getting a new visa: part one

earlier this week, i was reminded that my work visa was about to expire (oops!) so i asked my boss on wednesday if he could get together the paperwork from his end so i could pick it up today and make my way to the immigration office.

when i first came to japan (4 years ago) i came in and got the standard 3 month "temporary visitor" visa, despite having already signed a contract with a middle/high school in saitama. i worked the first week without actually having a work visa, as i scrambled to explain to the school what i needed and get everything else together and then i went to apply for an instructor visa.

a year later, with another 1 year contract in hand, i went to extend my visa for another year. they handed me a 3 year visa. i almost said, "but i only applied for a one year" but realized that would just be stupid, said thank you very much and walked away, thankful i didn't have to come back for another 3 years (i applied for a reentry permit at the same time, and in my head practically yelled "see ya suckas!" when i walked out).

well, three years is up. and i have since quit my old job, spent several months unemployed and now have a new job, but have the same old visa. so it's time to update my status (and i'm not talking about facebook! haha, i crack myself up!).

last night, my boss emailed me and gave a detailed explanation of the things i'd need to supply, links to online guidelines and regulations included. i found a copy of my diploma on my computer (i probably had my parents send me a copy when i applied the first time) and gathered all my pay stubs, my work contract and a current japanese resume.

when i went in to pick up the documents my boss was preparing (my salary/tax paying status, proof of employment/legit business status, etc) he had it all together in a shiny new clear folder, and he had already filled out all the paperwork FOR ME!! how awesome! i didn't need my work contract or pay stubs because he had copies of everything already in the folder. i felt like i hadn't even done ANYTHING.

i figured i'd still have to do the main application but since he'd done almost everything, all i had to do was write my hometown, my passport and alien registration card number, and sign and date the thing! i just couldn't believe how much of a SLACKER my old employer was compared to my new boss (my new boss is also very detail oriented and loves getting everything in order). so THIS is what it's like when a company says they'll "sponsor" you. or, what it should look like!

i stopped at mcdonald's on my way (who knows how long i'd be waiting at immigration!) and got delayed by an accident stopping the trains for about 30minutes, but otherwise made it to immigration without a problem. i got off the bus with the other couple dozen foreigners doing who-knows-what at immigration and made my way to the counter to get my number. the lady at the counter looked over my documents, seemed satisfied, handed me a number and said please wait until we call your number.

here it comes, i thought, the WAIT. i looked at my number: 312. i looked at all the counters and the numbers above them. one said 289 (yep, it'll be awhile) but then i looked and a couple other counters said 307 and 308 (getting close) so i sat and watched a mother holding her probably 3 year old daughter twist back and forth almost too violently for a small child. her daughter was fussing (probably from being swung back and forth so hard!) and her son was running around making lots of noise, and when they left, he tried to climb into the moving stroller, getting a swift smack to the bottom and a curt "get in or walk, but pick one!" from his mom. ah, the people watching to be done at immigration - doesn't get much better.

not even 10 minutes later, they called 312. once at the counter, i fumbled with my folder and stammered that i wasn't sure what all they needed and just handed over the whole stack of papers. the lady at the counter looked at them, rearranged the order of a couple and asked if she could just have them all. yes, please! she had me fill out a postcard with my address and sent me on my way. 15 minutes start to finish, tops. practically unheard of!

i treated myself to a van houten cocoa at the convenience store on the first floor before catching the bus back to the station.

now the real waiting begins. the paper they stapled in my passport said the process can take up to a couple months, but i'm hoping my notification postcard will come in a couple weeks and i'll get another 3 year visa. i'll just feel better having it done and out of the way. and not be an illegal alien, that's always good too.