Greetings from Doucho! As we inch ever closer to the 2010-2011 JET year, I’d like to remind Hokkaido JETs of a few issues coming up in the near future:

  • All 1st year US JETs: you’re coming up on the deadline to file your taxes in August. Hopefully you filed your extension back in April, but please don’t forget to file the actual tax return when the time comes.
  • 3rd year continuing JETs: your visa will expire this summer! Please talk to your supervisor about getting the paperwork together to have your visa extended. You will have to go to immigration to get everything sorted.

For those 3rd years who need to extend their visas, please refer to the following steps:

1. Download an Application to Extend Period of Stay 在留期間更新許可申請書 (zairyu kikan koshin kyoka shinseisho). You can very handily download the form from http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/IMMIGRATION/16-3-1.pdf

  • The application form is huge – 27 pages – but you only need to fill out pages 1 and 4.
  • Your status of residence (在留資格zairyuu shikaku) is ALT-instructor (教育) (relevant only to JET Programme ALTs)

2. Fill the form out and be sure to have your supervisor check that everything is in the right place (you do not want to have to fill another one out while standing at the immigration bureau). Bring it to immigration, along with:

  • Request form from employer 依頼書 iraisho (found on page 232 of their JET manual)
  • Contract or intent to (re)contract (再)契約予定書 (sai)keiyaku yoteisho
  • Terms and conditions of contract 就業規則shugyou kisoku
  • Statement of Earnings 源線徴収票gensen choshyuuhyou
  • Passport
  • Alien Registration Card

3. Have your office CALL THE BUREAU before you go into visit. Like so many other things, procedures and policies seem to differ depending on the day and the person to whom you’re speaking, so it really is best to call ahead, let the immigration office know that you are coming in so that any potential problems may be ironed out beforehand.

4. Once you have cleared things ahead of time, go into immigration in person, where they will stamp your passport and then ask you to write your name and address on a postcard.

  • About two weeks later the postcard will be sent to you with the notice, ‘Please return to the Immigration Bureau’. You MUST return IN PERSON, within the deadline, and pay 4000 yen for your extended visa. If you do not follow this last part of the process you will be deported, no questions asked.
  • 4th year continuing JETs: please check that your gaijin card is not going to expire. The card is good for 5 years, but expires on your birthday, so if your birthday happens to land before the end of your 5th year contract, please make sure to head over to the local city office to have it renewed before then. You definitely don’t want to be caught with an expired card!

Otherwise, enjoy the summer. It seems we may have entered into Hokkaido’s “non-existent” rainy season, but here’s hoping for sunny days ahead!

Vicki
Phone: 011-231-4111 ext. 21-229
Cell: 080-5596-3856
E-mail: schirado.victoria@pref.hokkaido.lg.jp