This is Tomita of IMS.
Despite initial reports calling it "Wuhan Pneumonia", the new coronavirus has now spread its influence worldwide, far beyond the imagination. Every day, the news is reporting unbelievable and disastrous numbers of people who have died overseas. Yesterday on April 7, Japan declared an emergency in seven prefectures based on the newly-issued Coronavirus Special Measures Law.
In the targeted prefectures, contact between people must be reduced by 70 to 80%. It is also increasingly necessary to refrain from non-urgent and unnecessary outings. Therefore, our company has introduced teleworking in response to these measures.
There have recently been many consultations with clients who are considering applying for permanent residence, especially now that the time at home has increased and there is more time to do the paperwork. Consulting by e-mail is still possible, so please contact us if you are interested.
Reducing Congestion at Immigration
Due to extreme crowding at the Immigration Services Agency of Japan ("Immigration") and the subsequent high risk of infection, we've received inquiries from clients about what to do regarding their Immigration paperwork.
It may seem inevitable that foreigners who are nearing their expiration date will need to submit their renewal paperwork. In fact, Immigration has also taken various measures to counter the new coronavirus.
For example, in the past it was necessary for those who are renewing their period of stay or changing their status of residence to submit their application by the expiration date. Now, those whose expiration dates are in March, April, May, and June will be able to submit their application up to three months after their expiration date has passed.
※For more information: Measures to reduce congestion at the immigration counters in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Normally, passing your expiration date will immediately count as overstaying your visa, so we understand the desire to complete your application as soon as possible. Please remember that applications accepted after the expiration date are different from normal procedures, and you must stay in the country until the examination has finished.
The risk of spreading the coronavirus infection remains a serious risk, especially in areas with high probability of clusters of people. If possible, please make use of this special measure depending on your situation.
Further Information
For your information, the Japanese government's information on the coronavirus is linked below.
- Immigration Services Agency - Information related to New Coronavirus Infection(COVID-19) (Updated often)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Visa Services (see #5 Announcements)
- Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare - About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
