Doug Lerner wrote:
> Declan Murphy wrote:
> 
>> A gaigin with a work visa can also do something entirely different for 
>> *up to 6 months* (for example someone with an engineer visa can study 
>> at Yamasa, or someone with an instructor visa work in a bank) without 
>> having to change their visa status to a more appropriate category. As 
>> a general rule though its best to change the visa status immediately, 
>> unless the gaigin intends to return to work in the original or similar 
>> field within the 6 month timeframe.
> 
> I don't know if this is still the case, but it used to be that changing 
> your visa status "reset" your residency period, which affected how long 
> you had to be in Japan before attaining long-term residency.

No longer the case.

> In other words, it is usually best to maintain your same visa status 
> until you go for long-term or permanent residency. At least it used to 
> be that way. I haven't checked the rules lately.

I've changed my visa status five times (trainee, designated activities, 
student, spec. in humanities, manager/investor) in total. Being single 
it took me longer to qualify for PR than it would have had I been 
married to a Japanese national, but Immigration considers as the 
qualification period the total number of years since the last 
certificate of eligibility was required. Since I had to leave the 
country once to finish a thesis etc and didn't return until late 94, I 
only became eligible last month (the previous period of stay is 
discounted entirely). The changes of visa status (and nationality) in 
the interim are irrelevant.


-- 
Non gratum anus rodentum