Permanent Residency - from start to finish (good and bad)

[TRIPster]

Hi All,

Further to my 'Permanent Residency – supportive documents' thread.

I have finally got around to applying for a Japanese PR - YAY!

I am writing in the hope someone might be able to share their experiences from the day they applied for a Japanese PR to the day they got it. Whether you applied as a family, individual, even as a couple I am interested in hearing from you.

For a clear understanding of the PR process (from the day of application) I have decided to start this thread for all people your are :

1 >Just applied for a Japanese PR
2> Applied and still awaiting a response
3> People who applied and were denied of a Japanese PR
4> Those who are Japanese PR holders

If you are one of the above, it would be great if you could share your experiences..good and bad
e.g.,
' I got a telephone call three days after application'
' I received the post card in the mail – nil correspondence throughout the process'
' Additional info request via post'

Cheers
Tripster!

[Hijinx]

I hold a PR. Day one involved picking up the app at the immigration office. The intervening days spent before submitting the app involved me drinking beer while my wife dutifully filled out the minutia. Months later, I picked up my PR.

[SteadyRollingMan]

I have had PR status since 1996 and guess what it's nothing special except that I do not have to run to immigrations every few years to renew. Sure there are bennies but I don't care about them, if anything I have to be more careful about breaking the law because if I do break the law and get caught I will do time in prison not get deported. So PR Big Deal.

[Mr.D]

I have to be more careful about breaking the law because if I do break the law and get caught I will do time in prison not get deported. So PR Big Deal.

That's a very good point!

[macbook]

I applied in the Spring when I renewed my previous visa... getting the documents together beforehand was not a problem. They quote a 4-6 month wait... 6 months to the day the pick-up postcard came...

There are no real benefits... yes you save a few yen and a lot of time every few years.. but you still have to get permission to leave...

loans!?? tell me how going into debt is ever a benefit?... yes, I bought a house (paid cash), before the PR.

Some Japanese may take you more seriously when they find you have PR... since it appears you might actually be staying in Japan for a while... and you don't have to be an English teacher all your life;-)

[Glenski]

Got PR in the fifth year of my marriage. They said it'd take 3-6 months. Took about 2.

[TRIPster]

Got PR in the fifth year of my marriage. They said it'd take 3-6 months. Took about 2.

Did you need to do anything within those 2 months? Any telephone calls? Did they send a letter/form requesting additional info?

[J_T]

Got PR in the fifth year of my marriage. They said it'd take 3-6 months. Took about 2.

That was quick. No wonder you 'side with immigration'

[countryboy]

After 5 years of supporting a bunch of J nationals I just submitted a few documents, waited 3 months, got a card that said I can come pick it up and that was it. nothing more.

After having gotton it I have done some things like.... well things I couldn't have done otherwise but there has been no downside whatsoever.

I didn't consider the going to jail part, but will from now on I am sure

[TRIPster]

I applied in the Spring when I renewed my previous visa... getting the documents together beforehand was not a problem. They quote a 4-6 month wait... 6 months to the day the pick-up postcard came...

There are no real benefits... yes you save a few yen and a lot of time every few years.. but you still have to get permission to leave...

loans!?? tell me how going into debt is ever a benefit?... yes, I bought a house (paid cash), before the PR.

Some Japanese may take you more seriously when they find you have PR... since it appears you might actually be staying in Japan for a while... and you don't have to be an English teacher all your life;-)

Did you need to do anything within those 6months? or just wait? Are you married to a Japanese national?

[kansai08]

but it has been 9 months ( a little over that).

I went down to ask them about it and everyone in the office was really surprised. The official guy at the desk said the app is in Tokyo, but he couldn't give me any more information. He kept saying it should be soon....

So, just waiting patiently.....

Still, a little stressful.

[TRIPster]

but it has been 9 months ( a little over that).

I went down to ask them about it and everyone in the office was really surprised. The official guy at the desk said the app is in Tokyo, but he couldn't give me any more information. He kept saying it should be soon....

So, just waiting patiently.....

Still, a little stressful.

Wow.. interesting - I guess not many ppl enquire about the status of the application. I haven't heard applications are sent to Tokyo for processing.. has anyone else heard of this?

Kansai - have you recieved any telephone calls, letters or anything from immigration since submitting your application?

Cheers
Tripster

[macbook]

Did you need to do anything within those 6months? or just wait? Are you married to a Japanese national?

just waited, and yes I am married to a Japanese National.

as I said, I renewed at the same time as my previous visa, that came in about 3 weeks.

Mostly it is a waiting game, and the time of year you apply can slow things down, Spring time (March April) is the busy time for visas everyone and their brothers are going in to renew or re-apply or change... a total zoo.

When I applied it was standing room only all day, when I picked up there were two Bangladeshi guys, myself and a hand full of chinese... in the whole place!

[Harp]

I applied at the beginning of May and nothing so far from immigration (not a peep). I'm figuring a minimum of 6 months, which will be November, but my immigration office (Saitama) said it could be 12 months if not more.

[TRIPster]

I applied at the beginning of May and nothing so far from immigration (not a peep). I'm figuring a minimum of 6 months, which will be November, but my immigration office (Saitama) said it could be 12 months if not more.

12months!? that seems a long time! I have heard of it taking that long for citizenship.. and even that I thought was a long time. fingers crossed its sooner!

[Harp]

12months!? that seems a long time! I have heard of it taking that long for citizenship.. and even that I thought was a long time. fingers crossed its sooner!

I think the immigration guy was just covering his backside as a very outside chance. That said I work with a guy from the Philippines and he has PR and his took exactly one year, as did the applications of his mates (also from the Philippines) - I don't know if that is due to the nationality, or the office he applied, or what...

[TRIPster]

Hi All,

We are now in Dec.. Do we have any further good news regarding successful applicants?! ( I have still heard nothing ... )

I'd be interested to know when is a 'busy' time to apply for PRs.

Updates pls...

[kansai08]

11 & 1/2 months no news yet...

Just curious, Radinsky, when yours came in after 16 months, how far were you away from your other visa's final date?

I am wondering now if I'll have to wait until february when my current visa expires. Has anyone come up against the deadline? if so, what did you do?

Thanks!!!

Hi All,

We are now in Dec.. Do we have any further good news regarding successful applicants?! ( I have still heard nothing ... )

I'd be interested to know when is a 'busy' time to apply for PRs.

Updates pls...

[radinsky]

kansai08> When my PR finally came in, I was less than a month away from the expiry of my spousal Visa (I was actually going to go into immigration that day or the next to renew my then-current Visa)

I made a casual comment about this at immigration when I went to pick up my PR, actually. They told me at the time that regardless of how long the PR process takes, you have to ensure you have a valid Visa, so in theory I suppose it is completely possible that one might have to renew their Visa only to finally get their PR sometime shortly after renewal

[Harp]

Picked up my PR yesterday and I must say I'm a little disappointed. I was at least expecting the head of the immigration office in Saitama to personally hand over a certificate with a handshake, maybe a photographer from the local rag to take a few snaps etc, but nothing.

And then the PR stamp itself is just like the usual ones, small sticker with one of those keitai bar codes, but this time it's grey! Maybe a reflection of the population, I don't know, but still a little pomp and ceremony would have been nice. I was in and out in 5 minutes!

But, and this is the good bit, no expiry date - what a nice feeling...

[TRIPster]

Picked up my PR yesterday and I must say I'm a little disappointed. I was at least expecting the head of the immigration office in Saitama to personally hand over a certificate with a handshake, maybe a photographer from the local rag to take a few snaps etc, but nothing.

Considering the amount of somewhat useless ceremonies in Japan, I agree it would have been nice for them to congratulate you.. not even a Certificate?! Maybe we could suggest this as feedback..

Anyone had anything special when they picked up their PR?

But, and this is the good bit, no expiry date - what a nice feeling...

Excellent - great work! It must be nice to not have an expiry date! I really hope we get it!!

[TRIPster]

11 & 1/2 months no news yet...

Just curious, Radinsky, when yours came in after 16 months, how far were you away from your other visa's final date?

I am wondering now if I'll have to wait until february when my current visa expires. Has anyone come up against the deadline? if so, what did you do?

Thanks!!!

Great question - when we (my wife and daughter and I) applied.. they actually mentioned that my wife's long term residency visa would expire in April 09.

He said to my wife, don't worry, if you haven't heard from us around March, just give a call...

Then again, they were really friendly and helpful (more like old friends.. yay.. finally, you have all decided to apply).

I guess the immigration guy was referring to approving the PR prior to going through the whole KOUSHIN process.

[tokyofan]

I plan to apply for PR status this year after 16 yrs in Japan. Besides the basic application form can anyone provide a list of other documents I'll need to submit? Is there a checklist somewhere?
Another thread or a link? Thanks!

[Glenski]

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/index.html

[bland]

I plan to apply for PR status this year after 16 yrs in Japan. Besides the basic application form can anyone provide a list of other documents I'll need to submit? Is there a checklist somewhere?
Another thread or a link? Thanks!

See this post:

Working/intracompany To Pr
http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthrea...186#post681186

[Ranana_Rupt]

It sounds like you are probably eligible for in-country AOS, which is good news for you. You would start by filing the I-130 and then go from there. I would read the guides in my signature so that you have an idea of what is upcoming. Best of luck

[nobodyIII]

by the way, has anyone heard of anyone receiving a PR without being married to a local and being here less than 5 years?

[ENF]

by the way, has anyone heard of anyone receiving a PR without being married to a local and being here less than 5 years?

Nope. Never heard of anyone getting it in under five years without other ties to the country.

[kansai08]

by the way, has anyone heard of anyone receiving a PR without being married to a local and being here less than 5 years?

I did. 4 years 10months when the stamp went in the passport. They waited for the calendar to turn one more time before they gave it to me though so it looks like five.

[ShonanGaijin]

Great thread, thanks to TRIPster for starting it!

I applied for my PR today. I applied at the recently moved office in Torihama near the Bayside Marina. It used to be in Ishikawa-cho in Yokohama. The new place was nearly empty at 9:30 AM, after I took my number it was immediately called. I handed over the paperwork and was out within 5 minutes.

I have been married to a Japanese national for 25 years. We lived in the US until 2 years ago. I just completed my 2nd year of a 3 year spouse visa. The immigration lady said I should have an answer before the spouse visa runs out. I'll keep you posted on how things turn out.

[koppojutsuka]

What is the japanese terms for the tax documents you need to provide? It's not the 源泉 but a different one, I imagine. Also, is there a specific term for the Guarantor letter?

[ShonanGaijin]

Great thread, thanks to TRIPster for starting it!

I applied for my PR today. I applied at the recently moved office in Torihama near the Bayside Marina. It used to be in Ishikawa-cho in Yokohama. The new place was nearly empty at 9:30 AM, after I took my number it was immediately called. I handed over the paperwork and was out within 5 minutes.

I have been married to a Japanese national for 25 years. We lived in the US until 2 years ago. I just completed my 2nd year of a 3 year spouse visa. The immigration lady said I should have an answer before the spouse visa runs out. I'll keep you posted on how things turn out.

I just got my postcard yesterday, I was approved! The postcard said to bring my 8,000 yen to the immigration office for the decision, or something like that. It did not directly say I was approved, maybe they do that since a postcard can be read without opening it.

It took just a little over 7 months after the application. I have been living in Japan for about 2 years and 8 months now.