same....but I'm actually wondering if it's necessary to have a Multiple Re-entry permit to re-enter Japan IF one is a *tourist* (thus no gaijin card)- I currently have a 90 day tourist waiver from the U.S. and I'm seeking to renew my status at the end of March. (So it will be good for April-June).
From what I've read and been told, all I need to do is fly to Korea/ Taipei/ Hong Kong for a weekend and it will renew my tourist status.
I believe I do not need a Multiple Re-entry permit to get back in from Korea- or do I?
Some ppl have said it's "better" to get it even though I am a tourist, but I'm confused because the Tokyo Immigration Office states that in order to apply for the re-entry permit, one needs a Gaijin card- so why would it be "better" for me to have one, since it's impossible to get one in the first place?
Disregarding the re-entry (single/ multiple) permits, I'm trying to see how hard it is to come back after spending one weekend in another country?
Has anyone tried this (as Visitor) and was your experience mild/ extreme?
Thank you so much in advance!!
Sincerely,
C. Lee
Oh! This is going on another tangent, but....I'm also wondering if anyone has advice on applying for a student visa? or the ARC thing (sorry if I am missing the obvious- I will reread the thread).
My tourist status will expire on April 5th... if I wanted to stay longer 6 months (and avoiding re-entering for a 2nd/3rd time- too risky)
how do I go about applying for a student visa? Can one do it separate from the school (I do not think so- but my school only authorizes minimum of 1 yr students- it's weird, I know...the Immigration Office was confused too, but I asked my school about this specifically so there is no doubt)
But then if this is the case, how does one apply/ obtain a visa (not working, not teaching) without sponsorship? I cannot get a Cultural visa.... is there another visa available for people who wish to study the language, but are not working and cannot get sponsored?
Any information is appreciated!!!
In any case, if you answer whether or not I need a re-entry permit - being visitor- to come back in Japan....that would be great!
Thanks!

 

[tokyosubway]

Temporary Visitors don't get re-entry permits.

Essentially if you are leaving and coming back you are getting a new temporary visitor permit, not a renewed/extended one.
The people working at immigration are not dumb and they can spot a visa runner when they see one, as you know its all digitized now, they have your fingerprints and photos and know exactly when you first came and the last time you left.

Also this is up to the discretion of the Immigration Officer to let you back in or not, they can deny you entry if they wanted to. Temporary Visitor's permits are not as "secured" as having another visa with a re-entry permit.

I don't know who told you it was "better" to get an Alien Registration card only as a temporary visitor, because you still have to surrender it when you leave the country, you are still a temporary visitor status and it doesn't help at all.

As for student visas, you need a school to be your sponsor, and for a school to be your sponsor that usually means admission and paying tuition (typically for language schools up to six months worth of admission).

You need a sponsor for a visa. You can be self sponsored if you have lived in Japan for a few years, and show you have sufficient income and contribute to Japanese society. But you probably don't fit into this category.

The only other way to get a visa...get married. Otherwise you're quite out of luck. Of course, why not apply to the school for one year, but leave early after 6 months (since thats how long you stated you wanted to stay).

 

[Glenski]

Thanks everybody who offered information from my original post 'How long to leave Japan to renew visa?'
Checking in to let you know what I have learned:
Ok, so I did not go through all the old posts again, but I just wanted to check back in to say that I ended up living in Japan for a year, while I ended up being sponsored and didnt need to leave and come back to renew my visa, I met MANY people who had done this, and yes, it is still an option.

Who actually says people have to leave? The telling is in the details here. Since I last posted on this thread, and perhaps a year or two earlier, most people have not had to do that.

Fess up. I am willing to bet that some rookie immigration clown is to blame.
I'm actually wondering if it's necessary to have a Multiple Re-entry permit to re-enter Japan IF one is a *tourist*

Only certain countries actually have tourist visas. You're American, Clee, so you don't. Your passport is enough to qualify you as a tourist, and no, you don't need a reentry permit.

Disregarding the re-entry (single/ multiple) permits, I'm trying to see how hard it is to come back after spending one weekend in another country?
Has anyone tried this (as Visitor) and was your experience mild/ extreme?

Picture immigration. How do you think an immigration official will think if he sees you were here, then gone for a weekend, then back again. I'm sure he will be a little suspicious. Depending on how much time you were here initially, the whole issue may be moot, as you are allowed 90 days total time as an American tourist. Don't be surprised if someone asks you, though, what you did in Korea. Have a sound answer, and an answer as to why you are back instead of adjusting your schedule differently to avoid this bouncing back and forth.

Student visa stuff.
If you want one, you will need to be accepted by a school first. Once that is done, you will apply together to get the visa. I really don't think your timing is good, but give it a shot.

You want to stay 6 months more. Is it asking too much to inquire why? That will certainly be something an immigration officer would want to know! As for your school "authorizes only a minimum of 1 yr students", why can't you sign up for that? You don't have to stay the whole 12 months, you know. What do you mean by "my school", too?

how does one apply/ obtain a visa (not working, not teaching) without sponsorship? I cannot get a Cultural visa.... is there another visa available for people who wish to study the language, but are not working and cannot get sponsored?

Why can't you get a cultural activities visa? Get a master craftsman to sponsor you to study under him. That's all it takes.

If you want to study the language, get a student visa.
If this is somehow out of the question, then ask immigration if it is ok for you to study (please explain where!) on a Temporary Visitor's Visa, which is good for 90 days or 15 days, immigration's discretion).
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html
The description doesn't say that is what it is for, and in fact you would really have to apply for the Precollege Student visa (which, in case "your school" doesn't realize it, is valid for either 6 months or a year) if you want to attend a language school. You could do it on a tourist status, too, but obviously you seem to need to stay longer to do that, so get the visa.

Work visas require sponsorship from employers. Same with trainee visas.

You don't seem to have any other choices.

 

[Clee]

Thank you Glenski for your information. To clarify a few things (my question was two-fold and a little complicated to phrase which is why I didn't explain earlier):
I actually am attending a language school. I started Jan 6th and it will end March 19th. I plan to depart the country for 5 days, and come back to start the 2nd term on April 6th- June 19th.
When I applied to the school back in December, I asked them all about the student visa, and that it was a minimum of 6 months; but they told me that Kichijoji Language School (the school I'm attending now) only sponsors students that are attending their school for 1 year.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay the whole year; the complication was that if I had paid for the year's tuition and changed my mind, I would not get a refund. Their policy is once tuition is paid, there are no refunds, period.
This is why I couldn't do what Tokyosubyway was suggesting.

I know immigration are clever people; this is why I'm trying to figure out how difficult/easy it is to go away and come back- because unfortunately, this is exactly what my school was suggesting and now I am a bit worried. They said people do it all the time, but it seems more like a hit or miss, depending on which officer I run into...
Anyway, thank you for your advice and I will keep this in mind.

 

[Glenski]

I actually am attending a language school. I started Jan 6th and it will end March 19th.

Ok, so you already have a pre-college student visa, right?

What is the expiration date on it?

I plan to depart the country for 5 days, and come back to start the 2nd term on April 6th- June 19th.

For which you will need a reentry permit that you can buy at immigration, if you haven't already done so. Cost about 4000 yen. This lets you return to Japan without losing your visa status.

When I applied to the school back in December, I asked them all about the student visa, and that it was a minimum of 6 months; but they told me that Kichijoji Language School (the school I'm attending now) only sponsors students that are attending their school for 1 year.

Well, fine, that's who they sponsor, but the fact is that the student visa is issued by immigration and not your school, and the school has no authority in asking for a 1-year or a 6-month student visa. They can ask, but that's all. You get what immigration decides.

So, I ask again... what is the expiration date on your visa? That will tell us whether you got a 1-year or 6-month student visa.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay the whole year; the complication was that if I had paid for the year's tuition and changed my mind, I would not get a refund.

Ok, fine. That's finances and tuition, and it has nothing to do with the visa you get.