Japan Visa Renewal - 1 or 3 Years: A Coin Flip?
For the last several years, I’ve renewed my visa at the Yokohama Immigration Office in Motomachi. While the process was fairly painless for me until last year, I was always disappointed to receive a one-year visa each time. Several friends and acquaintances had received three-year visas through the Shinagawa office by that time and I wondered if getting a one-year stamp vs. getting a three-year one was simply a matter of where you dropped off your application. Had I been able to last year, I would’ve at Shinagawa. However, my official address was in Kawasaki City (right on the border of Tokyo) so I had to go to a Kanagawa Prefecture branch of Immigration.
Last year, the renewal process was particularly painful because, due to a nasty phone call, there was an investigation concerning my eligibility to remain in Japan on a work visa. I sweated for over two months wondering whether I would lose my permission to reside in Japan and would suddenly be sent home. It was like my life was frozen at that point. I couldn’t make any plans at all. I just had to sit and wait. It dragged on through my summer vacation, which sucked ass because I was afraid to spend any money on travel or entertainment for fear of having to have as much in savings as possible in case I was suddenly required to return home. I won’t go into details about the circumstances surrounding the fateful phone call, but let it be known that immigration horror stories do happen.
Anyway, since I had changed my address last year to a downtown Tokyo one, I was able to apply at Shinagawa this year. I applied this year with confidence, thinking I would likely get a three-year visa this time, allowing me to not have to hassle with Immigration until 2012. Part of the reason I was so confident comes from a co-worker’s experience with both Yokohama and Shinagawa. He had told me that every time he applied with Yokohama, he received a one-year visa, but the first time he applied at Shinagawa, he got the three-year number.
Well, I’m here to tell you today that I now have the same experience my co-worker has; I received a nice, fresh three-year stamp in my passport today.
I guess in the long run, going the immigration office once a year vs. once every three years isn’t really worth much discussion, but I am definitely relieved to not have to worry about the visa renewal process until 2012.
Anyway, for those of you who are now residing in the land of the rising sun, or who have done so in the past, here’s a poll to see if there is some merit to my assumption that you’re more likely to receive a three-year Japan work visa at Shinagawa than Yokohama.
[poll id="11"]
An American living in Tokyo. Can be seen bounding through Shinjuku Station most mornings, teeth gnashing, eyes bulging, a cup of cheap coffee clenched in one fist and a satchel in the other. God help those who don't see him coming.
July 13th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Heh, I’ll let you know in a month or 2 - gotta renew for the first time this month. I came in with a 3-year visa, but as my work sitch has changed I’m not sure what’ll happen. It will be at Shinagawa though, so fingers crossed.
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July 13th, 2009 at 10:34 am
as far as i’m aware (and i may be completely wrong), immigration policy is to give everyone a one-year visa for the first two years of their stay. On the third application, they are able to grant a three-year visa at this point but they do look at factors such as whether you’ve changed jobs, address etc and may only approve a one-year extension if they feel your circumstances are variable. Most people i know usually get offered the three-year visa by the end of the second or third one-year extension… these people are all applying in shinagawa though.
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July 13th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I used to live in Yokohama and they gave me a three-year visa, but when that expired, they inexplicably gave me a 1 year visa.
Then I moved to Tokyo where I recently got a 3 year visa again.
I think it’s totally random what you get!
A 3 year via is nice, though. I’m tempted to quit my job and go backpacking for 2 years, then return. It’s nice knowing that’s an option!
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July 13th, 2009 at 11:02 am
From what I’ve seen it’s all random.
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July 13th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I wonder how much their decision is influenced by the applicant’s Japanese language ability. I’d be pretty screwed if I didn’t automatically get 3 years with the spouse visa…
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July 13th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
@Darg:
Yeah, I’m sure you’ll get another 3-year pass.
@upstairs for thinking:
Actually, almost every newbie I meet these days comes over with a 3-year visa. I have a feeling that since the implementation of the airport fingerprinting program, they’re not feeling the need to be as strict about visa validity periods.
Still, the Yokohama office sucks ass, IMO.
@Roaf:
Just another reason why I’m glad I moved to Tokyo.
@Sixmats:
A lot of people think so.
@David:
Unless they’re doing the language ability checks during the few moments that applicants are at the counter, there’s no process for gauging Japanese ability going on that I know about.
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July 13th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Well, I got a three year visa due to a gal that I am married to. My lawyer says he might be able to get me a permanent visa when it comes time to renew again; I don`t know about that.
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July 13th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
It seems no one in Yokohama gets a 3 year stamp. We only can guess why. But tell me, aren’t you willing at all to talk about that nasty phone call?
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July 14th, 2009 at 12:24 am
My experience is the same as what upstairs for thinking said. Anyway, I decided to write a 3 instead of a 1 on my renewal form and that was that.
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July 14th, 2009 at 12:28 am
@freedom:
I’ve heard of foreigners married to Japanese nationals getting PR after only 5 years. Supposedly, the standard for everyone else is 10 years. Can’t confirm, though.
@Antonio:
Sorry, can’t disclose those details
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July 14th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Hyogo (Kobe) seems to work like this.
Your first visa you’ll get a one year. Everyone after that you’ll get a 3 year one. I think they are more liberal about giving visas to western Europeans and Americans however. I changed my visa from tourist to specialist in humanities in country even. (Something they say they won’t do.)
Gotta get the 配偶者 then your set. Since I got mine last year I’ve been free from any visa worries.
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July 14th, 2009 at 5:04 am
@freedomwv Why do you need a lawyer? From what I understand you can file all those papers yourself.
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July 14th, 2009 at 5:06 am
I live in Saitama, but still went to the Shinagawa office. There was no restriction on that for me. Got a three year as well. Everyone I know did. If you ask for the 3 year you seem to get it in Shinagawa.
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July 14th, 2009 at 5:23 am
I got a 3-year VISA all 3 times I applied. Never once got a 1-year VISA. All applications were done at Shinagawa.
Time for me to look into PR I guess. What are the advantages of PR?
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July 14th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Three years at Shinagawa straight off the bat (conversion from temporary to working visa).
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July 14th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
@Brand X:
Had a 3-year request on my papers every time at Yokohama, but never got it there.
@David:
I’m sure you’re happily married, but I’ve gotta be free and single, baby!
@Jordan:
That supports my belief that almost everyone going through Shinagawa gets the 3-year jobbie.
@Billy:
I guess the biggest advantage of PR would be not having to apply for a visa extension anymore. However, I believe you’d still be required to get a re-entry permit every time you leave the country and stand in the monkey line when you come back, along with the rest of us knuckle-draggers
@Mr.Penguin:
I believe your demeanor as a fine, upstanding gentleman helped things along for you.
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July 14th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
First couple of times I kept getting a one year visa at the Yokohama Branch. Then just last year I got a three year visa all at the same office.
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July 15th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
My story is exactly the same as yours McAlpine
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July 20th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
it absolutely seems random. My friends and I lived in Kansai. Some of us who lived in Osaka (like myself) got 3 years and some didn’t. Same for the guys in Kyoto. We tried to figure it out ourselves. Some suggested that maybe those of us who got 3 year visas were more polite. It certainly wasn’t because we spoke better Japanese. Congrats on your 3 year visa!
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July 20th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
@McAlpine and Locohama:
Glad to hear the Yokohama office finally did you a solid.
@Liv:
From what I hear, things seem to be more random in Kansai. Guess there’s some truth to that, eh?
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July 23rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
From a 1 year visa, I applied again for another 1 year (as per company instruction) but Yokohama immigration gave me 3 years. Guess I was lucky?
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August 4th, 2009 at 5:00 am
I live in Hyogo and I came over with a 3-year visa.
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September 23rd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
It has nothing to do with your Japanese language ability. They have no way of testing it and don’t try to tax your speaking when accepting or dealing with your application.
It’s based on the whim of the person processing the application form and how your stability is viewed. People who remain with the same company and at the same address are viewed more favorably than those who change jobs a lot or move around frequently. The greater your stability, the higher the chances of a 3-year visa.
That being said, it really is down the the officer who processes the application (who probably isn’t even the one who accepts it at the counter).
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October 4th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
>What are the advantages of PR (Permanent Resident Visa)?
Well, I haven’t had to go to the immigration office for years…and never will have to go again (unless I want to go overseas on holiday (a “Re-entry Permit” is still needed)).
Actually, I’m considering Naturalization now.
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November 9th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Same thing here. A coworker and I went in to get renewals at the same time. He got a three year, I got a one year. It makes no sense at all.
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February 28th, 2010 at 8:00 am
I know the post is old, but I have had 3 consecutive 3y visas through Yokohama, no trouble. Oh, I suppose I must have got the first before I arrived, so it’s only been 2×3y renewals here.
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May 18th, 2010 at 8:11 am
I applied for a 3 years visa and now waiting for my hagaki ..how many weeks it will take?
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Billy W Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 11:52 am
You should get it within a month. Usually it’s only about two weeks.
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