Entries this day: Change_visa_status

Change visa status

10:59am JST Monday 20 December 2010 (day 14880)

I'm at the ward office now, 2 days before my 3 year Engineering visa expires.

I've not had programming work since spring, though I've been seeking work since August, when I got back from Thailand.

There appear to be 4 occurences of the capital letter I above, meaning me.

Me thinks that I should be able to easily switch to a Visitor visa; pretty sure I did that some years ago, when I had qit work at Gaba and started travels with PB. I did not have to go the full blown Immigration office at that time; I just did it at my local ward office.

Today, I talked to the first person and made some noises in Japanese and English, with the intention of expressing my desire to switch to a tourist visa. She was like, "I don't think you can do that without a job..." and I was like, "hmmm" and she goes, "do you have time?" "yeah." "aight take this number; it may take a bit," and I took the number and had a seat, which I continue to have now.

I wonder if she thought I want to extend my visa despite not having a job. Though I would *love* to do that, I can't imagine why she would have to go ask to confirm if that's okay. (It's not (though I've heard that (for several dollars under the table,) it's possible).)

11:58am JST Monday 20 December 2010 (day 14880)

So now I've talked to a couple of people who have told me a lot of stuff in Japanese (a lot of which I don't understand, but can just go with the flow of really exceptional customer service in Japan which means we don't usually have to think too much). Now a young man who speaks a bit of English is "checking my history in Chigasaki." I wonder how much information he has available.

4:49pm JST Monday 20 December 2010 (day 14880)

Well.

They couldn't do it at the ward office. I went to Immigration office and they couldn't do it there either. The law has changed since last time I was able to just go to the office and get a quick change from workin' to travelin' visa. Another issue is the amount of time I have been out of work (more than 90 days).

But, they had a pretty good solution: within the expiration period of my visa, bring back proof that I'm leaving the country by 20 January (allowing me to pay for non-holiday tickets) and they can give me a short (temporary visitor?) visa until then.

I'm glad Lin was able to translate a bit for me. I feel a bit sad/embarrassed because she was all, "you gotta get on this visa thing," and I kept being like, "ah it's no problem; I can just switch like bing!" .... but I was wrong. gah.

One little panic was regarding holiday plans with Lin. I super-hope we can still hang out.

10:33am JST Tuesday 21 December 2010 (day 14881)

we can still hang out.