Hi everyone! Long story short, been in Japan almost 8 years, 5 years as a student and soon 3 under the humanities visa. This means I can finally qualify for naturalization.
Just going to put a couple questionings out there before I make any major decisions.
(Would love to hire a lawyer or get some legal help if I had that precious thing called time. Take a day off of work & my company threatens to cut up to 200,000¥. Long story short they already did it once and I went to the labor bureau and got it right back. Thank you labor bureau. Magic. Anyways, that madness aside: )
1. Thinking of taking up a job offer in tourism soon, now that the borders have opened up. However that will mean I quit the company mid contract (not that anyone gives a F) but I’m just wondering how that plays out on paper. Would it look bad when I apply for naturalization in April that I quit this job mid contract? I’ve read some stories where they don’t appreciate it if you don’t have a “stable” job. What is stable?
2. Got a speeding ticket the other day, 55 km/hr on my 50cc scooter. Paid the 12,000 ¥ at the post office. Will this affect my naturalization process? I super doubt it but just want to know.
3. The month that this company cut 200,000¥ from my salary, I had a paycheck with only about 70,000¥. Now I spoke to the immigration one time, and the general understanding is that under the work visa you should make at least 200,000¥ a month. Just wondering if this blunder on the paperwork will come in the way of my application.
4. Finally, and this one is a bit technical, between March 2020 and May 2022 my work visa had expired but I guess due to corona or whatever, it took time to get renewed. But I was told this was okay by immigration. However, the naturalization requirement is that we have stayed in Japan on proper visas consecutively for 5 years + etc. will this gap in my Visa renewal history be a problem?
5. Suppose I do quit this company and just take some time off and call it “shuushoku” for less than 3 months, do those 3 months add up to my “work year” the final few months I’m hoping on counting to show that I’ve been in Japan under work visa? Is being under work visa enough or do I need to hold down a job to validate it?
6. Curious, what’s the naturalization house visit like??
7. Oh there is no seven. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I appreciate all and any advice!!
2 comments
Only your case worker will know what is or isn’t a deal breaker but of course there are some basic things that are common to everyone.
1. For the most part they look for stability so moving companies 3 months before you apply might not be looked favorably.
2. One of the requirements is you’re of good character. Following the law is part of this and this speeding ticket is a negative.
3. This doesn’t matter. They check your yearly income and your savings. Having less than 200k in a month doesn’t matter.
4. If immigration says you’re good and you weren’t overstaying then it should be fine.
5. No, and going back to number 1 this demonstrates instability
6. It’s different depending on your region
1. It’s better you changed now rather than during the process. I think this should be fine, I had changed jobs shortly (<1 year) before I applied. Remember though you will need all the documents from both your previous and new employer. They also have no idea what your ‘contract’ was and what is ‘mid-contract’ so none of that matters.
2. This will definitely affect it, but just one will likely not kill it. Honestly a lot of people applying for naturalizations come from very poor countries and now have quite poorly paying manual labour jobs in Japan so things like income level they don’t actually care so much – more than anything they care about the ‘of good character’ lines in the constitution and they make it extremely clear during the process that even the most minor traffic violations can be grounds for denial. They will make you apply and print out the certificate that shows these violations and you will have to do your best to explain it. Again though just one and no ‘pattern’ should be OK. You better not get another before the end of the process though. My MOJ guy actually suggested I don’t drive at all during the entire process if possible since ‘it’s just not worth the risk.’
3. It’s fine they don’t care. They just want the yearly tax certificates and proof of your current income etc and that won’t even show that.
4. This is fine.
5. This is fine.
6. Didn’t have one just an interview in their office.
7. No worries.