Permanent Residency Application - supportive documents

[TRIPster]

Hi all,

I am writing in the hope someone might be able give me some pointers regarding a Letter of contribution.

Yes! My wife, daughter and myself are finally going to apply for permanent residency.

I would appreciate if anyone holding a Japanese PR could let me know a little bit about their experiences with the immigration department etc.

Furthermore, if anyone is aware of where can i possibly veiw sample letters .. I am a little worried about what to write.

Cheers

[bland]

I am writing in the hope someone might be able give me some pointers regarding a Letter of contribution.

Yes! My wife, daughter and myself are finally going to apply for permanent residency.

Are you saying that you intend to seek exemption from the 10-year residence requirement on the basis of your "Contribution to Japan" ?

I would appreciate if anyone holding a Japanese PR could let me know a little bit about their experiences with the immigration department etc.

Furthermore, if anyone is aware of where can i possibly veiw sample letters .. I am a little worried about what to write.

See these threads:

"PR application at 1st year, ok?"
http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?t=42023


"Waiting period on Permanent Residency?"
http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthrea...013#post308130

(See Glenski's post #26 which refers to published examples of cases that were deemed acceptable and cases that were deemed unacceptable for exemption from the 10-year residence requirement on the basis of "Contribution to Japan".)

[TRIPster]

Thanks for your reply.

No.. we are not asking for any exceptions - we meet all requirements.

I am of the understanding a Letter of Contribution is required. Is this not the case? maybe just a letter explaining why I want to apply?!

Either way, I beleive a letter of some type is required. Can you shed some light on this? and possibly any pointers?

Cheers

[Durland]

You'll want to write a letter to expand on number 15 of page 1(出入３４口） of your application.

Possibly any pointers...
IF I get the damn thing (I applied and am waiting for the result) then I'll let you know what I wrote.

[SteadyRollingMan]

What are these "experts" talking about. I got permanent residence years ago and all they required was the paperwork they gave . There was no need of a letter. Of course I was the only applying, as my wife and children are Japanese. I take it your wife and child are not Japanese, then the best thing to do is to ask immigrations themselves and not here. Here you will 150 wrong answers.

Good luck

[Durland]

"I got permanent residence years ago"
What did you write for number 15 of page 1(出入３４口?. I'm sure it's still fresh in your mind.

"all they required was the paperwork they gave"
Things certainly have changed over the past 100 years. If Tripster doesn't head off to city hall and get some additional documents then he isn't going to get PR.

[SteadyRollingMan]

Funny how all the idiots that have just gotten to Japan, think they know everything. My advice to the poster and to future posters id to talk with immigrations themselves and not look for answers here, because 99% of the time they will get bum advice.

[Durland]

SteadyRollingMan
Location: a cloud of smoke
"talk with immigrations themselves"
Oh, feeling groovy baby.
Hey bro, why don't you do another bomb and chill out.

Of course asking immigration is a good idea. Asking someone who has successfully gotten PR status is ALSO a good idea. Why would someone get their panties all up in a bunch over that? Immigration will tell you the minimum you need to apply but there are other things you CAN give them with your application that will help your cause. Some examples, a copy of your JLPT certificate if you have one. A copy of your university degree or anything else that you think will show them that you are unlikely to ever become unemployed. They won't specifically ask for these things but they will take any documents you give them and add them to your application. Don't be shy about making your application as thick as possible because... A couple of months later, some old man will lay them all out on his desk and then look it over. If he can't see any of the top surface of his desk, your PR status will be approved. If he can see some of the top surface, but less than 20 percent, you'll be one of those case by case judgements. More than 20 percent, you're out of luck. Before Steadyrollingman comes at me all weepy. The paper on desk thing is just a theory.
Anyway, like I said before, I HAVE NOT been approved. I was denied the first time. Not enough time in Japan. Not enough paper? I have applied again. Now enough time in Japan and much more paper. We'll see what happens.
I wish you luck.

[SteadyRollingMan]

You go Turned down I didn't! BIG DIFFERENCE BRO! So I smoke, what that go to do with the price of tea? Doesn't make me dumb.

Sure asking is good but doing a search would save time and ink. Here is a little nugget.: "Give them lots of paper" and you are giving them more reasons to turn you down. Keep it simple stupid!

The Japanese bureucrat in any agency, loves to reject applications over the dumbest things. Give them lots of paper-I love that.

[Glenski]

Line 15 = reason for applying for permanent residence
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/index.html

"I want to live here with my family and continue working here."

No "contribution" letter was needed in my case (that was 2 years ago for me), but maybe that was because I was married to a Japanese (still am) and had a spouse visa at the time.

Don't fret over this too much. If you have kept your noses clean, you just have to show you work steadily, make enough to support yourselves, and want to continue doing that.

"I teach, therefore I am" is often enough. Not sure what you do, though.

[TRIPster]

I would like to thank you all for your input. Yes! I have been to immigration. As usual, they don't let too much out of the bag. Having said that, we have been here for a quite a while - currently on a TEIJU visa. It appears everyone has different experiences with immigration -


Actually, I am Aussie and work for an airline.. I think being employed as a SEISHAIN for just over six years may be beneficial.. fingers crossed!

Another quick question -

Do you think it better to mention I graduated from a local Japanese High School? (Uni, back in OZ tho) and that my wife is a NIKEI JIn, yet, doesn't hold Japanese nationality..

I am just playing with a few ideas at the moment.. keeping my options available.

Is there anyone else out there that are GAIKOKU JIN DOUSHI? I am very interested to hear of ppls experiences..

[khammo01]

I applied for PR about 18 months ago. It was very easy from what I remember. If you have been paying your taxes and meet the presence requirements, I doubt you have much to worry about. I just wrote the same as other people said: "to live and work in Japan with my family." The only wierd requirement was to draw a map to my house. I suspect they come out and check that you are being a reasonable neighbor and check the name plate on the property to make sure you are not lying regarding your residence.

There really isn't any space on the form to add more beyond this, and I don't think they are really concerned about where you went to school, etc. They will judge your ties based on the quantitative information from the form, as well as tax records, zaishoku-shoumeisho you get from work, etc.

[Harp]

I handed in my application for PR last Friday at the Immigration office in Kita Yono, Saitama. FWIW this is what I was asked for and submitted:

1. Application form
2. Guarantor form (my japanese wife)
3. Letter from Employer (mine and my wife's)
4. Koseki tohon
5. Residence statement from local city office
6. Tax statement from local city office
7. Passport and alien registration card (but these were returned)

I also gave them (after reading this forum) the following:

8. Hand drawn map to my apartment
9. Recent paysheets (I recently changed job so don't have a gensen chohyuhyou from my new employer)
10. My CV
11. Details of my and my wife's families

I must say the Immigration guy was a bit surprised when I started handing over the additional documents. I think he wanted to say say 'we don't need this stuff' but he took it anyway (actually he declined the copies of my degree certificates, saying they weren't necessary).

As for the reason for the application, I followed the example that they give out and wrote 'to keep living here with my j-wife and kid'. He reckoned that it might take over a year to process so said if my current [spouse] visa runs out then reapply for that if you haven't heard anything from us. That's the end of June 2009 so hopefully I'll have heard by then...

[Celeron]

hello Harp,

I was just wondering how long you have been in Japan and what kind of visa are you on now?

Thanks

[Harp]

Hi Celeron

I'm currently on a 3 year spouse visa with a year and a month left to run. Apparently that's important and if you've got less than a year left immigration will tell you to apply for PR after renewing your current visa, this happened to a colleague of my wife's.

As for how long I've been here, coming up on 10.5 years over two stints (I got 18 months off for good behaviour ;-).

[spiff]

Quick question, on the Application for Permanent Residence, it asks for my Hometown / City. Should I put down my hometown in Canada, or my Registered address in Japan?

[KansaiBen]

Quick question, on the Application for Permanent Residence, it asks for my Hometown / City. Should I put down my hometown in Canada, or my Registered address in Japan?

hometown is where you were born/grew up, so put Canada. Addresses in Japan change, your hometown doesn't.

[KansaiBen]

What if you're an army brat? Or your papa was a rolling stone, wherever he laid his hat was his home?

You have a problem, then. Just say you were conceived in Frankfurt, born in Okinawa and grew up all over.

I dont think it matters too much as long as you dont try and pass yourself off as the offspring of Mormon missionaries spending decades in Japan.

[Meo]

I handed in my application for PR last Friday at the Immigration office in Kita Yono, Saitama. FWIW this is what I was asked for and submitted:

1. Application form
2. Guarantor form (my japanese wife)
3. Letter from Employer (mine and my wife's)
4. Koseki tohon
5. Residence statement from local city office
6. Tax statement from local city office
7. Passport and alien registration card (but these were returned)

I also gave them (after reading this forum) the following:

8. Hand drawn map to my apartment
9. Recent paysheets (I recently changed job so don't have a gensen chohyuhyou from my new employer)
10. My CV
11. Details of my and my wife's families

I must say the Immigration guy was a bit surprised when I started handing over the additional documents. I think he wanted to say say 'we don't need this stuff' but he took it anyway (actually he declined the copies of my degree certificates, saying they weren't necessary).

As for the reason for the application, I followed the example that they give out and wrote 'to keep living here with my j-wife and kid'. He reckoned that it might take over a year to process so said if my current [spouse] visa runs out then reapply for that if you haven't heard anything from us. That's the end of June 2009 so hopefully I'll have heard by then...

Tax statement from local city office? For how many year?

[Harp]

It's called a (apologies for any spelling errors) shi-kemnimzei kazeishomeisho 市・県民税課税証明書 and is an official document from the ward office. I think it covers the previous year and proves you paid your city/ward/inhabitants tax. To be honest I didn't study it too much, just ticked it off the checklist.

[Fukushima Fotographer]

Just got my PR approved. never needed any letter. just had to fill out a couple of papers with the usual crap. wait about 6 months and they pay 8000. ive lived in japan for 6 years. was pretty simple and straight forward really.

[Meo]

Just got my PR approved. never needed any letter. just had to fill out a couple of papers with the usual crap. wait about 6 months and they pay 8000. ive lived in japan for 6 years. was pretty simple and straight forward really.

Wow! That is cool! What papers did you have to submit? Are you married to japanese?

[Fukushima Fotographer]

the papers they gave me were basically the same kind of stuff ive filled out 100 times before for other visas, alien card and the like. asking about your job, when you came to japan, why you want a PR visa etc. oh and yep i have a japanese wife and boy together. so perhaps that helps, im not sure. but hey its free to submit the application and only wastes 10mins of your time if nothing comes of it.

[TRIPster]

Hi all,

Yes! We have finally submitted all docs to the immigration dept. They stamped our passports with the usual application receipt and were told it should be processed before March next year.

Forms were very clear and surprisingly easy to complete.

The staff at the immigration were very friendly and only took about 7mins.

We had to submit the following:

1. Letter stating why we wanted to apply

2. Birth cert / Tax papers / Hoshounin docs


Oh, and I realised that was meant by contribution.. I was told that you can submit any for of kanshajou / official thanks form local government etc.. I did have a few kanshajou's however have no idea where they are located and couldn't be arsed looking.

[Edokko]

I currently hold a 3-year work visa (Specialist in Humanities/Int'l Services) which was arranged by my employer. I've been married to a Japanese national for 8 years, but only living the last 15 months (consecutively) in Japan, and I believe I meet all other requirements to apply for PR. I was advised that if I want to obtain PR status, I should apply for a spouse visa first. Is this sound advice? Or is it possible to go directly to PR without getting a spouse visa first?

Also, I understand that if I apply for a spouse visa I'm likely to start off on a 1 year visa. Will I need to renew a few times until I'm able to get a 3 year spouse visa (as Debito's site states)?

[bland]

I currently hold a 3-year work visa (Specialist in Humanities/Int'l Services) which was arranged by my employer. I've been married to a Japanese national for 8 years, but only living the last 15 months (consecutively) in Japan, and I believe I meet all other requirements to apply for PR. I was advised that if I want to obtain PR status, I should apply for a spouse visa first.

Who advised you of that?

Or is it possible to go directly to PR without getting a spouse visa first?

The official, published guidelines are somewhat unclear on this point.

The relevant clause is:

ウ 　現に有している在留資格について，出入国管理及び難 民認定法施行規則別表第２に規定されている最長の在留 期間をもって在留していること。

http://www.moj.go.jp/nyuukokukanri/k..._nyukan50.html

The English version:

c The maximum period of stay allowed for the person with his/her current status of residence under Annexed Table 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act is to be fully utilized.

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/te...residence.html


This doesn't stipulate a particular Status of Residence, only that, whatever that Status of Residence is, the current Period of Stay is the longest available for that Status of Residence.

However, the common understanding is that you must have the Status of Residence Spouse or Child of Japanese National and the Period of Stay must be 3years (if you're seeking exemption from the 10 year residence requirement on the basis of your marriage to a Japanese national for three years and one year residence in Japan). This is also stated on this unofficial (but otherwise quite authoritative) website:
http://www11.plala.or.jp/kudo-passport/page009.html


I suspect that the scrutiny of your relationship inherent in applying for the Status of Residence Spouse or Child of Japanese National is what the Immigration Bureau would want to have on file, which is why it's likely that they'd ask you to change Status of Residence first.

In fact, there's even been an anecdote where a person who already had the Status of Residence Spouse or Child of Japanese National was asked for these documents (I think the Immigration Bureau, in this case, may not have had the documents about the marriage relationship on-file because this person had obtained his spouse visa at an embassy / consulate of Japan outside Japan using the Alternative Procedure (submitting a spouse visa application direct to an embassy / consulate of Japan outside Japan with no involvement of the Immigration Bureau in Japan)).

I went to the Immigration, and they told me to write a history of my marriage to my wife, and how long I have been married, where I had stayed before moving to Japan

PR application at 1st yr, ok?
http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthrea...502#post546502
(post #21 - "Extra forms needed")


In light of the above, perhaps you should prepare both Application for Change of Status of Residence and Application for Permanent Residence (some of the supporting documents are common to both) and proceed as follows:

Plan A - Application for Permanent Residence

if that's not accepted for processing...

Plan B - Application for Permanent Residence + supporting documents for Application for Change of Status of Residence

if that's not accepted for processing...

Plan C - Application for Permanent Residence + Application for Change of Status of Residence

if that's not accepted for processing...

Plan D - Application for Change of Status of Residence

(Then after application in plan D is approved, lodge Application for Permanent Residence (ie, immediately after getting the CHANGE PERMIT sticker placed in your passport).)

Also, I understand that if I apply for a spouse visa I'm likely to start off on a 1 year visa.

Not in your case.

Marriage for 8 years plus having a 3-year "work visa" and over one year residence in Japan means you would most certainly get three years straight away.

[TRIPster]

Who advised you of that?



The official, published guidelines are somewhat unclear on this point.

The relevant clause is:

http://www.moj.go.jp/NYUKAN/nyukan50.html

The English version:

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/te...residence.html


This doesn't stipulate a particular Status of Residence, only that, whatever that Status of Residence is, the current Period of Stay is the longest available for that Status of Residence.

However, the common understanding is that you must have the Status of Residence Spouse or Child of Japanese National and the Period of Stay must be 3years (if you're seeking exemption from the 10 year residence requirement on the basis of your marriage to a Japanese national for three years and one year residence in Japan). This is also stated on this unofficial (but otherwise quite authoritative) website:
http://www11.plala.or.jp/kudo-passport/page009.html


I suspect that the scrutiny of your relationship inherent in applying for the Status of Residence Spouse or Child of Japanese National is what the Immigration Bureau would want to have on file, which is why it's likely that they'd ask you to change Status of Residence first.

In fact, there's even been an anecdote where a person who already had the Status of Residence Spouse or Child of Japanese National was asked for these documents (I think the Immigration Bureau, in this case, may not have had the documents about the marriage relationship on-file because this person had obtained his spouse visa at an embassy / consulate of Japan outside Japan using the Alternative Procedure (submitting a spouse visa application direct to an embassy / consulate of Japan outside Japan with no involvement of the Immigration Bureau in Japan)).


PR application at 1st yr, ok?
http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthrea...502#post546502
(post #21 - "Extra forms needed")


In light of the above, perhaps you should prepare both Application for Change of Status of Residence and Application for Permanent Residence (some of the supporting documents are common to both) and proceed as follows:

Plan A - Application for Permanent Residence

if that's not accepted for processing...

Plan B - Application for Permanent Residence + supporting documents for Application for Change of Status of Residence

if that's not accepted for processing...

Plan C - Application for Permanent Residence + Application for Change of Status of Residence

if that's not accepted for processing...

Plan D - Application for Change of Status of Residence

(Then after application in plan D is approved, lodge Application for Permanent Residence (ie, immediately after getting the CHANGE PERMIT sticker placed in your passport).)




Not in your case.

Marriage for 8 years plus having a 3-year "work visa" and over one year residence in Japan means you would most certainly get three years straight away.

Good Luck! join us in the other thread when you have applied.

[Edokko]

Who advised you of that?

The immigration specialist on staff at my employer. It was not anything official from immigration.

And thank you very much for the detailed advice. I'll be sure to report back on my results.

[Deckard]

I handed in my application for PR last Friday at the Immigration office in Kita Yono, Saitama. FWIW this is what I was asked for and submitted: 8. Hand drawn map to my apartment

LOL I want to do this in crayon with lots of colors and stick figures of my neighbors and pets.

As for the reason for the application, I followed the example that they give out and wrote 'to keep living here with my j-wife and kid'.

If you have Japanese rugrats then you're as good as gold;Maybe silver. [from what I've heard].


Btw, I wonder if any regular Joe's with a J wife have ever been granted PR after only 3 years. I wonder if girls get PR faster.

[lyzard]

What are these \\\"experts\\\" talking about. I got permanent residence years ago and all they required was the paperwork they gave . There was no need of a letter. Of course I was the only applying, as my wife and children are Japanese. I take it your wife and child are not Japanese, then the best thing to do is to ask immigrations themselves and not here. Here you will 150 wrong answers.

Well, you gave him one of the 150 wrong answers. The OP said in the first post that he, his wife, and his daughter are applying for PR; so I do not understand your statement \\\"I take it your wife and child are not Japanese,\\\"--I mean, if someone says, \\\"You need an umbrella, it is raining outside\\\" would you say \\\"I take it that the weather report that says it will not rain is wrong\\\"? Anyway, Good on you for getting PR with them only requiring the paperwork they gave--that is hugely helpful for this guy, because your martital situation is completely different than his, and you do not even tell him what the paperwork was that they gave you.

My advice to the OP--give them what they ask you for, be honest in your answers, and if they feel they need additional documents then they will ask you to provide supplemental documentation.

[confused gaijin]

I have been in japan for over 10 years on a specialist visa and have been paying my taxes.I have all the documents ready except that the pay slips(gensenchou) i have is for only past two years and as far as i know they need for 3 years..what do you think about my case..apart from this paper everything else is there..

[Edokko]

As an update to my posts last year, I finally got around to submitting my PR application.

My situation
- married to Japanese national for 9 years (marriage was registered in Japan)
- current status of residence is specialist in humanities/international services (3 yr term)
- living in Japan for 2 years 11 months (consecutively)

So, I went straight from what is commonly known as a "work visa" to PR.

This MOJ link (in Japanese) sets out the supporting documents to be submitted with a PR application.

Items submitted at Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau

1. passport (just presented at the application counter and returned)
2. gaikokujin toroku shomeisho (aka "gaijin card") (just presented and returned)
3. Application For Permanent Residence (available in PDF and Excel format)
4. Letter of guarantee (available in Japanese and English)
5. my employment certificate (在職証明書)
6. my certificate of registered matters (登録原票記載事項証明書)
7. my tax declaration certificate (特別区民税･都民税　課税証明書）
8. my tax payment certificate (特別区民税･都民税　納税証明書）
9. the wife's family register (戸籍）
10. the wife's residence certificate (住民票）
11. copy of the wife's most recent earnings statement (源泉徴収票) and job contract (employment certificate for spouse is preferred, but they were willing to accept substitute documentation because she could not obtain a certificate due to her work status)
12. Google maps printout showing directions from closest station to my residence (not required, but they took it)

Note that items 6 through 10 can be obtained at your local ward office / city hall for a small fee (in the range of 300 to 600 yen per doc). Immigration wants originals for these.

I'm told that the process should take about 6 months. In the meantime, I had to apply for an extension to my status of residence, as it was set to expire next month. I received the postcard in the mail for that the other day, and I just went to Immigration this morning to get the stamp in my passport (together with a new re-entry permit).

I'll try to update this post when I receive a decision on my PR application.

Hope this helps prospective PR applicants.

Update: I finally received the postcard in the mail at the end of June 2011 (probably delayed a bit because it was addressed to my old address) and went to Tokyo Immigration. This was a non-event. Present the postcard with passport and 8,000 yen revenue stamp, wait, receive passport with PR stamp. No interview or questions asked. In my case, it took about 8 months from start to finish. I'd also like to point out that my experience shows you can go straight from specialist in humanities/international services status to PR. I never had a spouse visa. And at the time I applied, I had lived in Japan (consecutively) for less than 3 years.