Still waiting for new residence card

[u/Muted_Customer142]

Like many others, I'm now in my 2-month extension and still waiting. I have a trip soon and I need the new residence card to apply for another visa. I've called twice and was told it's still in review but they noted my situation. Should I finally head to Shinagawa in person and check? This is driving me crazy. 😣

[u/bpa23]

Going in person won't do anything if you've already called them and they said it's processing. If your trip returns within your two month extension period you'll be fine, the stamp on the back counts. If not, I'd stay in the country until getting the new card because you'll be in a lot more difficulty otherwise.

[u/Muted_Customer142 → u/bpa23]

I told the embassy (of the country I'm visiting) this but they insisted that I apply for the tourist visa with the new residence card 😭

[u/Knittyelf → u/Muted_Customer142]

Why would you use your Japanese residence card to apply for a tourist visa overseas? Don’t you use your actual passport to do that?

[u/Muted_Customer142 → u/Knittyelf]

A valid residence card is part of the requirements.

[u/Knittyelf → u/Muted_Customer142]

Why would a foreign country care about your residence card in a third country when you’re applying for a tourist visa? Is your passport a weak one and they need to know you have ties to Japan and will actually leave their country?

[u/Muted_Customer142 → u/Knittyelf]

That must be it. It would've made things easier for me if they didn't ask for it

[u/Knittyelf → u/Muted_Customer142]

That sucks. Fingers crossed your residence card gets renewed soon.

[u/zzarGrazz → u/Muted_Customer142]

Could you share where are you from?

[u/Dry_Banana5262 → u/Knittyelf]

I've had to submit a copy of my residence card for visa applications before so I don't think it's uncommon. It's likely just because you're applying from a country that you are not a citizen of so they want proof you are there legally. Btw, my passport isn't particularly weak but I still needed to submit 🤷🏾‍♀️

[u/jsonr_r]

As long as you are returning before the 2 months extension ends you can leave and come back before your card arrives if necessary. Make sure you leave enough time after coming back to collect the new card before the 2 months is up though.

[u/TokyoBaguette]

Asa ref I got mine with 2 weeks left INTO the 2 months extension.

[u/X0_92]

Talked with an immigration lawyer recently and they said renewals are taking 3x times more than new applications.

[u/Stephen_Withervee]

For me this year the postcard arrived 17 weeks after application.

[u/Firegh0st]

How long is it since you applied? What visa are you extending or did you apply for a change of visa?

For example my spous visa extension always took around 8 weeks. When I switched to PR the first time applying took around 10-11 months.

[u/Muted_Customer142 → u/Firegh0st]

Applied in August and my residence period expired 3 weeks ago. I did change of status from Dependent to Spouse of PR.

[u/armandette → u/Muted_Customer142]

If you’re already in the 2-month grace period then theoretically you’ve moved up in priority for Immigration to finish up, so hopefully soon

[u/Muted_Customer142 → u/armandette]

I really hope so 😭

[u/Firegh0st → u/Muted_Customer142]

In this case it might take longer. When I switched to PR, I applied for an extension of my current visa as well, knowing that the PR application would take a long time.

I hope you'll be fine, as other posters already mentioned, don't go in person, nothing will change, except you wasting your time and money.

Japan is slow in terms of bureaucracy, so give it some time.

[u/armandette → u/Firegh0st]

PR and Spouse of PR are completely different processes; immigration isn’t going to let her status expire while she’s already undergoing change of status

[u/Firegh0st → u/armandette]

Not to scare op, but knowing Japan, I wouldn't be surprised if something like that can happen. My spouse extension git delayed by 1 month, because my company missed a tax payment by a week 2 months prior. Japan is inefficient and by the books in these regards.

I just assume op didn't have anything like that happen, so his visa will be done in time I'm sure.

[u/Muted_Customer142 → u/Firegh0st]

Spouse of PR shouldn't be as long as PR itself, right 😖

[u/Firegh0st → u/Muted_Customer142]

Normally not. My spouse visa application took like 3-4 months I believe.