After going to the Soul Run club at ICU, Rob, Katy and I cycled to our local city office in Musashi Koganei to pick up our Alien cards (外国人登録証, gaikokujin tourokushou), which we applied for a couple of weeks ago.
We just handed over the certificates they gave us when we applied (they said also passports are okay) and they had our cards ready.
So now we don't need to carry our passports around with us, and they act as an official proof of ID.
Another big thing ticked off the list! Just waiting to hear from the National Health Insurance office so we can buy it!
Showing posts with label alien registration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alien registration. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Alien Registration & National Health Insurance
Today, Rob, Katy and I met up with Chihoko and walked to the Koganei City Office to register as official aliens, and start the procedures to buy Japanese National Health Insurance (国民健康保険, kokumin kenkou hoken), which we need to do as we're studying at a Japanese University.
It was pouring with rain, really heavily, so we all had our umbrellas up. It was due to a typhoon (台風11号, the eleventh typhoon of the year) passing right by the Kanto region. We all went out in T-shirts and shorts like we had been for the past few days but for the first time since arriving, I was actually cold! I was actually shivering by the end of the day, because the rain combined with the strong wind was very unpleasant!
The Foreign Registration desk was on the first floor so we walked in and took seats straight away. They gave us application forms to fill in, and spoke some English so it quite easy to do it. I remembered some of it from last time I had to register as an alien in Chuo-ku.
To get an Alien Card (外国人登録証, gaikokujin tourokushou) you need:
- valid passport
- 2 standard passport photos (4.5cm x 3.5cm)
- completed application form (supplied by the city office)
After you get the card you can use it to open bank accounts and buy mobile phones, and it also acts as a proxy for your passport, so you don't need to carry your passport round with you as ID.
After finishing the application process, and paying Y200 each for the certificates for the bank and phone companies, proving we had applied for the card, we got an A4 certificate that can be used like an Alien Card until the real one is ready for collection. Ours should be ready in mid-September, so we'll go back and collect them in a couple of weeks.
After that, we headed upstairs to the second floor and waited for the desk handling the Health Insurance to be free. We were called up separately and were talked through (in Japanese, but with Chihoko's help we all understood) the procedure. We signed some documents and were told that we'd be informed by post when we could go to the post office to pay for it.
We couldn't write down our individual room numbers because they only had our guesthouse as a whole in their system. We were a bit worried about how the letters would reach us, but we remembered that at the guesthouse head office they had told us we could register our individual addresses, including room numbers, at a post office. So off we went, in the heavy rain, to the nearest post office.
We asked for the relevant forms, which seemed quite simple, until we realised we'd filled in the wrong sections. We asked for new forms, and Rob and Katy both seemed very dishearted that we looked like ばか外人, baka gaijin), or stupid foreigners, but I think I've grown so accustomed to making stupid mistakes that I didn't really mind!
We filled the new forms in and gave them back. They took longer with mine than with the other two, but there didn't seem to be any fatal errors, so I assume it'll be okay!
We then met Rob's friend Kazuya, who met us at a Softbank phone shop. Rob wanted to buy a pay-as-you-go (プリペイド, prepaid) phone, like I did nearly two years ago (I couldn't believe it was that long ago!) but of course he had trouble like I did. Not as much trouble admittedly, because he's over 20, but he had to go into a shop, and with Chihoko's kind help, order one. They said they'd email or ring him (through my phone) in a week or two when it's ready for him to collect.
Then we relaxed and went to a Japanese McDonald's! It was my very first Japanese McDonald's meal, as I purposefully avoided it last time I lived here. I wanted to try something you can't get in Britain, so I went for a Teriyaki burger. It was nice but the teriyaki sauce was slightly too sweet for my taste. The chips were exactly the same as in Britain, and the others said their food tasted identical, so if you're ever feeling homesick here you know where to turn!
We chatted for a while and then all headed back to the guesthouse to do some kanji study. Big placement test on Thursday! We need to be prepared!
Tomorrow we're meeting a good friend of ours called Georgie, who's in Tokyo for just one day. We need to decide where to show her! I hope the rain clears up though, the typhoon is due to move north, but I hope it clears Tokyo in time!
It was pouring with rain, really heavily, so we all had our umbrellas up. It was due to a typhoon (台風11号, the eleventh typhoon of the year) passing right by the Kanto region. We all went out in T-shirts and shorts like we had been for the past few days but for the first time since arriving, I was actually cold! I was actually shivering by the end of the day, because the rain combined with the strong wind was very unpleasant!
The Foreign Registration desk was on the first floor so we walked in and took seats straight away. They gave us application forms to fill in, and spoke some English so it quite easy to do it. I remembered some of it from last time I had to register as an alien in Chuo-ku.
To get an Alien Card (外国人登録証, gaikokujin tourokushou) you need:
- valid passport
- 2 standard passport photos (4.5cm x 3.5cm)
- completed application form (supplied by the city office)
After you get the card you can use it to open bank accounts and buy mobile phones, and it also acts as a proxy for your passport, so you don't need to carry your passport round with you as ID.
After finishing the application process, and paying Y200 each for the certificates for the bank and phone companies, proving we had applied for the card, we got an A4 certificate that can be used like an Alien Card until the real one is ready for collection. Ours should be ready in mid-September, so we'll go back and collect them in a couple of weeks.
After that, we headed upstairs to the second floor and waited for the desk handling the Health Insurance to be free. We were called up separately and were talked through (in Japanese, but with Chihoko's help we all understood) the procedure. We signed some documents and were told that we'd be informed by post when we could go to the post office to pay for it.
We couldn't write down our individual room numbers because they only had our guesthouse as a whole in their system. We were a bit worried about how the letters would reach us, but we remembered that at the guesthouse head office they had told us we could register our individual addresses, including room numbers, at a post office. So off we went, in the heavy rain, to the nearest post office.
We asked for the relevant forms, which seemed quite simple, until we realised we'd filled in the wrong sections. We asked for new forms, and Rob and Katy both seemed very dishearted that we looked like ばか外人, baka gaijin), or stupid foreigners, but I think I've grown so accustomed to making stupid mistakes that I didn't really mind!
We filled the new forms in and gave them back. They took longer with mine than with the other two, but there didn't seem to be any fatal errors, so I assume it'll be okay!
We then met Rob's friend Kazuya, who met us at a Softbank phone shop. Rob wanted to buy a pay-as-you-go (プリペイド, prepaid) phone, like I did nearly two years ago (I couldn't believe it was that long ago!) but of course he had trouble like I did. Not as much trouble admittedly, because he's over 20, but he had to go into a shop, and with Chihoko's kind help, order one. They said they'd email or ring him (through my phone) in a week or two when it's ready for him to collect.
Then we relaxed and went to a Japanese McDonald's! It was my very first Japanese McDonald's meal, as I purposefully avoided it last time I lived here. I wanted to try something you can't get in Britain, so I went for a Teriyaki burger. It was nice but the teriyaki sauce was slightly too sweet for my taste. The chips were exactly the same as in Britain, and the others said their food tasted identical, so if you're ever feeling homesick here you know where to turn!
We chatted for a while and then all headed back to the guesthouse to do some kanji study. Big placement test on Thursday! We need to be prepared!
Tomorrow we're meeting a good friend of ours called Georgie, who's in Tokyo for just one day. We need to decide where to show her! I hope the rain clears up though, the typhoon is due to move north, but I hope it clears Tokyo in time!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Phaffing with Phaxes
After getting home from Ueno Park, I was just about to start cooking dinner when Gaba rang me and said that there was a problem with my Alien Card, and that it was going to expire soon. I said it must be because I only had the receipt when I signed the contract and that I had the actual card now.
He said that he needed it tonight because my schedule (which needs submitting by the 10th February for March) was locked until they had the card's details.
So I went to the convenience store about 3 minutes walk away, over the busy road, and deciphered the Japanese to photocopy and fax both sides of the card. It cost Y10 per copy, and Y50 per fax.
Then I went home, thinking everything was fine and dandy, but I rang them to make sure, and they that something had come through, but it was blank.
So I went back, and asked a store assistant to help me. He did exactly the same as I did, and it seemed to work. So I went home again. They rang and said that they had received the document but it had arrived at half the original size and was illegible.
I went back to the store again and asked the same man if he could enlarge it for me (that took all my powers of ingenuity as he didn't speak English) and we faxed it again. This time I rang Gaba from the shop and asked if it had worked. They told me it had come through at half-size again and it must be a problem with their fax machine. Grgh.
So I spent all that money (I know it's not much but it's still a waste) on nothing.
He said that he needed it tonight because my schedule (which needs submitting by the 10th February for March) was locked until they had the card's details.
So I went to the convenience store about 3 minutes walk away, over the busy road, and deciphered the Japanese to photocopy and fax both sides of the card. It cost Y10 per copy, and Y50 per fax.
Then I went home, thinking everything was fine and dandy, but I rang them to make sure, and they that something had come through, but it was blank.
So I went back, and asked a store assistant to help me. He did exactly the same as I did, and it seemed to work. So I went home again. They rang and said that they had received the document but it had arrived at half the original size and was illegible.
I went back to the store again and asked the same man if he could enlarge it for me (that took all my powers of ingenuity as he didn't speak English) and we faxed it again. This time I rang Gaba from the shop and asked if it had worked. They told me it had come through at half-size again and it must be a problem with their fax machine. Grgh.
So I spent all that money (I know it's not much but it's still a waste) on nothing.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Hanko Registration
Unless you know exactly where a place is, never, ever go anywhere without a map, and even then, take one anyway.
I went to collect the Hanko name stamp I bought on Friday this morning. It was just outside the train station, but I still got lost. It took me 15 minutes to find the place, but when I did it was very easy. He remembered me and produced my stamp, showing me the mark it made.
If you need to find out how to write your name in Japanese (it will probably be in katakana) then this site is quite good. Mine is just my surname in katakana, but you could have it in kanji similar to the sounds in your name too, but it's probably best to stick to simple to avoid any possible confusion.
Then I headed to Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Bank to change my official signature from 'sign' to Hanko stamp. It has a different name when you use it for official documents, an inkan. Easier to remember because it has the word 'ink' in it.
I asked one of the employees how to do it and she gave me a couple of forms to fill in my name and address on. Then I took a ticket from the machine and waited for half an hour to be called. It was then that I realised I hadn't brought the proof of Alien Registration with me. I thought I'd have to go back and get it but it turned out it wasn't a problem. I filled in some forms and stamped about a billion things. The whole process took about 45 minutes, but it would have been quicker if I could have understood everything she said to me.
That was done! This wasn't on my initial itinerary but I decided to go to Chuo-ku Ward Office to see if I had to register my inkan as my official signature.
I did have to! I asked one of the men standing near the door and he helped me through the form, then gave me a ticket from the machine and I waited. I was called up to the counter after about 10 minutes and they gave me another form to fill in, and I had to sign and stamp in several boxes. The whole process took about 45 minutes again. At one point, I saw a card with my face on it in a folder they were using and I wondered if it was my Gaikokujin Tourokusho (Alien Registration Card).
It wasn't a problem here either that I didn't have the receipt of my Alien Registration or the certificate. I did have my passport and that seemed to do.
They gave me the certificate that said that I had registered my inkan as my official signature and a card that I could put into any Ward Office in Chuo-ku to obtain a copy of this certificate. I had to choose a 4-digit PIN number for this. It cost me Y350 (£1.75ish).
And then they surprised me by giving me my Alien Registration Card! I was meant to collect it on Valentine's Day but it was ready early! So that was definitely a trip worth making.
Another successful morning! I can now cross a lot of things off my 'To-do List'!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Bank Accounts
What a day!
To quote 'Friends', could it have BEEN any more hectic?
It started off nicely enough. I woke up and lazed in bed for a bit, turned on my Softbank phone and started playing with it - then it rings! And it's Gaba, confirming that I've got the job, and need to have a bank account open before contract signing at 11am tomorrow.
So I hurriedly ring Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ (Gaba's recommended bank) to ask if the receipt of my Alien Registration card will be enough to open an account and if Gaba were right and, because I would be working with them, I could open an account despite being under 20. They said yes, that's fine.
So I hopped on the Hibiya line to Nihonbashi, prepared for another three hour search for the right bank, but I was sure I'd passed MUFJ several hundred times before, and I had! I found it on a map written entirely in kanji (go me) and it was a very short walk away.
I took a number from the ticket machine and waited for about 15 minutes. I went up to the counter when my number (75) was called and I asked if she spoke English. She didn't, so she got someone who did. She said to open an account, I had to go upstairs, so one of the workers showed me the way. I then spoke to a woman who supposedly (not supposably) spoke English and after about an hour of language negotiation, I understood that the receipt was not enough. I needed a more official document. So I left, and then returned, armed with the fact that I had rung Head Office and they had said the receipt was fine. Then I spoke to a Japanese-American woman (why couldn't I speak to her in the first place?) who said that unfortunately, the receipt was not enough, and she would ask her manager to ring Gaba and explain the situation. She wrote down the name of the document I needed in kanji for me.
So I hurried to Chuo-ku Ward Office, two subway trips away, where I applied for my Alien Registration card last week, and filled in one of the yellow forms labelled 'For Foreigners'. I think she called it a 'genpo' (pronounced 'gempo'). It was the right form! I wondered how long this document would take - days, weeks, months? It took about 10 minutes. Yay! I had to pay Y300 (£1.50).
By this time it was 14.30 and all MUFJ branches close at 15.00. So I ran back to Tsukiji station, where I'd seen an arrow on the station pointing to the nearest branch. So I went back, Pasmo'ed my way onto the platform, then found the right exit. And it wouldn't let me leave! I explained in extremely broken Japanese to the guard that I hadn't been on a train, I'd just come onto the platform. He used my Pasmo card to buy another ticket (grgh) and I left. The MUFJ bank was just around the corner and I arrived with 10 minutes til closing time.
I was sure they would send me away, saying it was too late to open a bank account, come back tomorrow, but they sat me down with some forms and helped me through them. I had to write my name, address, phone number and date of birth several times on different pieces of paper, but, at about 15.10, they told me to get a ticket from the machine, and wait for it to be called. Ten minutes later, 723 was called and I went up to the counter.
The woman didn't speak English and was desperately trying to tell me something. About 15 minutes later, she told me I'd have to come back another day with a Japanese-speaking friend. No!! I asked if there was anyone who spoke English at the bank. She went to have a look. And there was! A very nice woman who introduced herself as Nakamura, and spoke very good English, then took over.
Then came the real problems! First of all, they spent over 30 minutes pondering over my address, because what I had written on the forms was different to what the Ward Office had written. They checked Sakura House's website, used an interactive map to find my exact building, used online address finders etc etc. I suggested they rang Sakura House to confirm the address, but they said it would be an invasion of privacy. I didn't mind! Finally, it took me reciting my address, in Japanese, back to them. It turns out that I hadn't written the building name (because it was extremely long and didn't fit into the space on the form) on their document so they were confused.
Then there was a problem with me using my signature to open an account at this branch. The Nihonbashi branch said "Sign ok" but the Tsukiji branch needed a Hanko (name stamp) to open one. I said I didn't have one. She then printed me out a map and wrote me a note to the owner of the nearest Hanko shop to my home.
Then they said that I had to open an account at the branch nearest to my home - Oudenma-cho branch (right by my nearest Hanko shop, conveniently) and couldn't open one here for me. I asked if Oudenma-cho would allow me to open an account with my signature, not a stamp. They rang them up, and found out that it would be okay to open one with my signature, but I would need a Hanko later to transfer my official signature to the stamp.
Nakamura said that I could get my bank book immediately when I opened the account, but my bank card would be sent in the post using Special Delivery. If I missed the postman (very likely as he might not know where to go for my room) he'd leave a message, and I would have to take my passport, my Hanko and the message to a post office (not sure which one) and collect it from there. That would be 7-10 days after I opened my account.
Then they realised that I needed proof that I was working at Gaba (something Gaba had told me wasn't needed) so I produced my preliminary contract I'd been given. They said it was okay but tomorrow the Oudenma-cho branch would need to ring Gaba to confirm.
Then Gaba phoned me. It was one of those Phoebe moments (sorry, another 'Friends' quote, but I miss it) - "Ugh, who's phone is that? It's so annoying. Everywhere you go!"
And yes, it was mine. I explained the situation to them and they said that if I couldn't open an account by 11am tomorrow, we'd have to re-schedule the contract signing in February. No!! I can't put this off, I need money!
I explained to Nakamura the urgency of me opening this account before 11am tomorrow and she wrote a note to someone at Oudenma-cho explaining the situation. Then she stuck a note on the Gaba contract saying it was okay to ring Gaba to confirm that I was going to work there.
By this time, it was nearly 16.45 and I knew that they must be really frustrated with me. I kept apologising and they shook their heads and said it was fine. I was the last customer left in the bank, all of the workers were still there, but I felt bad using up their time.
They printed me out a map of the Oudenma-cho branch's location and labelled the nearest subway exit and the route for me. Then they wished me good luck and they hoped for the best for tomorrow.
I took the Hibiya line home, bought two ready meals (I hadn't eaten anything all day) and flopped down at 18.00 to get some nourishment.
So, tomorrow, I'm going to get up at 7am, get into my business clothes, go straight to the Oudenma-cho branch for its opening at 9am, hopefully there won't be any problems (ha!), I'll get my bank book, then go to the Gaba Recruitment Centre at Ebisu and sign my contract. After that, I can go back to the same area as Oudenma-cho and order my Hanko name stamp (it takes a day to make it). That's the plan! But I'd put money on something going wrong and there being SOME problem.
Many thanks to the people at Tsukiji's Mitsubishi UFJ Bank. They were the nicest customer service people I've ever met. They were very friendly, understanding, interested in my travels, eager to help, and went well beyond the call of duty (and their finishing time).
Big day tomorrow! Fingers crossed it all goes to plan...
To quote 'Friends', could it have BEEN any more hectic?
It started off nicely enough. I woke up and lazed in bed for a bit, turned on my Softbank phone and started playing with it - then it rings! And it's Gaba, confirming that I've got the job, and need to have a bank account open before contract signing at 11am tomorrow.
So I hurriedly ring Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ (Gaba's recommended bank) to ask if the receipt of my Alien Registration card will be enough to open an account and if Gaba were right and, because I would be working with them, I could open an account despite being under 20. They said yes, that's fine.
So I hopped on the Hibiya line to Nihonbashi, prepared for another three hour search for the right bank, but I was sure I'd passed MUFJ several hundred times before, and I had! I found it on a map written entirely in kanji (go me) and it was a very short walk away.
I took a number from the ticket machine and waited for about 15 minutes. I went up to the counter when my number (75) was called and I asked if she spoke English. She didn't, so she got someone who did. She said to open an account, I had to go upstairs, so one of the workers showed me the way. I then spoke to a woman who supposedly (not supposably) spoke English and after about an hour of language negotiation, I understood that the receipt was not enough. I needed a more official document. So I left, and then returned, armed with the fact that I had rung Head Office and they had said the receipt was fine. Then I spoke to a Japanese-American woman (why couldn't I speak to her in the first place?) who said that unfortunately, the receipt was not enough, and she would ask her manager to ring Gaba and explain the situation. She wrote down the name of the document I needed in kanji for me.
So I hurried to Chuo-ku Ward Office, two subway trips away, where I applied for my Alien Registration card last week, and filled in one of the yellow forms labelled 'For Foreigners'. I think she called it a 'genpo' (pronounced 'gempo'). It was the right form! I wondered how long this document would take - days, weeks, months? It took about 10 minutes. Yay! I had to pay Y300 (£1.50).
By this time it was 14.30 and all MUFJ branches close at 15.00. So I ran back to Tsukiji station, where I'd seen an arrow on the station pointing to the nearest branch. So I went back, Pasmo'ed my way onto the platform, then found the right exit. And it wouldn't let me leave! I explained in extremely broken Japanese to the guard that I hadn't been on a train, I'd just come onto the platform. He used my Pasmo card to buy another ticket (grgh) and I left. The MUFJ bank was just around the corner and I arrived with 10 minutes til closing time.
I was sure they would send me away, saying it was too late to open a bank account, come back tomorrow, but they sat me down with some forms and helped me through them. I had to write my name, address, phone number and date of birth several times on different pieces of paper, but, at about 15.10, they told me to get a ticket from the machine, and wait for it to be called. Ten minutes later, 723 was called and I went up to the counter.
The woman didn't speak English and was desperately trying to tell me something. About 15 minutes later, she told me I'd have to come back another day with a Japanese-speaking friend. No!! I asked if there was anyone who spoke English at the bank. She went to have a look. And there was! A very nice woman who introduced herself as Nakamura, and spoke very good English, then took over.
Then came the real problems! First of all, they spent over 30 minutes pondering over my address, because what I had written on the forms was different to what the Ward Office had written. They checked Sakura House's website, used an interactive map to find my exact building, used online address finders etc etc. I suggested they rang Sakura House to confirm the address, but they said it would be an invasion of privacy. I didn't mind! Finally, it took me reciting my address, in Japanese, back to them. It turns out that I hadn't written the building name (because it was extremely long and didn't fit into the space on the form) on their document so they were confused.
Then there was a problem with me using my signature to open an account at this branch. The Nihonbashi branch said "Sign ok" but the Tsukiji branch needed a Hanko (name stamp) to open one. I said I didn't have one. She then printed me out a map and wrote me a note to the owner of the nearest Hanko shop to my home.
Then they said that I had to open an account at the branch nearest to my home - Oudenma-cho branch (right by my nearest Hanko shop, conveniently) and couldn't open one here for me. I asked if Oudenma-cho would allow me to open an account with my signature, not a stamp. They rang them up, and found out that it would be okay to open one with my signature, but I would need a Hanko later to transfer my official signature to the stamp.
Nakamura said that I could get my bank book immediately when I opened the account, but my bank card would be sent in the post using Special Delivery. If I missed the postman (very likely as he might not know where to go for my room) he'd leave a message, and I would have to take my passport, my Hanko and the message to a post office (not sure which one) and collect it from there. That would be 7-10 days after I opened my account.
Then they realised that I needed proof that I was working at Gaba (something Gaba had told me wasn't needed) so I produced my preliminary contract I'd been given. They said it was okay but tomorrow the Oudenma-cho branch would need to ring Gaba to confirm.
Then Gaba phoned me. It was one of those Phoebe moments (sorry, another 'Friends' quote, but I miss it) - "Ugh, who's phone is that? It's so annoying. Everywhere you go!"
And yes, it was mine. I explained the situation to them and they said that if I couldn't open an account by 11am tomorrow, we'd have to re-schedule the contract signing in February. No!! I can't put this off, I need money!
I explained to Nakamura the urgency of me opening this account before 11am tomorrow and she wrote a note to someone at Oudenma-cho explaining the situation. Then she stuck a note on the Gaba contract saying it was okay to ring Gaba to confirm that I was going to work there.
By this time, it was nearly 16.45 and I knew that they must be really frustrated with me. I kept apologising and they shook their heads and said it was fine. I was the last customer left in the bank, all of the workers were still there, but I felt bad using up their time.
They printed me out a map of the Oudenma-cho branch's location and labelled the nearest subway exit and the route for me. Then they wished me good luck and they hoped for the best for tomorrow.
I took the Hibiya line home, bought two ready meals (I hadn't eaten anything all day) and flopped down at 18.00 to get some nourishment.
So, tomorrow, I'm going to get up at 7am, get into my business clothes, go straight to the Oudenma-cho branch for its opening at 9am, hopefully there won't be any problems (ha!), I'll get my bank book, then go to the Gaba Recruitment Centre at Ebisu and sign my contract. After that, I can go back to the same area as Oudenma-cho and order my Hanko name stamp (it takes a day to make it). That's the plan! But I'd put money on something going wrong and there being SOME problem.
Many thanks to the people at Tsukiji's Mitsubishi UFJ Bank. They were the nicest customer service people I've ever met. They were very friendly, understanding, interested in my travels, eager to help, and went well beyond the call of duty (and their finishing time).
Big day tomorrow! Fingers crossed it all goes to plan...
Friday, January 18, 2008
Registration with JAWHM
Going back in time one week, to last Friday. I said that I'd write a post on registering with the Japan Association for Working Holiday Makers (JAWHM) and here it is!
The JAWHM is located in Nakano-ku's impressive Sun Plaza (a big white building that you can see from the exit of Nakano train station, despite me studying the big tourist map when it was right in front of me - it slopes on one side if that helps at all!).
This was the day when it rained all day, real wet Pacific rain, so I ran into the building and immediately found someone who was looking for the same place, in fact she was looking at the map at the same time as me, but seemed to realise where it was before I did.
We went up to the seventh floor of the Sun Plaza and the JAWHM office was directly ahead. I came in and said I wanted to register. It was very easy to do. But my landing permit expiry date was different to the visa expiry date so there was a tiny bit of confusion, but they seemed to think that I could extend my visit from the 17th September 2008 (visa expiry) to 7th January 2009 (landing permit expiry), which I don't want to do, because I do kind of have my heart set on going to Uni! But it contradicts what I thought, that the visa would be valid for a year from the visa issuing date, not from when I arrived in Japan. Oh well...
Their lamination machine was broken but I got my little red registration card from them. You have to bring your passport and two passport-sized photos with your name written on the back. You don't have to have registered as an official alien to register with JAWHM. After they gave me my card, they talked me through everything I should do over the next few days e.g. official alien registration at my nearest ward office. I knew most of what they said already but it was nice to have confirmation that I was doing the right thing.
The JAWHM is extremely useful and helpful. They have loads of job availabilities and will write you a shoukaijou (letter of introduction) for jobs you apply for through them. They have computers to use with links on the desktop to everything you need to know e.g. Softbank phone company, Shinsei bank, train guides etc.
So that was a very good move. If you are coming to Japan on a Working Holiday then definitely register here. It costs Y1,000 at the moment but the information and support they can provide you with is priceless.
The JAWHM is located in Nakano-ku's impressive Sun Plaza (a big white building that you can see from the exit of Nakano train station, despite me studying the big tourist map when it was right in front of me - it slopes on one side if that helps at all!).
This was the day when it rained all day, real wet Pacific rain, so I ran into the building and immediately found someone who was looking for the same place, in fact she was looking at the map at the same time as me, but seemed to realise where it was before I did.
We went up to the seventh floor of the Sun Plaza and the JAWHM office was directly ahead. I came in and said I wanted to register. It was very easy to do. But my landing permit expiry date was different to the visa expiry date so there was a tiny bit of confusion, but they seemed to think that I could extend my visit from the 17th September 2008 (visa expiry) to 7th January 2009 (landing permit expiry), which I don't want to do, because I do kind of have my heart set on going to Uni! But it contradicts what I thought, that the visa would be valid for a year from the visa issuing date, not from when I arrived in Japan. Oh well...
Their lamination machine was broken but I got my little red registration card from them. You have to bring your passport and two passport-sized photos with your name written on the back. You don't have to have registered as an official alien to register with JAWHM. After they gave me my card, they talked me through everything I should do over the next few days e.g. official alien registration at my nearest ward office. I knew most of what they said already but it was nice to have confirmation that I was doing the right thing.
The JAWHM is extremely useful and helpful. They have loads of job availabilities and will write you a shoukaijou (letter of introduction) for jobs you apply for through them. They have computers to use with links on the desktop to everything you need to know e.g. Softbank phone company, Shinsei bank, train guides etc.
So that was a very good move. If you are coming to Japan on a Working Holiday then definitely register here. It costs Y1,000 at the moment but the information and support they can provide you with is priceless.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Alien Registration
If you are staying in Japan for more than 90 days, then you need to apply for an Alien Registration card at your current nearest city, town, village, or ward hall. If you change address, visa status or name in the time you have one you must notify your nearest visa office (it doesn't have to be the same one as you originally registered with) and they supply you with a new one. This seems crazy to me, as with the Working Holiday visa, you have to move around a lot and your address might change weekly! But never mind. I applied for mine today.
As I am residing in Chuo-ku, I had to find the Chuo ward office. I went to Tokyo's visa immigration office in Shinagawa last week in an effort to try to find the address, because I couldn't find it anywhere, and afterwards found a website with all of Tokyo's ward offices.
The visa immigration office was a real trial to find, and when I got there it was one Japanese man in an office above a convenience store, who didn't speak any English and I thought - "this doesn't seem as grand as the name suggested, this can't be the place I want" and it wasn't! But, through my garbled Japanese and frantic gesticulating, he printed me a Chuo-ku Living Guide, which not only has the ward office address inside, it has all the information about living there; including disaster procedures, education, health and transport information.
So today I took three metros (even though it's not that far away, there's no direct route) down to Tsukiji (where the famous fish market is), and found the ward office (it's right outside Exit 1). I went inside and started to fill in a yellow form on a table marked 'For foreigners', then realised it was a form for people wanting proof that they were an official alien, which I was not yet! So I sat down and waited until someone was free then went up to ask them where I should go. Turns out I was in the right place. I sat down and she talked me through it (she didn't speak much English so I used Japanese) and gave me an example of what a properly filled out form should look like. The form was quite simple, I made a couple of mistakes though. I said that 'Sakura House' was the head of the household, but it turned out that I was the head of the household. So the other people in my guesthouse need to bow down to me!! (No stereotypical pun intended there.)
She told me I needed to come back in a month to collect my Alien Registration Card, I think I may have just missed a period or something, because she kept saying "nyuu perioddo". So I have to wait a month! I have the number of the card I would be given, so maybe that will be enough for potential employers/ phone distributors but I have to say, I doubt it, as there is no guarantee that I will be granted the Alien Registration Card. Although I can't see why I wouldn't be, it's still not a definite.
So things are getting tough at the moment. I have job interviews, bank accounts and phones to sort out, and the biggest barrier at the moment is my age. No one said anything about problems with being under 20! But we shall see... time will tell. As will some phonecalls tomorrow...
As I am residing in Chuo-ku, I had to find the Chuo ward office. I went to Tokyo's visa immigration office in Shinagawa last week in an effort to try to find the address, because I couldn't find it anywhere, and afterwards found a website with all of Tokyo's ward offices.
The visa immigration office was a real trial to find, and when I got there it was one Japanese man in an office above a convenience store, who didn't speak any English and I thought - "this doesn't seem as grand as the name suggested, this can't be the place I want" and it wasn't! But, through my garbled Japanese and frantic gesticulating, he printed me a Chuo-ku Living Guide, which not only has the ward office address inside, it has all the information about living there; including disaster procedures, education, health and transport information.
So today I took three metros (even though it's not that far away, there's no direct route) down to Tsukiji (where the famous fish market is), and found the ward office (it's right outside Exit 1). I went inside and started to fill in a yellow form on a table marked 'For foreigners', then realised it was a form for people wanting proof that they were an official alien, which I was not yet! So I sat down and waited until someone was free then went up to ask them where I should go. Turns out I was in the right place. I sat down and she talked me through it (she didn't speak much English so I used Japanese) and gave me an example of what a properly filled out form should look like. The form was quite simple, I made a couple of mistakes though. I said that 'Sakura House' was the head of the household, but it turned out that I was the head of the household. So the other people in my guesthouse need to bow down to me!! (No stereotypical pun intended there.)
She told me I needed to come back in a month to collect my Alien Registration Card, I think I may have just missed a period or something, because she kept saying "nyuu perioddo". So I have to wait a month! I have the number of the card I would be given, so maybe that will be enough for potential employers/ phone distributors but I have to say, I doubt it, as there is no guarantee that I will be granted the Alien Registration Card. Although I can't see why I wouldn't be, it's still not a definite.
So things are getting tough at the moment. I have job interviews, bank accounts and phones to sort out, and the biggest barrier at the moment is my age. No one said anything about problems with being under 20! But we shall see... time will tell. As will some phonecalls tomorrow...
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