How it works · FAQ
From your first message
to the result, in five steps.
For each step, I have written down what you do and what I do. I handle everything that involves Immigration.
- 01
Get in touch
Same day to 2 business days
YouSend a message by form, phone, LINE or WhatsApp. If you know when your residence card expires, please include the date.
Me (Megumi)I reply within 2 business days, in the language you wrote in.
- 02
Consultation and quote
Free for up to 60 minutes
YouTell me about your situation, at the office or online. Please bring your residence card if you have one.
Me (Megumi)I explain what to expect and quote my fee. You are welcome to take time to decide.
- 03
Preparing documents
Usually 2–4 weeks
YouCollect the documents on the checklist from your city office and elsewhere (residence certificate, tax certificate and so on).
Me (Megumi)I make a checklist of what to collect, in English and Japanese, and write the application form and the letter of explanation.
- 04
Filing at Immigration
Review takes about 1–3 months
YouIn most cases, you do not need to go to Immigration.
Me (Megumi)I file your application in Shinagawa. If more documents are requested, we decide together what to send.
- 05
The result
The day it arrives
YouReceive your new residence card, either by hand at the office or by post.
Me (Megumi)I contact you on the day the result arrives. For extensions and changes, I also collect the new card for you.
Typical processing times
How long Immigration usually takes.
Times vary with the season and how busy Immigration is. Please treat them as a rough guide.
- Extension of period of stay
- 2 weeks to 1 month
- Spouse visa (change from your current status)
- 1–2 months
- Spouse or dependent visa (bringing family from abroad)
- 1–3 months
- Permanent residency
- About 6 months to a year
- Naturalization (Legal Affairs Bureau)
- About a year
Common questions
What people often ask
before a consultation
01Do I really not need to go to Immigration?
In most cases, no. As a registered application agent, I file the application on your behalf. Naturalization is the exception: you must go to the Legal Affairs Bureau in person, and I go with you that day.
02Can we do everything in English?
Yes. The consultation, the document checklist and the news of the result can all be in English. The forms I submit are in Japanese, but I explain in English what I wrote.
03Do you charge for consultations?
The first consultation is free for up to 60 minutes. After that it is ¥5,500 per hour, deducted from the fee if you hire me.
04Can I consult online?
Yes, over Zoom. Clients who live outside Tokyo use online consultations too.
05My residence card expires soon. What should I do?
If you apply for an extension before your card expires, you can stay in Japan until the decision comes (for up to two months after the original expiry date). Please include the expiry date when you get in touch.
06What happens if my application is refused?
I go to Immigration to ask why, and we decide together whether to apply again. A second application costs half the original fee. No gyoseishoshi can promise approval, so I tell you about every concern I see before we apply.
07Can I bring my children?
Of course. There are colored pencils and drawing paper next to my desk. If you have a stroller, call me when you arrive and I will come down to the bottom of the stairs.
08Are you open on weekends?
On the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, from 10:00 to 15:00 (by appointment). If an evening suits you better, I am open until 20:00 on Wednesdays. Sundays and public holidays are closed.
09When do I pay?
Half when you hire me and half when I file the application, by bank transfer. Once you have a quote, the fee does not go up.
10Can you help with a refugee application?
No, I do not handle refugee applications, or deportation and detention procedures. I can refer you to a lawyer who specializes in them.
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