Mission to get a 3 Year Visa

14 comments

1. I came in 2016, I had gotten one year extensions then magically this year they gave me 3. I have friends who got 5 from the start 🫠 I legit don’t know how it works.

2. Don’t know if this matters or works for anyone, but I looked at the point system for HSP visa and added any documents that were worth points. Used it for inspiration to add stuff that made me look good.

   I started with a one year marriage visa, second one was a 5 year one.

   Edit: also added cover letters for stuff. Staff seemed to like those and complimented me on how put together my application looked

3. how many year did you wrote in desired year in application form?

4. I went 1 – 3 – 5 (all spouse) and when I got the 3 year one I didn’t even have a Japan income.

   It’s a crapshoot for all I know, but what I did that might have helped was:

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   1. Have a very organized application. I had a folio with each document requested clearly labeled with a paperclip and small note in Japanese explaining the contents.
   2. Attach a short letter iin Japanese explaining why you want to stay in Japan and long-term plans.
   3. Show up to the immigration office well-presented and act professionally when speaking to the officer. If you can speak some japanese, try your best to do so.
   4. If you can, go to a less busy office. I live in Kyoto, but instead of going to the Kyoto or Osaka offices, I went to the one in Otsu which is much more relaxed.

5. Why can’t you get a phone contract? Yes, your income is too low to justify giving you more than 1 year, or your job is on a year to year contract basis which makes you unstable. That being said the 3rd year of spouse visa they usually just give you a 3 year visa because they know you’ll be applying for PR.

6. Me: 1 – 1 – 5 – 5. Waiting for pr now (10 years)

7. I got a 1-year visa (Business Manager visa) 8 times in a row, and then a 3-year visa this year. I literally did a little dance at the desk at Immigration once I realised the expiry date wasn’t 2024. No change in documentation, but my business did pay a lot more tax last year which might have helped. This was at the Tokyo office near Shinagawa Station.

8. I got 5 at first and I just renewed and got 5 again 🤷😂 yes, I know many people hate me.

9. How much does your spouse earn? Spouse visas tend to be based on the Japanese partner’s income. If you don’t make a lot of money from a famous company and come from a nation that Japan thinks is “poor”, they will only issue one year visas because they want to keep their eye on you.

10. The visa system is literally gacha, you just roll with it

11. Could you please tell me where are you from? I think nationality is affecting to Japanese immigration officers decisions.

12. got 3+5
    engineer full time

13. Good salary, good company, stable job. Always got 1 year visas.
    Meanwhile, I know people who are basically working baitos and they got 5 years right from the start.

    Fuck this system. The criteria to decide how many years you get should be clear and available to the public.

    When I’ll become president of Japan, I will abolish 1 and 3 year visas and introduce 8 and 10 year visas. Also, all the criteria to get anything above the 5 year visa (the default) will be available on the MOFA website in 17 languages.

    Vote for me.

    Ah, yeah. We can’t vote.

14. Always ask for the maximum amount any time you make an application. It worked for me.
    >Student visa 1yr
    >Working holiday 1yr
    >Working visa 1yr
    >Working visa 3yr
    Was my pathway