I got a call from Immigration (specifically 入管調査4部?) around mid-December last year to check why I haven't been working, since more than 3 months have passed since I left my previous job due to health reasons. Looking for advice from people who have encountered a similar situation.
Background:
I have an Engineer/Humanities/International Services visa (5 years) expiring on March 2027.
I had to leave my previous company back in December 2024 due to health reasons (and I had maxed out my maximum sick leave), and have a comprehensive paper trail of my activities as well as medical certificates to prove my efforts in returning to the workplace.
Although not at 100 health-wise, given the situation as well as the current political climate I feared the worst and started looking for work again I haven't landed a job but have a paper trail of emails, application forms and the like.
Since the call, I have been busting my ass trying to land a job or at least a 内定 to prove that I can now return to work, but have not had success and only have a few more first interviews lined up (failed two so far). My contact lawyer had advised me that the best defense would be a job offer, but it didn't make it in time for the call today.
So far I have the following as evidence:
- 診断書 Medical Certificates of my condition dating back to November, 2024 (1 month before leaving)
- Documents from a work rehabilitation program I had been attending since September, 2024 until October 2025
- Documents for my physical rehab/medical paper trail for my neck hernia and persistent shoulder pain, since I left the work rehab program to focus on PT/physical rehab first. (I was scheduled to return to the work program this month, before I got the call). This includes block injection records etc.
- Original N1 and FE (基本情報技術者試験 or Fundamental IT Engineer Exam) certificates, both which I passed during my recovery period
- A collection of 転職活動 emails and website records which I basically plan to just print everything I can
- Payment records for health insurance, pension, and property tax for the apartment
I properly filed my notice for leaving work within 14 days as per policy, and the immigration agent confirmed that I did so.
I'm afraid everything I've worked for – 8 years in the country, including graduating from a 4-year 専門学校 to full-time employment while purchasing my own マンション/apartment unit – is going up in smoke. I don't want to return home and I've worked myself to the bone to continue living here, even to the detriment of my own physical and mental health as well as of my loved ones – which as of late I have been trying hard to rectify. I've been pursuing naturalization since coming here and getting sick basically derailed those efforts, and I'm married but not to a Japanese national.
The agent who called was also very cordial and understanding, but given that she wasn't going to be the one conducting the interview it almost feels like she feels sorry in advance for what's going to transpire tomorrow.
Has anyone received such a call lately? I've talked to my usual immigration lawyer and he says it's unusual for them to call someone prior to the renewal period, but given the current situation I should prepare for the worst. All I can right now is gather as much information as I can before I go tomorrow. Fortunately, I did call immigration back and it's still possible to move the meeting to sometime next week at the latest but I doubt I'll be able to land a job by then.
Thanks in advance for any feedback and advice.
by Antifada