Frequently asked questions

The following is a list of typical questions we receive from our office.

If you have any other questions, we will be happy to answer them by email or chat, so please do not hesitate to ask.

About our services

Is the consultation free of charge?

A fee is charged for meetings with a Gyoseishoshi immigration lawyer. The first individual meeting at our office costs ¥ 11,000 yen (tax included) for an initial meeting of up to 60 minutes.
After signing the contract, we deduct the cost of the interview, which is effectively 0 yen. So please feel free to consult with us! On-site visits are also available, but may incur additional costs and transport charges.
Online interviews are also available (however, online is for 30 minutes).

What regions are covered?

The service is available throughout Japan. Our main area of jurisdiction is the Tokyo Immigration Bureau, but as the Immigration Bureau’s online system has been expanded from 2022, the Immigration Bureau also accepts correspondence from Sendai Immigration Bureau, Nagoya Immigration Bureau, Sapporo Immigration Bureau, Osaka Immigration Bureau, Hiroshima Immigration Bureau, Takamatsu Immigration Bureau, Fukuoka Immigration Bureau, Naha Immigration Bureau and others. No travel expenses are incurred. (Some types of applications, such as permanent residence applications, currently cannot be submitted online.)
Third country visas such as Australian, US and UK visas can also be handled throughout Japan.

When should I pay you?

For immigration services (Japan visas), there are two payment periods.

• • At the time of request: half of the remuneration fee. You will also be asked to pay the actual costs, including the cost of revenue stamps.
  • After receipt of results: pay the balance of the remuneration.

For third country visas, such as Australian, US and UK visas, the full fee is payable at the start of the process.

I intend to apply myself. Can I only ask for advice?

You are welcome to request an interview only, as we will guide you through the individual interview so that you can deal with the issue yourself.
In addition, we can also accept requests for the preparation of a statement of reasons only. Please see our price list.

I don’t speak Japanese, is that a problem?

Chinese and English are available.
For other languages, bring someone who can speak Japanese.

I can’t find time during weekday office hours, can you offer support on weekends and public holidays?

Saturdays are only available for those who have booked in advance. Sundays, public holidays or evenings can be arranged at your convenience, please contact us for more information.

I will be driving to your office, is there parking available?

If you come to our office by car, please use a nearby toll car park.

Can you apply for a visa on behalf of someone in a foreign country?

When bringing in a person in a foreign country, the Gyoseishoshi Lawyer handles the application for a Certificate of Eligibility. The applicant must then go to the Japanese embassy in the country and apply for the certificate himself/herself.
On the other hand, for foreigners already in Japan, Gyoseishoshi Lawyer handles everything from application to receipt at the Immigration Bureau. You do not have to go to the Immigration Bureau and wait in line. In cases where it is difficult to go to the Immigration Bureau, such as for families with small children, Gyoseishoshi Lawyer’s assistance can be used.

My family has been back in our home country for a while and they are not in Japan now. Do they have to come back to Japan when they renew their visa?

They must be in Japan at the time of visa renewal, once when they submit their application and once when they receive the result.
The Gyoseishoshi Lawyer will actually go to the Immigration Office to apply and receive the results on their behalf, but will need to keep their passports and residence cards. The Gyoseishoshi Lawyer will need to meet them in Japan and take custody of these documents. If your family members wish to renew their visa, they must return to Japan before the expiry date.
Permanent residents who are renewing their residence card can apply even if they are not in Japan.

Which visa applies to me? I am not sure about the different types of visas.

Your circumstances and the purpose for which you wish to stay in Japan will determine which visa applies. Our a Gyoseishoshi Lawyer will listen to you and make a decision. Please feel free to contact us.

What are my visa’s chances of being approved?

Although the Gyoseishoshi Lawyer cannot make a definite decision on whether or not permission is granted, the possibility of granting permission is determined by taking into account his extensive experience and the trends in the Immigration Bureau’s examination criteria. In principle, we will not accept cases where the Gyoseishoshi Lawyer judges that there is less than a 50% chance of permission.

When can I apply to renew my visa (status of residence)?

Applications are accepted at the Immigration Bureau from “approximately three months” before the expiry of the period of stay. If the application is made too early (early application), special reasons are required and a statement of reasons is also necessary. Please contact us for more information.

How long does it take to complete?

It usually takes about a week to apply to the immigration bureau once all the documents you need to prepare have been received.
It is difficult to say how long it takes for the immigration bureau to examine your case, but in the case of visa changes or extensions (renewals), it takes between two weeks and one month, although in some cases it can take a few months. In the case of a call-in from abroad (application for Certificate of Eligibility), it takes one to three months.

What happens in case of non-approval?

We will accompany you to the immigration office for a hearing on the reasons for refusal. We will then follow up with you to re-apply.
However, the contract will be terminated immediately if it is rejected due to a false application or forged document.

About the common cases

My visa expires tomorrow, what should I do?

To avoid overstaying, you should go to the immigration office immediately for advice.
It does not matter if you do not have all the documents. A Gyoseishoshi Lawyer can accompany you, please contact us by email as soon as possible.

I am working in Japan on a work visa. I heard that it is easy to bring in family members, so I applied to the immigration office myself, but after three months I still haven’t received permission. Is there a problem?

It may simply be that there are so many applications that it is taking a long time, or there may be points in the application or documents that are unclear or seem strange. If you show us the application documents you submitted to the immigration bureau, our Gyoseishoshi Lawyer will be able to identify some of the problems. We recommend that you voluntarily submit additional supplementary documents if necessary.

I received a sudden notice from the Immigration Department stating that I must appear in order for my status to be cancelled. Will I be deported? What should I do?

If the visa is found to have been obtained by false or fraudulent means, the status of residence will be cancelled and deportation proceedings will be taken immediately. If you meet the requirements for revocation of your status of residence for other reasons, even if your status of residence is revoked, you will be given a reprieve to prepare for departure. You will not be deported directly after presenting yourself at the immigration office. When the immigration inspector asks for an opinion, the foreigner can state his/her opinion and provide evidence. In some cases, if the misunderstanding is cleared up, the case may not be cancelled. First of all, please consult with us before the appearance date. We will work together to find a solution.

I have a student visa, but I worked part-time in a convenience store throughout my studies. I would like to get a job at this convenience store after I graduate from university, but I won’t get a visa for working at a convenience store, will I?

Unfortunately, a work visa is not granted for a job as a cashier in a convenience store, as it does not meet the requirements. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to find work in a convenience store at all; depending on the actual nature and volume of the work, a visa may be granted. This is true even if you work in a restaurant or shop. The Gyoseishoshi Lawyer will ask you about the detailed nature and volume of your work and determine your possibilities.

My husband is Japanese and our family is currently living abroad, but he will be returning to Japan. Can I apply for a spouse visa before my husband returns to Japan?

Normally, the husband or wife in Japan applies for a visa by inviting the husband (or wife) abroad, but even if the Japanese husband (or wife) is not in Japan, the Japanese relative, such as parents or siblings can apply for a visa on his/her behalf if the Japanese relative lives in Japan. The Japanese husband (wife) does not need to return to Japan to apply for the visa.

My parents brought me to Japan when I was very young, but I cannot change my visa to a work visa because I do not have any education. Can I change to a visa that allows me to work?

If you are recognised for your ability to settle in Japan, for example, you may be able to change your visa to a work-enabled visa. Please ask us for the detail.

Where do I apply for a visa?

The contact point for visa (status of residence) applications is the regional immigration office with jurisdiction over the address. Here is the list of the regional immigration bureau.

I have heard that immigration checks have recently become more stringent – is this true?

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of cases of visas obtained by fraudulent means, such as sham marriages and sham recognition, as well as sham employment and sham refugee status, and the Immigration Department has strengthened its screening procedures to deal with these malicious applications.
In some cases, people who have been granted a visa without any problems in the past may end up with a visa renewal application that is not granted. To avoid panic when applying for a visa renewal next year, we recommend that you consult with a Gyoseishoshi Lawyer specialising in immigration matters in advance to determine whether the extension will be granted without problems. The requirements for visa extension renewal are as follows. If it is difficult for you to check them yourself, we can diagnose the problem during an individual interview. If you do not meet the requirements, please contact us for advice.

• Does the activity in Japan correspond to the status of residence?
• Do you meet the criteria for landing permission as stipulated by the Ministry of Justice?
• Is the applicant of good conduct?
• Do you have sufficient assets to earn an independent living?
• Are the employment and working conditions adequate?
• Have you fulfilled your tax obligations?
• Have you fulfilled your immigration notification and other obligations?
• Are there any falsehoods in the application?

I was arrested by the police for driving without a licence. I was released immediately, but will this affect my visa in the future?

If a foreigner is arrested in Japan, the Immigration Bureau will naturally become aware of it. When extending or changing a visa, it is possible to continue to be granted a visa if the foreigner confesses honestly and without concealment, explains why the incident occurred, and carefully reports that you will not do it again.

Questions about HSP (Highly Skilled Professional) visas ↓↓
高级人才常见问题（中文版）　 J-Find Visa FAQ　 Highly Skilled Professinal (HSP) Visa FAQ　

If you have further questions, please contact us.

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Tel: 03-6264-9388