Last month, we informed that the screening time of all types of applications at the Immigration Office has been getting longer and longer.
On 16 Oct 2024, the Immigration Office officially announced that they cannot tell you the current status of ongoing screening of applications and you should just wait for the notice or requests from the Immigration Office.
Here’s the announcement:
- (IN JAPANESE) 在留諸申請を行っている皆さまへのお知らせ: You can select several languages including English by using multi-language panel on that page
The delay of the process is caused mostly by the congestion of applications and the lack of screening personnel. Meaning, we cannot do anything but submit neat and consistent documents.
There’s nothing you can do except for wait.
They say that you can check the status online. However, what you see is “Under Review” for a long time after you receive the Application Number until you receive their email(s) for the request of additional documents or the result of the application.
What is the worst, sometimes they forget to turn the online status from “Under Review” to “Pending Completion” when they request you the additional documents via email. You can submit the documents online only when the online status shows “Pending Completion”. What happens is that you need to contact the Immigration Office via phone to open the status to send the requested documents online (you know it is hard to get through to them on the phone well, don’t you?). Other options? – you should send the documents via regular mail.
Don’t be surprised – we, as a Immigration professional, don’t have any special alternative. The Immigration Office doesn’t give us any privilege – no shortcuts and no phone number exclusively to the professionals. Equality first.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.