> You need to decide why you want it.  I wanted mine so that I would >[not] have to worry about finding a new job and sponsor immediately >after my previous job.  It is hard to over stay a PR but really easy to >overstay a work visa.

A PR visa equals 'freedom'. Hands down.
Regardless of the current necessity to renew the reentry visa before
leaving the country for a long period of time, being able to choose
when you work and come a go from Japan when you please is priceless.

I haven't quite figured out how to create my own company and sponsor
myself at least and I don't plan on getting married any time soon so
it's my only option for independence at this point.



On Mar 9, 2:15 pm, chuckers <chucker...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mar 9, 12:57 pm, sensyujin <iamsoluc...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > It seems that many people, even after living in Japan for 20 years,
> > haven't even attempted to attain permanent residency. Is it really
> > that impossible to attain, especially if you're not married?
>
> As Declan pointed out, it is certainly far from impossible.  There are
> unmarried
> persons with PR.  There are even married persons without PR.  It is
> all a matter
> of motivation.  My boss has been here about 20 years but is content
> with his
> spouse visa.  He doesn't see a need for one.  An unmarried friend of
> mine has been
> here for 14-15 years and has had his PR for about 4-5 or so.
>
> You need to decide why you want it.  I wanted mine so that I would
> have to worry
> about finding a new job and sponsor immediately after my previous
> job.  It is hard
> to over stay a PR but really easy to overstay a work visa.
>
> Re-entry permits are supposedly going away "soon" which will be a very
> welcome thing.
>
> Some banks require PR for loans (certainly loans over a certain size)
> but others banks
> may not, especially if you prove to them you don't need the money.
>
> You may as well go ahead and apply.  You might get rejected but you
> can always try
> again later.