This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）
In the screening for a 家族滞在 visa renewal, whether the person supporting you still has the means to support the family, and whether the family member on 家族滞在 has kept the rules on 資格外活動, are the 2 points that are looked at most. In particular, working without 資格外活動許可 (Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted), and working more than 28 hours per week, which is the limit under blanket permission, are the points most likely to become a problem at the renewal screening.
A person whose 家族滞在 visa renewal is coming up asks what the examiner looks at.
That the ability to support the family financially continues, and that tax obligations are met.
The most important thing at a 家族滞在 visa renewal is that the person supporting you (the foreign national holding a work visa) can continue to support the family financially.
家族滞在 is a status of residence that assumes living together, so while you live apart you need to show objectively that money is really being sent.
As its name suggests, 家族滞在 is a status of residence that assumes you live together. If you live apart for unavoidable reasons, the person supporting you needs to be actually sending living costs to the family in Japan.
It is extremely important to be able to explain this objectively, with bank transfer records or with a clear picture of the monthly living expenses.
Even so, there is a higher chance that a 在留期間 (period of stay) of 3 years or 5 years will be shortened to 1 year. In the worst case, denial is also possible.
You need 資格外活動許可. Working without it is regarded as illegal work.
If you hold the 家族滞在 status of residence, you can work part-time to help with living costs, but you need 資格外活動許可 to do so. Breaking the rules about this part-time work is the main cause of denial at renewal.
Before you start any part-time work, always apply to the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) for 「資格外活動許可」 and make sure you have it. If you work without this permission, it is regarded as 不法就労 (illegal work). It can become a reason for denial at your next extension of period of stay, and you may also become subject to 退去強制 (deportation).
Under blanket permission the limit is, as a rule, up to 28 hours per week, and the hours at every workplace are added together.
Under blanket permission, part-time work as 資格外活動 is allowed up to 28 hours per week as a rule. Working more than this goes against the conditions of your 資格外活動許可, and it becomes a problem at your next renewal screening.
That there is no contradiction between the documents of the person supporting you and your own, and that anything worrying is explained in a 理由書.
At a 家族滞在 visa renewal, it is important that the information in the documents of the person supporting you and of the holder of the 家族滞在 status of residence does not contradict.
When there is something an examiner may find worrying — for example the income of the person supporting you has gone up and down, or the person on 家族滞在 works close to the 資格外活動 limit — submitting a 理由書 (written explanation) that sets out clearly why the situation is as it is is the key to avoiding denial.
Documents proving that the marriage continues, or that the parent-child relationship continues (such as a 戸籍謄本, the family register), should always be the most recent ones.
A 家族滞在 visa renewal needs accurate proof both of the work situation of the person supporting you and of what the family actually does. If you have even a small worry about your own renewal, please consult a specialist such as a gyoseishoshi registered to submit applications.
The 2 points are whether the person supporting you can continue to support the family financially, and whether the family member on 家族滞在 has kept the rules on 資格外活動.
Yes. Apply to the 出入国在留管理庁 for 資格外活動許可 in advance. Working without permission is regarded as illegal work.
Under blanket permission, up to 28 hours per week as a rule. If you work at several places, add up all your hours and manage the total.
You need to show objectively, with transfer records and the like, that the person supporting you really sends living costs. Even so, there is a higher chance that the 在留期間 will be shortened to 1 year.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.