Hello. I’m taking JLPT this coming July and I run into some problem. According to the test voucher and their website, I have to bring either my passport or residency card for proof of identity. However, my residence card is set to expired this month. So my language school took both of my residence card and passport. They said that it will take at least 2 months for the renewal, so there is no chance I am getting it back before July. Leaving me only a photocopied version and an official note from the school explaining that I am currently extending my residency.
Would the copied version be enough? If not, how am I going to deal with this?
11 comments
What. Since you’re supposed to carry your residence card with you at all times, when you get it up for renewal you just get some sticker in your passport or something, you still keep the card. Why is your school holding it.
I would talk to whoever you gave your passport to — arent you supposed to have your residence card on you at all times? and arent you not supposed to give your passport away for extended periods of time? i mean i may be wrong here but it seems like the language school should just take copies of your documents and you should hold onto your real ones
you have to inquire your language school about this and ask them to return your passport and residence card. in fact, you should have your residence card with you all the time regardless of the expiration date, i don’t get why your school needed to hold them for 2 months
It’s illegal for a foreign resident not to carry their residence card. If someone loses their residence card, a passport should be carried until they get a new residence card. Foreigners cannot legally be without identification.
They have no right to take your passport. It’s very suspicious.
The immigration bureau would only need your passport for a few minutes to staple a paper in the back. You never give up your residence card or passport. When you get a new residence card, you trade the old one at the same time.
You’re not supposed to have those taken away when renewing. Heck, I didn’t even have to present mine, just a copy, and I just started my latest renewal this month through my company. Last time, a few years ago, all I did was present it, got a stamp on the car saying ‘in renewal process’ and took it home. Your language school is lying or severely mistaken/uninformed.
They also can’t take your passport and not return it same-day. In my experience, only an embassy can.
Uhh, that is not okay. Go back to your school and tell hem you need your residence card. If they do not give it to you, tell them you will go to the police and report it stolen. If they still do not give it to you, actually go to the police and report it as stolen (go to a real police station, not a koban.) Then take the police report to immigration and get a new residence card.
You’ve already been told this numerous times on this thread… but just in case you need more confirmation – you are NOT supposed to be wandering around Japan if you’re not a citizen without your passport or residence card in your possession. The document that the language school gave you is unlikely to be a legal document that will keep you out of trouble with the police if you are stopped by them. The person who told you at the school that this was enough is unlikely to be a lawyer, or law enforcement official and will not be suffering any consequences if you get stopped by the police and are detained by them. If you plan to do something in the future in Japan (e.g. apply for visa status changes or permanent residency) any trouble with the law will jeopardize this as it’s basically the first thing the immigration officials look at.
So, get at least one (preferably both) documents back from the school. For the sake of your fellow students, you might want to let them know about this issue too. Try not to be the only one who appears to be ‘causing trouble’ in your school. Try to be polite and professional when getting your documents back – it’s more than likely ignorance of the law on the part of the school and nothing malicious. They are probably tired of chasing after people for documents and thought their ‘solution’ saved them time with realizing the consequences of their actions.
SOURCE: I helped perform HR functions in a Japanese-owned company in Japan for 16+ years.
When I renewed my student visa many years ago the school was also taking charge of everything. They collected all students passports and residence cards for a full day and gave them back to us the next day with a stamp on the back of our card. They are not supposed to hold onto your ID for 2 months!
Just ask your school for it back. Say that you need it to take the JLPT. That should fix your issue.
Might want to let the language school know that it’s illegal for you to walk around without your residency card. If the cops stop you, and you don’t have it, you could be detained.
For visa renewal stuff, your school should only need your passport and residence card for like… 1-3 days. The agency I used for my HSP visa renewal and my PR application held my documents for less than a week before mailing them back to me.
It strikes me as somewhere between suspiciously coercive and and incompetent that they’d keep them for weeks. I would push them to have you retain your documents as much as possible, and just give the documents to the school when they actually need them.