In a blog post on December 4, 2024, I mentioned that the examination period for specific skills is expected to be longer and that the Immigration Bureau recommends online applications.
The online system contributes to streamlining the examination operations according to the Immigration Bureau, but it does not promise the benefits of shorter examination days for us as users.(There are some urban legends that it gets actually be slower.)
However, despite of those facts, our office handles all applications online. What are the benefits of going online?
1.Advantages of going online
1-1.Available nationwide
This is a bit tricky, but nationwide support does not mean that we can handle applications no matter where the applicant is located from, but rather that we can handle applications no matter where the regional immigration bureau in charge of the application is located.
The local immigration office where each application is submitted will be determined depending on the applicant’s (foreigner) residence (including planned location). (When you want to get a job at a company in Hokkaido, you cannot submit it to the Immigration Bureau in Tokyo.)
Therefore, in the past, when applications could only be made on paper, immigration lawyer who worked mainly in the Kanto area, for example, only dealt with people who worked or lived in the Kanto area.
In the online residence application system, the in-charge immigration office is automatically determined according to the applicant’s place of residence (planned place). When applying, there is no need to be conscious of which immigration office you should submit your application to.
This allows us, immigration lawyers, to mediate applications regardless of where the customer lives or works.
From an immigration lawyer’s perspective, this is the biggest advantage.
1-2. Attachments can be packaged
When filing an application, depending on the procedure, you may be required to submit supporting documents as evidence. In the online application system, after entering the application details accurately, you should upload a photo and attached documents. This attachment must be a single PDF file, in which you need to combine various materials.
This merging may seem like a hassle, and you may complain about why you can’t upload multiple files, but the rules for merging them into one PDF file are very useful for later.
For immigration inspection
This is limited to “Application for Certificate of Eligibility”.
At the immigration inspection at the airport, etc., you will present your visa and passport, receive a stamp showing your status of residence, and at the same time you will be issued a residence card. (Certificate of Eligibility for Residence Status must be presented when applying for a visa at a Japanese embassy overseas preliminary.)
When entering the country, you will need to present not only your passport (and visa), but also your Certificate of Eligibility.
In addition to this, it is a good idea to carry the application materials you submitted at the time of application “just in case” so that you can present them to the immigration officer if requested, and I have always recommended this to my clients.
If this is a paper application, it may take some time and be difficult to find, but if it is in one PDF, you can easily save it on your smartphone.
As reference material for the next application
When applying for permission to extend the period of stay, we, as immigration lawyer, often want to know what documents and those contents were submitted last time so that the current procedure to be consistent with the previous application.
At this time, if the contents of your previous application are contained in one PDF, you can easily understand the contents.
2.Things to keep in mind
While not a disadvantage, there are some things you should keep in mind when doing it online.
2-1. In case of non-issuance/rejection, it is necessary to go to the local immigration bureau
If your application unfortunately fails (certificate not issued or permit application result rejected), you will need to know the reason in order to reapply. The notification of non-delivery/rejection that is sent only contains a simple explanation, and the real reason will not be told over the phone. This also applies to online applications.
It should be noted that not all cases can be completed online.
2-2. Certificates of Authorized Employment are still issued only on paper
“Certificate of Eligibility” is now issued by email, and we immigration lawyers no longer have to take the trouble of forwarding it to a foreign country by international mail. However, the “Certificate of Authorized Employment” can only be issued in paper form as before. Applications can be made online, but the issuance process remains the same.
3.Summary
I was confused by the online residence application system at first, but I have recently gotten used to it. We hope that the overall efficiency of the examination process will be improved and the number of days required for examinations will be shortened. (However, considering the speed of increase in the number of foreign workers for specific skills and the new “training employment” system, I think there is little hope.)