How many days?

[Kumachan]

Currently, I'm here on a tourist visa but I'm waiting for my spouse visa to be approved. The problem is, I applied early last month, there was a problem three weeks ago as one of the forms wasn't filled out properly and it had to be filled out and sent back.

My real problem is my visa expires in a few days and I'm sitting here waiting for when my visa will finally be approved. I've heard tell that in cases like this people fly out for a few days (like a weekend), come back Monday morning and stay for another 90 days without a problem.

My real question is how many days do I need to wait? Is 24 hours okay or does it have to be longer? Also, as I'd be going to Korea for a few days in case my visa isn't approved in time, what's a good place to stay that isn't too expensive?

Thanks.

[Jen]

If you got an 'application pending' stamped in your passport, should be alright.

[Kumachan]

So correct me if I'm wrong, but according to your answer I should be able to stay longer than 90 days if I have a stamp in my passport saying that I have an application pending?

[Hiyodori]

Get a definitive answer from your main immigration office. It's not worth making a mistake on a potential overstay according to advice from an Internet forum. The "application pending" stamp that immigration uses covers cases where there is an official period of stay, in order to cover the time between the expiration of this period and the extension approval. If you're on a 90 day visa waiver, however, take an hour or two go get an answer in person.
Cheers

[Osucker]

In my case I had work VISA ending on Feb 28 and I went in and applied for a spouse visa a couple of weeks before that (bit of a close call).

The VISA though, once approved will start from the day you apply. So if you have a little red stamp with a date (it says something like... hang on... on mine it had 'APPLICATION' with Feb. 10) your visa will start from that date.

My actual VISA was approved in March (after the work VISA had expired) but I was in Japan the whole time until then, working, with no problems thanks to the little red stamp. It only becomes a prob if your VISA is rejected. For that VISA I had to go in with extra stuff too. Wasn't a big deal.

If you have an actual VISA it should be cool. If you don't have a VISA but your country has an agreement with Japan where you can waltz in for x days without one (as mentioned above) and you're doing that, definitely check it out! You should check it out anyway.

Also, not a good idea to leave the country in the middle of an application.

[Kumachan]

It totally worked out, although trying to get an answer over the phone was close to impossible. I called several times and either the phone rang with no answer, the person on the other end picked up but we didn't speak a common language, or I got a message saying that all the operators were busy and to call back later.

In any case, I went directly to the office in Shinagawa and after 5 minutes got the answer I needed. In this case, she said that since I had the stamp in my passport I'm able to stay until I get the word otherwise.