There are two methods of renewing a visa, personal application and proxy application.

A student visa is valid for one year in principle. All you will need to do is to apply for, and receive a visa extension for your second year of study at the Immigration Office. An application for an extension of the period of stay can be submitted between 2 months to 10 days prior to your current visa's expiration date. You need to submit a letter of sponsorship. For IUJ Scholarship holders you will not know if your scholarship will be extended into your second year until very late June 2000. The earliest time of visa extension for IUJ Scholarship holders are after July 1, 2000.

When an extension is granted, "Resident Period Extension Approved" is stamped in your passport. Within this stamp, your residence status and duration of stay is again hand written. Note that your new resident period begins the day after your current resident period expires, and not the day when your extension is granted.

Note:
Though your visa shows it is "valid" for another year, technically your status of "Student" ends when you graduate, making your visa "ineffective". You must be enrolled as a full-time students in a regular program to keep your status valid.

Following is a list of the documents to be submitted to the Immigration Office in Niigata city or Tokyo (You may not apply in Osaka or any other Immigration Office since you are a Niigata resident). You are responsible for requesting and obtaining these from the appropriate office. Allow a few days minimum for the IUJ offices to prepare them.

Personal application

You can buy revenue stamps at a shop in Niigata Air Port. Immigration Office located in the same building. Tokyo Immigration Office has a revenue stamp office on the 2nd floor.

Proxy application

Questions? Please contact the SPSC for help (oss@iuj.ac.jp).

For more information from an outside source, see http://www2.nttca.com:8010/infomofa/j_info/visit/visa/05.html#b