Visa Renewal and Status of Residence

From HyogoAJET

Note: The Alien Registration system will be abolished in summer 2012 and will be replaced by a new Residency system. Please view the following Ministry of Justice pamphlet for more details: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/pdf/NewResidencyManagementSystem-%28EN%29.pdf

This page will be updated when we have more information on how the changes pertain to JETs.

Renewing Your Visa

Your visa is the sticker in your passport that contains your Period of Stay and Status of Residence information. Essentially, it is what permits you to work in your role as a JET in Japan. If you are staying on the JET Program for more than three years or are one of the few JETs who received a one-year visa, you will need to apply for an Extension of Period of Stay before your current visa expires.

The visa renewal process is fairly complex and requires quite a bit of preparation beforehand, so it is very important to know exactly what is required before you start. Be sure to check the latest edition of the General Information Handbook for information on the process and required documents, and ask your school or Contracting Organization if you have any questions. It is also worthwhile to start the process as early as possible, as it can take up to a month to complete and can only be started two months before your visa expires.

The Renewal Process

If you need to renew your visa you should be informed of this by your Contracting Organization/school in April or May, just after the notification that your recontracting request has been accepted. At this point you will not actually be able to submit an application for visa renewal, as these are only accepted in the 2 month period before your visa actually expires. This means that Group A participants will need to wait until late May/early June and Group B participants until early to mid June before applying.

While you are waiting it's a good idea to start collecting the documentation that you will need to submit with your application. First and foremost is the Application for Extension of Period of Stay form. This is available for download from the Japanese Ministry of Justice's website. To avoid delays, make sure that you download, print and fill this form out before you go to the Immigration Office to lodge your application. In particular, the third sheet of this form, "For organization, part 1", needs to be completed by your school and stamped with the school's stamp (not your principal's stamp).

Aside from the application form, a variety of supporting documents are also required. A complete list of these can be found in the General Information Handbook. Additional information for some of the more cryptic documents, based on the experiences of Hyogo JETs who renewed their visas in 2010, is provided below. Be sure to ask your Contracting Organization/school for clarification if you are unsure about any of the required documents.

- Request Form - The official document that shows the need for you to renew your visa. Hyogo BOE JETs can use the letter sent to their school requesting that they renew their visa.
- Re-contracting Intention Form - The letter that is sent to your school to inform you that your recontracting request has been accepted and that you will therefore be working as a JET for the next JET year.
- Terms & Conditions - The T&C of your contract in both English and Japanese. You should receive a copy of these each year along with your Letter of Appointment (see below).
- Letter of Appointment - The official document that proves that you are employed by your Contracting Organization. This should be a small, white card with 人事通知書 written at the top and a red stamp at the bottom right.
- Statement of Earning & Proof of Tax Payment - This is generally a small receipt that you receive with your pay slip in either May or June of each year. It provides a summary of the amount that you earnt and the amount that was deducted in tax for the previous financial year. It is probably white with blue text.

Once you have collected all of the documentation and you have entered your visa's renewal period, simply head to your nearest Immigration Office and lodge your application. There is a small chance that you will be able to receive your visa on the same day, but if not you will be asked to write your address on a post card which will be posted to you when your visa is ready. You will then have to visit the Immigration Office once more to have the visa put into your passport. Renewing a visa costs 4,000 yen, which is payable in revenue stamps (not cash) when you collect it. You can purchase revenue stamps from certain post offices/convenience stores near the Immigration Office you visit.

As an aside, remember that there is a clause in your contract (for Hyogo BOE JETs, at least) that provides for Special Leave to deal with visa matters, so discuss this with your school and avoid having to use your precious annual leave!

The final step in the process is to take your passport and alien registration card to your city hall as soon as possible to have the new visa information registered.

What Happens to My Re-Entry Permit?

Any re-entry permits you have in your passport will expire when your visa does. If you wish to travel and return to Japan on your new visa you must purchase a new single use or multiple use re-entry permit after you have received your new visa.

Staying In Japan After JET

If you are planning to change your visa to a temporary stay visa, this can only be done about one week before your visa expires. This is because you're not supposed to work after you've changed the status. Note as well that you're not guaranteed to be able to get this change done in one day.

Also, if you are going to stay in Japan after JET then be sure you check out Post-JET Visa Advice.

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Visas, etc.	Immigration Offices ・ Visa Renewal and Status of Residence ・ Reentry Permits ・ Renewing Your Passport ・ Post-JET Visa Advice ・ Temporary Visitor Visa
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