What's the process

[Anonymous]

Why does it take so long to process a work visa? Do they call the school and everything? Do they call all the references on my CV? Or do they just sit around and wait for 4 months then say... "Ok, send this one thru.. we'll get to the next one tomorrow" How many people apply for work visas? I'm American btw if you can't tell.

Thanks,
Justin

[Hiyodori]

What's a long time? How long should it take? In my experience, they usually come through in about a month, plus or minus two weeks, but that is with a sample size of only ten. If you want real answers to your questions, unfortunately you'll have to actually ask the immigration authorities. Being a government bureaucracy, however, it's unlikely that they will answer. And that's too bad because I would love to know what is actually done with the application!

Have you applied for a working visa, or an extension? What is your situation?

Cheers,
Hiyodori

[Glenski]

I agree with Hiyodori. What do you consider a long time? And, since you have no choice but to wait (just remember all of the long lines and waiting periods at your home country's government offices), there's nothing else you can do.

After you come to Japan, you may see things that give you a clearer picture of the bureaucracy in (slow) motion. Go to any bank, for example. Despite this age of high technology, paperwork is manually handed from person to person for inkan (rubber stamp) approvals and chain of command ok's. Manually. Office ladies trot from desk to desk just to show a couple of guys in suits what is being requested. Waste of time. Get a wire transfer done. Same nonsense. And, don't get me started about trying to make a change in the office, especially if a foreigner initiates it.

Get used to doing things slowly and by long consensus if you intend to work in Japan.

[trip_hop]

The opposite side of the coin is that your change at the bank or post office is invariably correct (many people have checked it); you can sit in coffee shops all day long without being asked to leave, and the people in offices at least know what each other look like and can have a conversation.