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If i get arrested in japan for possession of drugs and i get released after spending 4 months in detention center and get suspended jail for 3 years...what's the percentage to get my visa renewed and not to get deported from the country...?
fwiw, even if you somehow dodge deportation this time, immigration keeps a permanent record. when you apply for renewal they'll see that arrest and suspended sentence flagged in their system. i know a guy who got through once but then got denied the next renewal because they "re-evaluated" his case. it's not a one-time hurdle, it's a permanent mark.
also, the type of drug matters. if it was weed vs something harder like meth or cocaine, that changes how immigration views you. weed is still illegal here but they sometimes treat it less harshly than stimulants. your lawyer should know which category yours falls into and how that affects the "moral turpitude" assessment.
one more thing - if you do get deported, the ban length depends on whether you cooperate or fight it. fighting it and losing can get you a 10 year ban, while accepting a departure order might get you 5 years. talk to your lawyer about that tradeoff before you decide anything.
honestly man, that's a tough spot. immigration here is super strict about drug offenses, even if the court gave you a suspended sentence. the immigration bureau operates separately from the criminal courts, so they can still decide to deport you even if you avoided prison time.
if you're on a work visa or a permanent resident visa, your chances are slightly better than if you're on a student or tourist visa, but still pretty low. they'll look at the severity of the offense and whether you're seen as a "risk" to public safety. most people in your situation end up with a deportation order once their visa renewal comes up.
your best bet is to get a lawyer who specializes in immigration and criminal law in japan. they might be able to argue for a "special permission to stay" based on factors like how long you've lived here, if you have family, or if you're employed. but honestly, the odds are not in your favor.
The 3-year suspended sentence means the criminal courts are done with you, but immigration has its own checklist. They'll look at your "zenzen no kikensei" or risk of reoffending, and a drug offense is a big red flag. If you've got strong ties like a Japanese spouse, kids in school, or a stable job with a company that vouches for you, a lawyer can file for "tokubetsu zairyuu kyoka" or special permission to stay.
Without those ties, you're looking at a deportation order that bans reentry for 5 to 10 years. The immigration bureau in Shinagawa processes these cases, and they rarely bend for single people on work visas. Start gathering proof of your roots in Japan now, but realistically, start planning for the possibility of leaving.
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Tokyo museum work visa paperwork 2026
Get the museum to start your Certificate of Eligibility by June, since Shinagawa screening plus COE mailing eats 2-3 months and April museum intakes get ugly.
yeah, and book the flight after the COE lands not before
june's optimistic honestly, the museum's tōkibo copy alone stalled mine a month, so push them to start in May.
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities is the right category for museum curatorial work, not the arts-specific one people assume. The museum needs to supply their registry extract (tōkibo), your employment contract with salary clearly stated, and a detailed job description; the usual snag is a vague description that reads like gallery attendant work.