Will I be able to receive a pension refund?

[Faulkner]

I've been working in Japan for the past three years, first on JET and then at a private school, making pension payments. I'm heading back to the states at the end of this month, canceling my work visa and turning in my gaijin card. A week later, however, I'm coming back on a new student visa for the MEXT program.
As far as I can tell, I meet all of the technical requirements to receive a pension refund. I plan on submitting the application as soon as I get back to the US. Will returning to Japan on a brand new visa keep my application from being processed? Since I won't be working or making pension payments for 3+ years as a student, this is my only chance to get my last three years of contributions refunded...
Thanks for any insight you can provide.

 

[Mike Cash]

Go the the pension fund office for your local area. Probably located in City Hall. They will have all the information and forms you need.

 

[Glenski]

Follow the guidelines from JET to get your lump-sum pension withdrawal.

Will returning to Japan on a brand new visa keep my application from being processed?

Hard to say. Ask the ward office. Expect a lot of teeth sucking and head twisting. Keep calm. You probably already know that you have 2 years to get that lump-sum, and that you are technically supposed to leave the country.
http://www.sia.go.jp/e/pdf/english.pdf

I suspect that handing in your alien card and canceling your visa will be seen as positive things, but who can say what the government thinks since you are not actually leaving permanently? Perhaps being discreet is in order.

Good luck.