Blog - 2010
2010
Last Thursday I received my postcard telling me that my visa is ready, and this morning I went to pick it up. No surprises, but it was a lot of waiting. The place was much more crowded than 3 years ago. Either it's that there are more foreigners than before, or because it was a Monday and maybe Mondays are more crowded than other days (since there's mail on Saturday maybe).
09:05 - I arrive at the Immigration Bureau and quickly buy my stamps at the conbini (¥4000 for the visa renewal, ¥6000 for the multiple re-entry permit).
09:25 - After waiting for 20 minutes in line at counter A, I hand in my passport, the postcard and the ¥4000 stamp. Then I have to wait until it's ready, however my number is #98 and they're currently calling #35... While waiting, I fill-in the form to afterwards apply for a re-entry permit, and I avoid watching "fuyu no sonata" playing on TV.
10:35 - My visa renewal number gets called and I get back my passport with my new visa! I then head to the re-entry permit counter. I realize that before handing in my passport and my form I have to first take a ticket and wait about 115 numbers until my turn! (I should have got that ticket while waiting for my visa. Better luck next time.)
11:30 - My re-entry permit application number #360 gets called. Within a few minutes the permit gets added to my passport, and I'm out of here!
Once again I got a 3-year visa, so I'm now fine until 2010!
Next up will be my passport renewal in July this year... I'll once again have to go to the immigration to get my visa and re-entry permit transfered to the new passport. I'm not quite looking forward to going back there.
Posted on February 6, 2007 at 00:11 | Tweet
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Well done!! And, お疲れさま。
Posted by Takashi on February 6, 2007 at 01:31
So, why do you live on japan at all? Because of your work? Greetings from Germany.
Posted by tom on February 6, 2007 at 05:54
Got my visa for 3 years in December, but ouch!
You just reminded me I have to renew my passport this year too, and have my visas transferred.
Posted by ale/pepino on February 6, 2007 at 09:28
Thanks Takashi! :)
Tom, one reason why I stay here is that I love Japan. It's a great place!
Ale, good job! Renewing my passport last time was easy, and my country's embassy's people were very friendly. I got the new passport in the mail in about a week.
I think that one thing that had tricked me though was that I needed to provide full addresses of 2 or 3 people I know in Canada who aren't family (or some rule like that) and I hadn't brought such info.
Posted by Patrick on February 6, 2007 at 09:57
Patrick!
congratulations! I know what you mean about the immigration office. I'm filled with dread every time I have to go. Last time though, I went to the office in Yokohama. Easier for me than you, most likely, but it was a lot quicker. And it's also really close to Motomachi\Chinatown and the Aka Renga shopping area of Minatomirai, so it gives you a good excuse to do some shopping!
Posted by Kevin on February 7, 2007 at 08:40
congrats! visa renwal can be such a nightmare.
Posted by william on February 11, 2007 at 23:01
Glad to know your third time went through smoothly as well...I'll soon by renewing my 1-year Specialist in Humanities visa...I think it's just going to be one-year. I wish I can renew for 3 years...that would be nice huh?
Posted by Jubinell on January 8, 2010 at 14:07
Good luck! It's renewal time again for me this year, though I'm going for permanent residency this time.
Posted by Patrick on January 8, 2010 at 20:17