Hi there, quick question about the timeline of Status of Residency changes.
I’ll be leaving the my job as an ALT on July 31, but I’ll be staying in the country for another few weeks to travel around Japan. While my Zairyu card isn’t expiring this year, I want to switch my visa from Instructor to Tourist since I won’t technically have an address in Japan.
Does anyone know how long this process takes? I’ve read that I need to go into Immigration twice (once one month before you need the Tourist Visa, and once when you actually pick it up), but I also read an article from a JET in 2012 who was able to get their Visa switched the day of (they went into Immigration, asked for the Visa, gave the form and payment, then walked out with their Tourist Visa about 1.5 hours later).
Has anyone done this recently? What’s the timeline like? Ideally, I’d like to just go to Immigration, have it switched, then not have to go back.
Thanks for the help!
4 comments
Switching to a temporary visitor visa from a work visa takes only one visit to immigration, same day.
The wait just depends on how many people are ahead of you. If you go right when Immigration opens and there isn’t much people waiting, you could be out sooner (definitely less than an hour).
I’d take any stories of immigration getting anything done in one day with about a metric ton of salt.
Not saying it’s not doable, but I wouldn’t expect it.
My supervisor called up the immigration offices in Sakata about this.
The form needs to be filled out/sent in advance, which includes your flight details and your travel plans (which I haven’t gotten yet because I still haven’t had my flights booked because we’re still waiting for the BoE and-) and then go in on your last day to have the visa changed.
We had an outgoing ALT who needed to do the same thing, and it took like 2-3 weeks to get it processed. I recommend starting early just in case.