Current WHV finished 3 days ago but I didn't realise!

[BenevolentBenny]

Hi all, this is a complicated situation (or maybe it's just me) that I'm struggling to get my head around.

I've just applied for and recieved my new British passport from the consulate. Now I thought I had until May 12th 2010 on my working holiday visa. But now from examining my old passport I can see the WHV was valid until April 24th 2010, but my landing permission for designated activities lasts until May 12th 2010.

I'm a little confused as to my status now, am I legal in the country but illegal to work? Or totally illegal?? With the onset of golden week it's going to be difficult to find out any information soon. I've worked 3 days already since the 24th at my Eikaiwa, and I really don't want to be working illegally!!

I had arranged to go to immigration with all of my documents to apply for a new specialist in humanities visa tomorrow (friday 30th) anyway, and plan to explain my situation to them then. I thought I was totally legal until May 12th, but now I'm a little worried as to my position. I don't want them to think I'm trying to anything dodgy and I'm happy to explain my mistake to them fully.

It's possible for me to take time off and go to another country immediately if needs be, then apply for the work visa while a tourist.

What do you think I should do? Go to immigration tomorrow or go to Korea?? What do you think of my status? It's impossible for me to contact them today as it's the bloody holiday!

Incredibly frustrated by this series of events, admittedly sparked off by my own incorrect assumption.

[bland]

my landing permission for designated activities lasts until May 12th 2010.

That means you're currently legal.

See this thread:

Visa system in Japan - essential prerequisites to understand
http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthrea...-to-understand

the visa label (the big impressive label in your passport with a hologram, that has JAPAN VISA written on it) has got nothing to do with how long you're allowed to stay

[me2]

I had arranged to go to immigration with all of my documents to apply for a new specialist in humanities visa tomorrow (friday 30th) anyway, and plan to explain my situation to them then. I thought I was totally legal until May 12th, but now I'm a little worried as to my position. I don't want them to think I'm trying to anything dodgy and I'm happy to explain my mistake to them fully.

People with a British Working Holiday visa wanting to change to a Specialist in Humanities visa need a COE to do that so if immigration doesn't issue the COE before May 12 you will have to leave Japan. (Maybe you mean you are going to apply for a COE anyway...but your company should be doing that for you). Unfortunately you can't just apply for a change of status but have to go the COE route

[rtfm]

so if immigration doesn't issue the COE before May 12 you will have to leave Japan.

Change that to
if Immigration doesn't accept the application for your change of status before May 12 you will have to leave Japan.

And they don't like doing things at the last minute, so be there with a smile this afternoon or at 8am on May 6.

[me2]

Change that to if Immigration doesn't accept the application for your change of status before May 12 you will have to leave Japan

To first do that immigration will have to issue the COE so if that doesn't happen no application to change the visa status can be made.

[bland]

People with a British Working Holiday visa wanting to change to a Specialist in Humanities visa need a COE to do that so if immigration doesn't issue the COE before May 12 you will have to leave Japan. (Maybe you mean you are going to apply for a COE anyway...but your company should be doing that for you). Unfortunately you can't just apply for a change of status but have to go the COE route

Some corroborating information in this post, and the posts referred to:

From what Yoko has said, you could expect your application [to change Status of Residence] to be rejected on the spot if you are from UK...

http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthrea...l=1#post605919


Perhaps it's best to prepare both applications.

Plan A: Application for Change of Status of Residence

If that's refused on the spot,

Plan B: Application for Certificate of Eligibility


However, keep in mind:

To clarify about the CoE processing. You can not overstay your current ... status while waiting on the CoE.

That's correct.

The Certificate of Eligibiliy has got nothing to do with your current status in Japan. Neither applying for, nor being issued with, a Certificate of Eligibility has any affect on your current status in Japan.

Oh my, Immigration is slow
http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthrea...ration-is-slow
(post #22)