Leaving Guide for Oita JETs

Leaving Guide for Oita JETs Compiled by Christina Walters 1

Foreword Hello Oita JETs! Without a doubt, there are probably a million questions swirling around your mind as you approach the end of your final year on the JET Programme. What do I have to do before leaving? What`s next for me after JET? How can I use this experience that I`ve gained? While you may or may not have answers to those questions, transitioning from one chapter of your life to another can be tricky and so it`s best to be as prepared as possible. It is for this reason that we, the Oita PAs, have decided to help you out by making it easier for you to find the information you need to prepare for such a transition in the form of this handy guidebook. This guidebook is an amalgamation of resources, specifically, the General Information Handbook, CLAIR`s After JET Guide, the JET Programme website, and the Kumamoto JET website. As such, we hope that it will serve as a beneficial tool for those who are completing their tenure on the JET Programme and that the information compiled from the sources mentioned above will make this a one-stop shop for all of your basic I`m leaving JET inquiries. However, as this is meant only as an abbreviated guide, we encourage you to refer to CLAIR`s After JET Guide and the General Information Handbook, both of which can be found on the JET Programme website, for additional information and resources pertaining to returning JETs. We sincerely hope you enjoyed your time as a JET Programme participant in Oita Prefecture, and we would like to wish you every success in your future endeavors! All the best, The Oita PAs 2

Table of Contents Preparations for Going Home: 1. Countdown----------------------------------------------------4 2. Pay All Of Your Bills--------------------------------------------5 3. Forward Mail--------------------------------------------------6 4. Cancel Your Mobile Phone----------------------------------------6 5. Contact Your Landlord-------------------------------------------6 6. Close Your Bank Account-----------------------------------------6 7. Budget For Moving----------------------------------------------7 8. Disposal/Transfer Of Car-------------------------- -------7 9. Shipping Goods Home------------ ------8 10. Preparing For Your Successor----------- ---------------8 11. Status Of Residence----------------- --------------10 12. Customs----------------------------------------- ---15 13. Insurance & Pension-------------------------------------------15 14. Return Airfare-----------------------------------------------23 15. Moving-Out Notification---------------------------------------24 16. Additional Information----------------------------------------24 3

1. Countdown Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 4

2. PAY ALL Of YOUR BILLS Information from the General Information Handbook, p. 191: 5

3. FORWARD MAIL Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 4. CANCEL YOUR MOBILE PHONE Information from the General Information Handbook, p. 191: Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 5. CONTACT YOUR LANDLORD Information from the General Information Handbook, p. 191: Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 6. CLOSE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 6

7. BUDGET FOR MOVING Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 8. DISPOSAL/TRANSFER OF CAR Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 9. SHIPPING GOODS HOME Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 7

10. PREPARING FOR YOUR SUCCESSOR Information from the General Information Handbook, pp. 191~195: 8

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Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 11. STATUS OF RESIDENCE Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 10

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Information from the Kumamoto JET website (http://www.kumamotojet.com): The standard JET-issued Period of Stay is for three years, and will likely expire on, or the day after, the date your appointment terminates. If you plan on staying in Japan after your original Period of Stay expires - whether it be for a short vacation before returning to your home country or for a fourth year on JET -you will have to visit the Immigration Office and either renew your Period of Stay or change your Status of Residence. You will need to enlist the help of your Contracting Organization supervisor in order to submit the required documents. Also, make sure to call (or have your supervisor call) the Immigration Office beforehand to make sure you have all of the required documents. A list of these documents is below. First and Second-Year JETs 1st and 2nd year JETs with a valid 3-year Period of Stay can generally remain in Japan for short-term sightseeing or packing without having to change Status of Residence, provided that you DO NOT work. For people who wish to work, please see the Continuing Work in Japan section below. Third-Year JETs The standard JET Period of Stay is valid for 3 years, so your Period of Stay will likely expire on, or within days of the end of your term of appointment. If your Period of Stay will expire before your term of appointment ends for some reason, you must extend it in order to fulfill the term. If your Period of Stay expires on or a few days after your term of appointment ends, and you want to have extra time to pack, say farewell, travel, etc. you will need to apply for a 90-day temporary visitor visa. DO NOT risk letting your Period of Stay expire, even for one day. Immigration will check your Period of Stay before you leave, and you don t want to be arrested and subsequently banned from visiting Japan again. Change of Resident Status Temporary Visitor Visa For JETs who are returning to their home countries, but wish to stick around for a few days/weeks before heading back, you will need to apply for a Temporary Visitor Visa (hereafter referred to as TVV). TVVs are valid for either 15 days or 90 days depending on which one you apply for. You cannot work on a TVV. To obtain a TVV, you will need to go to the Immigration Bureau and submit the following: Application for permission to Change the Status of Residence (tanki shikaku henkou kyoka shinseisho, 短期資格変更許可申請書 ) available at the Immigration Bureau. You may fill in this application while at the Immigration Bureau. Passport Resident Card (or valid Alien Registration Card) 12

An explanation for changing the Status or Residence: reason for staying in Japan, including a flight itinerary (in Japanese) Documentation showing the last day of your period of appointment, and your scheduled date of departure (Your Contracting Organization should provide this document.). A copy of your return airline ticket or a copy of a confirmed reservation. Bank passbook (tsuuchou, 通帳 ) (this is to make sure you have enough money to get by in Japan for the remainder of your stay) 4000 to pay for processing. It is usually possible to get the TVV processed in one day, but be aware that you will likely have to visit the bureau again to pick up the new visa. Immigration Bureaus recommend that TVV applications be made around two weeks before the expiration date of the current visa. In the past, JETs applying earlier than this have been asked to come back at a later date. Please consult with your supervisor about the process and make sure your supervisor calls the Immigration Bureau in advance to confirm you have all the correct and necessary documents. Period of Stay Extension - JETs As the standard JET-issued Period of Stay is only valid for 3 years, JETs staying on for a 4th year must apply for an extension of their Period of Stay. To do so, visit the Immigration Office with the following documents: Application for Extension of Period of Stay (zairyuu kikan koushin kyoka shinseisho, 在留期間更新許 可申請書 ) Can be downloaded here: http://www.moj.go.jp/online/immigration/16-3-1.html Reappointment Intention Form (sainin you yoteisho, 再任用予定書 ) Taxation Certificate (kazei shoumeisho, 課税証明書 ) and Proof of Tax Payment (nouzei shoumeisho, 納税証明書 ). You will need to visit your local tax office to obtain the Taxation Certificate and Proof of Tax Payment. (Note: JETs who have not paid income tax or inhabitant s tax their first two years will need to receive a form stating they have no unpaid tax (minou ga nai, 未納がない )) Passport Alien Registration Card 4cm x 3cm photo of yourself* 4000 processing fee (to be paid by JET) *On July 9, 2012, the alien registration system was abolished. This means that when you apply for a Period of Stay Extension, you will receive a Resident Card (zairyu kaado 在留カード )to replace your Alien Registration Card. The 4cm x 3cm photo is for your Resident Card. Keep your Resident Card on you at all times, just like you do with your Alien Registration Card. 13

You will need to have your supervisor assist you in obtaining the Request Form, Reappointment Intention Form, Terms and Conditions, Statement of Earnings and Proof of Tax Payment. It is also recommended that you have your supervisor assist you in filling out the Application for Extension of Period of Stay. You will have to make two trips to the Immigration Bureau to complete this process. Please consult with your supervisor about the process and make sure your supervisor calls the Immigration Bureau in advance to confirm you have all the correct and necessary documents. If you live far from the Immigration Bureau, have your supervisor request that the Immigration Bureau process the application in one day. This is not always possible, though, so you should be prepared to make two trips. It often takes 2-4 weeks for the application to be completed, so it is recommended that you start the process as early as possible. You may begin the process two months before your current Period of Stay expires. Period of Stay Extension With a 3rd-Party Those of you planning on continuing working in Japan with a 3rd-party will likely have to submit the documents listed above with a few minor changes. Please contact your future employer for the proper paperwork. Also, please note that you will most likely have to change your Status of Residence as well. NOTES: Fees. There is a 4000 fee associated with a request to extend the Period of Stay or change the Status of Residence. This cost is born by the JET participant. You will be given instruction on how to pay this when you visit the Immigration Bureau. Special leave (tokkyuu, 特休 ) or Nenkyuu? This decision is up to your Contracting Organization. In the case where a JET is applying to extend their Period of Stay in order to reappoint, the BOE will often allow the JET to use special leave (tokkyuu, 特休 ). However, the travel costs to and from the Bureau will most likely be paid by the JET, regardless of whether the JET used nenkyuu or special leave. Do I have to report changes in my Period of Stay or Status of Residence to my local city/town/village office? No. Starting from July 9, 2012 those who extend their Period of Stay or change their Status of Residence do NOT have to report those changes to their local city/town/village office. Excepting changes to your address, any changes to the information on your Resident Card should be reported to the Immigration Bureau. Changes to address of residence should be reported to your local city/town/village offices by submitting a moving-out notification (tenshutsu todoke, 転出届 ) to the municipality you are leaving, and a moving-in notification (tennyuu todoke, 転入届 ) to the municipality you are entering within 14 days of your moving date. Talk to your supervisor. No matter what change or extension you make, you will need to enlist the help of your supervisor (or a representative of your new employer in the case of the JET beginning work with a third party) to request documents from your Contracting Organization, or to confirm with 14

the Immigration Bureau that you have all the correct and necessary documents ready before you begin the application. Where can I find my Period of Stay? It s written on both your Landing Permit (in your passport) and on your Resident Card (or Alien Registration Card). NOTE: If you allow your Period of Stay to expire and try to leave the country, immigration will detain and interrogate you at the airport. You will probably be fined and deported. If you miss your flight, you will be responsible for paying for a new ticket home. Also, you may be indefinitely banned from returning to Japan. Please, DO NOT ALLOW YOUR VISA TO EXPIRE. Useful Vocab: Visa ビザ biza Expire 切れる kireru Temporary visitor visa 短期滞在ビザ tanki taizai biza Immigration Office 入国管理局 nyuukoku kanrikyoku 12. CUSTOMS Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 13. INSURANCE & PENSION Information from the General Information Handbook, pp. 197~203: 15

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Info from the JET Programme website (http://www.jetprogramme.org/e/former/index.html): 20

Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 21

Information from the Kumamoto JET website (http://www.kumamotojet.com): Q. Where do I find the different pension numbers I need for section 5 (Claimant s pension handbook data) of the pension refund claim form? A. You only need to enter the Basic Pension number in this section. This number can be found in your blue pension handbook. It is the number at the top of the page with your name and birthday. Q. My bank doesn t have a certified bank stamp. What should I do? A. In this case, you will need to submit documentation from the bank verifying the bank name, branch name, branch address, account number and account holder s name (account holder must be you). Q. I am filling in the History section on page 2 of the claim form. Which type of pension was I enrolled in, and what dates should I list for the enrollment period? A. All JETs are enrolled in (2) Employees Pension Insurance. For enrollment period, list the beginning date of the appointment of your first JET year and ending date of the appointment of your last JET year. Note: this may be different for those who worked in Japan before JET. Q. I noticed the GIH and Social Insurance Agency site only list refund amounts for up to 36 months of enrollment. Does the amount continue to increase beyond 36 months? A. No, you can only have up to 36 months worth of pension payments refunded. This is not a JET Programme rule, but a Social Insurance Agency regulation. Q. Can I apply for the pension refund from Japan? A. No, only those who have left Japan (and in doing so cancelled their alien registration by handing over their Alien Registration Card at the airport when departing) may apply. Q. How much time will it take to get the lump-sum refund? A. On average, it takes 3-6 months from submission of the claim form. If information on the claim form is incorrect or insufficient, the process will take longer. Q. I didn t designate a tax representative before I left Japan. Is it possible to do so from my home country? A. Yes, it is possible. You do not have to be present when the form is submitted to your local tax office. Find someone in Japan willing to be your tax representative and, upon filling in the necessary information, send them the tax representative declaration form. They will then take it to the local tax office where you resided in Japan. 22

Q. Does the tax representative declaration form need to be submitted to MY local tax office? A. Yes, it should be submitted to the tax office with jurisdiction over the address where you filed for alien registration. Note: tax offices are not always at city/town/village halls. 14. RETURN AIRFARE Information from the General Information Handbook, pp. 195~197: Information from CLAIR`s After JET Guide: 23

15. MOVING-OUT NOTIFICATION Information from CLAIR: 16. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Information from the General Information Handbook, pp. 205~209: 24

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