Changing Student Visa to Tourist Visa, Japan

Question

Okay, so I have been living in Japan for the last year on a Student Visa. My visa expires on the 16th of September, but my plane flight is on the 18th... So that is my problem, as obviously overstaying my welcom is a bad thing.

I have called my flight agency to change my ticket, however with prices now a days, it will cost 2 to 3 times as much as my original ticket.

What I am wondering is if it is possible to change from a Student Visa to Tourist Visa, OR if there are any other options for me. My over-stay would be 2 days and its just so painful to pay so much money to change the ticket.

I also heard about traveling to Korea to extend a visa- Would this work for me being that I am on a student visa? I am guessing it cannot be extended.

Any help at all is appriciated!!! Thank you so much!

Answer 1

Go to your local immigration office and apply for a visa change, from student to tourist. It usually costs 4000 yen. Of course, bring your passport.

Answer 2

If you are a US citizen, you can stay in Japan up to 90 days without visa. So if you go to Korea, you can come back to Japan on tourist status and stay for the next 90 days.

If you can afford to fly to Korea, it's the easiest way. You don't have to prepare a bunch of documents which are required to change visa from student to tourist.

Answer 3

Go to the US Embassy and explain your situation. They may just give you a tourist visa stamp to help you out since you do have the plane ticket to return home. I say bring your identification (alien reg. card, passport) and your flight itinerary and just go down there to see what can be done.

You can go to Korea and get the extension that way, but it could become a hassle.