So I’m ending in a few months after having done multiple years and I have to decide on my dates for the one way flight home very soon. I actually have renewed my visa however, as an instructor, for an additional 3 years and I’ll still technically have 2 years left on it after ending the contract.
I am starting job hunting in Japan and ideally I’ll have a next job sorted before the contract ends and I have to move out but I know there’s a good chance things won’t go so smoothly. I’m also switching job type altogether so the ‘instructor’ visa will need changing, but I don’t know much in detail.
I’d like to visit home as I haven’t in a few years, but I don’t wanna leave the country before I get a job settled and get re-entry into Japan worries out of the way. Right now I’m considering asking my BOE what the latest possible flight they’d book for me is, get that ticket and only take that flight in the case that I have my new job. If I don’t, I just won’t use the ticket.
I also will ask them if they would just give me the money for the ticket so I could just book when I’m ready for it but I don’t expect them to say yes 😅 doesn’t hurt to ask though.
If I take the flight home without a new job to renew my visa type, am I giving up my visa? I’ve heard such statements but I wonder if that’s because the majority of people leave JET at the same time that their visa expires anyway? Mine recently was renewed so I assume I at least have the extra 3 month job-junt period if not the full remaining 2 years. Can I return to Japan with this same residence card?
Also, if I change my visa type will they recalculate my expiration date or will it be the same remaining 2 years, just no longer as an instructor?
Also I am aware there’s a ‘no new job within a month’ thing but I don’t intend on explicitly telling my BOE about this. They are already kinda aware though but they’re being cool/quiet about it. Tbh there’s a good chance my next job won’t start until a month+ after anyway.
Can anyone advise me on this situation?
2 comments
If you take your flight home without finding a new job, you are not giving up your visa. You are obligated to let immigration know about no longer working if your visa is still valid, within two weeks (I think) of your job ending.
You are then expected to undertake reasonable activities to find a jew job, with immigration having the right to revoke your visa if you don’t find one within a reasonable time frame. Realistically though, they’re not very likely to pursue that course of action, especially with covid ongoing and the various visa rules being in a more relaxed state, and with you with actively job hunting.
If you change your visa status with your new job, you will get a new period of stay (could be longer or shorter than what you have), the duration of which will be decided by the immigration office based on your application.
Hope that helps!
Funnily enough I’m in the exact same situation as you. Leaving JET with 2 years left on work visa, planning to stay in Japan and currently job hunting but wanting to visit home over summer. I’ve done a lot of looking into it because I had similar concerns about the visa situation.
No your work visa won’t become void if you take the fight home. Yes you can re-enter Japan. Just fill in the re-entry permission slip at the airport. Work visas aren’t tied to specific jobs. They’re just contingent on you being engaged in “work related activities” and being able to financially support yourself. You get 90 days from leaving employment before immigration can start to look into you, but if you are actively engaged in job hunting that counts as “work related activity”. So even if you don’t secure a new job before you visit home, you can come back to Japan and continue job hunting on your current visa (in theory until it expires, although if you’re still unemployed after 2 years i’m pretty sure immigration would get suspicious 😅)
If you manage to secure a job before you visit home, you will have to switch work visa categories before you can start (of course you already know this). Note: you can’t switch work category without a job offer. You need evidence from your new employer that you will be engaging in that category of work. The application typically takes 4-6weeks to process. There’s nothing to stop you leaving the country while it’s processing, but if any issues with the paperwork crop up it is easier if you’re in the country. When you get your new residence card, your period of residency will reset from the date the new card was issued. Unfortunately it’s very common to only get 1 year when changing visa category which kind of sucks but is what it is.