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Q: I currently study in a university in Japan. Is it possible for me to work?
A: You can work up to 28 hours a week (up to 14 hours if you are a special student) if you obtain "Permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted" (Permission to engage in part-time work).
It is also allowed for you to work up to 8 hours a day during a long vacation such as summer vacation.
Q: I currently run a Japanese restaurant. Is it possible for me to engage a Chinese person as a chef?
A: The standard eligibility as a chef requires to have "special techniques or skills to cook or manufacture food which originate in foreign countries and unique in Japan." Therefore, you are not able to engage a Chinese as a chef of Japanese cooking.
Q: I have been in Japan for about 7 years with a visa under "Spouses of Japanese nationals" but I was divorced from my husband last month. I plan to raise the 5 year old child from the marriage. Is it possible for me and my child to remain in Japan?
A: It is possible to obtain a "permanent status visa" for a reason to support a child from a divorced husband. There are cases that a permanent residency is granted even without children for a reason that you have been living in Japan for many years.
Q: Does the "Transfer" described in the status of "Intracompany Transferee" mean only between the offices abroad and Japan of the same company?
A: A transfer or loan among the same group companies (parent companies, subsidiary companies, affiliated companies) is permitted. In this case, it is necessary to submit a stock certificate and document to show volume of business.
Q: What kind of procedures do I need to take when employing a foreign engineer?
A: In case the foreign engineer already resides in Japan or foreign company's personnel being transferred to your company, you need to submit the following documents at the time of application to extend the stay.
1 A certificate of tax withheld from the prior company
2 A certificate of employment or resign
3 A contract of employment with your company
4 Copies of your company registration and a statement of profit and loss
5 Reason of employment
It is advisable to obtain a certificate of work eligibility before the visa expires so that it can readily show the job he or she is applying for and the nature of your business match.
Also, it can reduce the time required to judge the eligibility of extension.
In case of employing a foreigner who is expected to graduate from college or institute in Japan, a change of status procedure is necessary. The documents needed are as follows.
1 A transcript
2 A diploma or a certificate of graduation
3 A contract of employment with your company
4 Copies of your company registration and a statement of profit and loss
5 Reason of employment
6 Reason of changing the status
Q: I have been living in Japan for one year and currently engaged in investment and management. I have lived in Japan for 8 years in the past. Will I be able to obtain a permanent visa?
A: Those who are eligible for permanent visa need to have good conduct and enough asset or a special skill to make an independent living．Then the Ministry of Justice will evaluate whether the applicant's permanent status will be a benefit to Japan or not.
"Good conduct" means a person is free of criminal records, convictions or probation and to pursue public obligations such as paying taxes.
If you are employed by a company, it is considered that you have "enough asset or a special skill to make an independent living." But when you are a businessperson engaged in investment and management, you need to have an actual business location (office) and continuity of the business.
Judging from your situation, there are two possible cases.
- You have just changed over to the investment/management field.
- You are engaged in investment/management for over three years, but you have been renewing your visa every year.
In case of 1, you just need to renew your status every year.
In case of 2, there may be a problem with your company's financial situation such as:
The profit and loss of this term show that it is in red or the balance carried forward is in red and remains that way in this term or it is in black this term but the total operating income is in red. Unless you correct these situations, it would be difficult to extend your stay and impossible to apply for a permanent visa.
An exemption to the rule of minimum 10-year stay will be applied if you fulfill one of the following conditions.
- Spouses of Japanese nationals or Permanent Resident status or Special Permanent Resident status holders who are actually living together for more than three consecutive years and staying in Japan for more than one year.
Natural children of those also need to be staying in Japan for one year continuously.
- A long term resident who lives in Japan for more than five years continuously.
- Those who live in Japan for more than five consecutive years after being certified as Refugees.
- Those who are recognized as contributors to Japan in the fields of diplomacy, society, economics, culture and so forth and reside in Japan for more than five consecutive years.
Except for someone with distinguished achievement or university professors, it is usually difficult to receive the exemption of #4.
To conclude, in your case it is almost impossible to be granted a permanent status right away. It is suggested for you to stay more than three consecutive years to start with.
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