COE processing times

@Srv_ind

Hello,
First additional document : old tax declaration for my husband before he transferred to another prefecture
Second additional documents are: Explanation about marriage certificate from my home country as we couldn't have it because we just got married for few months and also new tax declaration for my husband where he is living now
Third additional documents through phone call by immigration officer: clarification about my passport last name which I couldn't change yet and updated guarantee letter from my husband

And the immigration officer said our papers is in final checking.
Still waiting🙏🙏🙏🙏

@Jo
Thank you so much....That is quite helpful.

Any here know if the startup visa take the same time as business manager (6-8) months or 1-3 months?

I've submitted a COE in Nov 2022 and only took me two weeks to get it however i was not able to go.

I've submitted a new COE Mar 10, 2023 and received Apr 10,2023

I think that if the company is KK or public listed you have a higher chances. Spouse and SSW visa may take a bit longer based on what i noticed in this forum but again this is just my speculation.

The waiting time definitely not easy, good luck everyone

Hi @gogogo
Did they ask you to submit your old COE when applying for the new one?
Or since it was expired they didn�ft need it?

I had to return the COE prior applying a new one because the agent had to canceled it.

You might need to check with the agency.

TYIA @gogogo
Was your Old COE still valid when you applied for the new one or was it expired and still had to be returned?

Had to return my coe before expired since i didnt go

So I arrived in Japan on 10th of March and I had the last few documents they needed for the CoE(spouse visa), sent them in and got the CoE at end of March,

Went to the Immigration office in Tokyo on the 4th of April and applied for a change of residence, waited like 4 hours or so after going through multiple paper processes and got a stamp in my passport with a application number and I also got a note that it was changed from tourist visa to something else(doesn't state what).

I should apparantly get a mail delivered to my address in Japan with more information(if I haven't received this in 40 days then I should contact the department regarding this.)
If I don't get approved within 2 month's then I will have to leave the country and start the CoE process again it seems.

So my advice is to apply for a visa before going to Japan and not stress it like I did since I didn't really like being cramped in the immigration office in the harbor!

Hi @Chris, that's really useful, thanks for sharing... what is the extra approval you need? This is good to know because my spouse and I were considering this route since it's already been 4 months, and we thought changing the status when he's in Japan means getting the visa right away... if you can, we'd appreciate an update!

Humanities/Engineering/International Services

Submitted to Tokyo Immigration on 3/10/2023
Sponsor Received on 4/25/2023.

Submission: second week of March 2023
My Visa type: Professor
Applied Type: Dependent
Bureau: Tokyo
Status: Waiting (hope it will come out soon)

Applied via lawyer provided by my workplace

Will the COE process be suspended during the Golden Week in Japan?

@Navaneeth most likely because the bureaus/offices are closed on public holidays... they should hopefully be open monday and tuesday though since those arent public holidays

The company recommend immigration lawyer has applied mine and my wife's COE today. The lawyer office informed me that it would take 5 to 7 weeks for approval as the immigration office is busy since the beginning of this year it seems.

@Chris I'm sorry if this is asking too much info, but are you from a visa exempt country? My husband is, and apparently you'd have to exit and re-enter Japan, you can't change your status within Japan? Just wanted to confirm whether it was actually true or not...

The US website says: "Visa free" entry status may not be changed to another visa status without departing and then re-entering Japan with the appropriate visa, such as a spouse, work, or study visa.

application submitted: 22nd March, 2023 at Tokyo Immigration
coe received by agency: 28th April, 2023

Took 5 weeks and 2 days.
This thread was quite helpful and I wanted to contribute a bit.
Wish you all the best guys.

Engineer / Humanities
Applied 22nd march 2023
Received 28th march 2023

Thanks to this forum for being helpful. Hold on tight guys. Cheers.

Engineer / Humanities
Applied 22nd march 2023
Received 28th April* 2023

Thanks to this forum for being helpful. Hold on tight guys. Cheers.

Visa Type: Instructor
Immigration: Tokyo
Applied: March 7th 2023
Issued: April 28th 2023

It took 52days. This thread was helpful, and I wish you all the best!