Hi Ladies

I have two questions relating to visas and thought I’d start here…

1) I am currently working as an English teacher (in an eikaiwa), and I have a 3 year visa.  On my visa it says “Speacialist in humanities/International services”. I’ve been looking around for another job and hoping that, perhaps in the future if not now, I could work in a regular company (eg. publishing) NOT teaching. If so, does anyone know what kind of visa I would need for that? (http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/visa/visa-work.html) It’s all very confusing…

2) My current Alien Card expires on 22nd March, but my current working contract expires on 13th April.  Therefore, are my company required to sponsor the renewal of my visa, even if I don’t renew my contract with them??

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

Ali

Hi Ali,

The most common visa that is issued is the Specialist in humanities (etc) visa.  It covers such a broad range of job titles.  I have this visa too and my job description/contract is for admin, international communications, contracts etc for a software company.  So unless you get a job as a specialist like a software engineer then a job in a publisher will probably be the same visa. 

To answer your second question, currently the Alien card is separate from your visa. So I would just renew your alien card on the 22 March and if you change jobs or visa status then update your alien card after the fact. Note that any time you make a change to your visa or living situation you need to update your alien card - eg marriage, change of address, change of jobs. This is usually just an added line on the back of the card. For renewing the card,  I would suggest that you renew you alien card earlier rather than later as it can take a while.  So aim for end of Feb to go in.  This will change in 2012 I think but for the moment just do it this way. 

If you change jobs before the end of your current visa, you new employer _should_ sponsor a new visa for you as soon as you start.  But mostly what happens is that they will wait until the current visa is up for renewal.  It all depends if your current visa sponsor informs immigration that you have left their employ or not. Mostly they wouldn’t be bothered but you might work for a company who does this. Remember that your visa is linked to your employer rather than you. When changing employers and you are getting a new visa, it takes longer than renewing an existing visa so leave extra time.  You can’t leave the country on even a holiday if your visa status is in renewal or updating.  Just be aware of this. 

Please note that I am not a lawyer or an expert so treat this free advice with the same caution as you would with all other free advice. 

Thanks for the detailed reply, Tracey!

You said:

Tracey - 16 July 2010 04:17 PM

To answer your second question, currently the Alien card is separate from your visa. So I would just renew your alien card on the 22 March and if you change jobs or visa status then update your alien card after the fact. Note that any time you make a change to your visa or living situation you need to update your alien card - eg marriage, change of address, change of jobs. This is usually just an added line on the back of the card. For renewing the card,  I would suggest that you renew you alien card earlier rather than later as it can take a while.  So aim for end of Feb to go in.  This will change in 2012 I think but for the moment just do it this way. 

I don’t understand how the alien card is separate from the visa, though? My visa doesn’t actually have a date on it, just a date of issue (Feb 08), date of expry (May 08) and “for stay of 3 years”.  So does that mean that I need to have a new visa by May 2011??

I know you’re not a lawyer or anything, but thanks so much for the free advice! It’s nice to have somewhere to begin when asking all these questions!

Is what you’re calling your ‘visa’ something you got outside of Japan at an embassy/consulate, that you showed to the immigration guy/girl at the airport when you arrived?

When most people say ‘visa’ here, they mean what is technically called your ‘status of residence’.  Your alien registration card has that info on it, but the expiration date of the card is usually after the expiration date of your status of residence, so you usually renew the card & extend your status of residence at different times.  Hope that makes sense

If you aren’t renewing your contract with your current company, then I don’t think they’re required to sponsor your visa extension (extension of status of residence).  I think your new employer would have to sponsor your extension.

Anners - 22 July 2010 02:44 PM

Is what you’re calling your ‘visa’ something you got outside of Japan at an embassy/consulate, that you showed to the immigration guy/girl at the airport when you arrived?

When most people say ‘visa’ here, they mean what is technically called your ‘status of residence’.  Your alien registration card has that info on it, but the expiration date of the card is usually after the expiration date of your status of residence, so you usually renew the card & extend your status of residence at different times.  Hope that makes sense

If you aren’t renewing your contract with your current company, then I don’t think they’re required to sponsor your visa extension (extension of status of residence).  I think your new employer would have to sponsor your extension.

Thanks for this comment.  The thing I’m calling my “visa” is indeed the thing in my passport that I got in England. This whole visa/alien card thing is mighty confusing!  I guess this leaves me with one questions still: if I don’t renew with my current company, but my contract with them is until after my “visa” has expired, doesn’t that mean I would be working for them illegally if I stay there? Wouldn’t they have to either change my contract or sponsor my “visa”?? 

Yeah, if your contract with your current employer is longer than the period of your visa, it sounds like you’ll either have to extend your visa with them as the sponsor, or stop working for them before your visa expires, even if your contract is still valid.

Immigration is actually pretty helpful if you call them or make the trek down to Shinagawa (if you are in Tokyo) to ask for advice.  They can probably help you much more than I can!

Renewing an existing visa is super easy.

Just get the forms, fill them out, get the company to add the company details and drop it down to immigration with your passport, a copy of the current contract from the company as well as your last years tax statement (issued to you by the company in around Jan.)  I do suggest that you keep photo copies of these forms etc so you have something to refer to when you next renew - saves a heap of time as you just copy what you wrote last time.

Then just wait for a few weeks until they send your postcard and then head back to immigration get the new stamp in your passport.  Make sure you get a new re-entry stamp at the same time to save yourself a trip.

After it is all done, take your passport with the new shiny visa to the ward office and they will update your Alien card just by writing the new details on the back.  You don’t need a new card unless this expires.

Thanks everyone!!