Hello, I was wondering if anyone could help me with a question. I currently hold a tourist visa in Japan, and my Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application has been submitted. I have about two months left on my visa. I tried searching for the answer online, but I keep getting redirected to unrelated topics. I contacted immigration, and they mentioned that my tourist visa should not impact my application, provided I apply for the visa outside of Japan (though their confidence seemed uncertain). Assuming I apply for the visa outside of Japan, can I safely remain within Japan? Appreciate your assistance.
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This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
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**Can I stay in Japan on a tourist visa while my COE is processed?**
Hello, I was wondering if anyone could help me with a question. I currently hold a tourist visa in Japan, and my Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application has been submitted. I have about two months left on my visa. I tried searching for the answer online, but I keep getting redirected to unrelated topics. I contacted immigration, and they mentioned that my tourist visa should not impact my application, provided I apply for the visa outside of Japan (though their confidence seemed uncertain). Assuming I apply for the visa outside of Japan, can I safely remain within Japan? Appreciate your assistance.
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If immigration themselves cannot answer your question with any certainty we definitely can’t do so.
We can speculate, but that’s all we can do.
Unless you’re planning on going on a crime spree there shouldn’t be any issues. Bear in mind that you’ll need to return ***home*** to apply for your visa. Generally embassies only process visas for citizens or legal residents of the country they’re located in, so it’s not a case of “fly to Korea/Thailand/Vietnam”
If it was an application for a CoE (and not a request to change your status) then the application will have no bearing on your current status as a tourist. Just make sure you follow the date on the stamp in your passport. It is possible for someone to get a 5 year multiple entry visa for temporary stays, and it is worth remembering that while that visa may be valid for 5 years each stay still has much shorter max (up to 90 days, usually decided on entry).
If you were applying for a change of status (which outside of some specific exceptions is not applicable to those here as a tourist) then you could expect a two month extention to your current status pending processing of the change of status request.
Once the CoE is issued though you’d need to take it to a country where you’re a legal resident in order to apply for the visa to come back. I see in another reply that you hold permanent residence in South Korea, which is probably the most convenient place for you (make sure you book your appointment in advance).