８April2020
Hello. I'm Nakajima, in charge of Applying for Relationship-based VISA.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, there are a lot of foreign nationals who cannot reenter Japan (including someone who is out of Japan with special re-entry permission) after they filed their application for Change of the Status of Residence or Extension of Period of Stay or before they filed these application.
I will explain what it will be for them in each situation.
Now, let’s check the conditions of refusal of landing.
Foreign nationals who stayed in the countries / regions listed in Notice on refusal of landing within 14 days before the application for landing.
Japanese people can return even if they have stayed in these countries, but the foreign nationals who have relationship-based visa (e.g. Permanent Residency and Spousal visa) are subjected to this refusal of landing from the 3rd of April.
Currently, there has no perspective of the lift of this refusal of landing
○ Those who have filed their application before leaving Japan
Normally, they cannot receive their new residential card if they are outside of Japan. But the Immigration Bureau accepts that the proxy can receive it!
Who can be a proxy?
・ If they have family in Japan: The family can be their proxy.
・ If they do not have family in Japan: The Administrative Procedures Specialist
(Gyoseisyoshi) can be their proxy.
If you cannot receive the new residential card, you will lose your visa. This is a very important matter, so please never give up. We will give you the Power of Attorney.
○ Those who have NOT filed their application before leaving Japan
If you cannot come back to Japan before the expiry date, you will have to apply for the Certificate of Eligibility again. But you can file the application with minimal documentation (Application forms and statement of reason) issued by their guarantor in Japan.
If these special measures are available for you, please use it.Please do not hesitate to ask us if you have questions or concerns.
Thank you for reading.
