[Current and Former Students] For those who have difficulty in returning home

[Current and Former Students] For those who have difficulty in returning home (As of November 11)

(1) Entry restrictions and the restrictions of activities after landing on travelers from Japan
Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, measures to control movements of people entering from Japan are being implemented by many countries. Please try to contact the embassy of your home country in Japan and collect the latest information released by relevant entities including online resources.
For your reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japanese only)

(2) Procedures for those who cannot return to their home country
If you are living in a privately-leased apartment and if you bought "Comprehensive renters' insurance for foreign students studying in Japan," in principal, the coverage period of insurance will end when you graduate from university. In this case, Niigata University can no longer be the guarantor for your apartment. You need to either: 1) have someone else be a new guarantor; or 2) ask your real estate company to introduce you an insurance company, and use it. When you have done so, notify the International Office.
International Office: 025-262-7632
kokusai@adm.niigata-u.ac.jp

(3) Handling of residence applications in light of the spread of COVID-19
(i) Foreign nationals who have difficulty returning to their home country
Foreign nationals staying with the status of residence of "Student" and who wish to work will be permitted to change their status of residence to "Designated Activities (permitted to work part-time for 6 months, within 28 hours a week)."
Those who had graduated from university before 2020, and those who had withdrawn or had been expelled from university, have also become eligible to this measure since October 19. Before application, you must notify and consult your academic supervisor, and the Student Affairs Office of your Faculty or Graduate School about your situation.

Once decision has been made to change the status of residence, apply as soon as possible. Note that the extension of the period for acceptance of applications does NOT apply to foreign nationals whose expiration date for their period of stay is due after August. Those foreign nationals are required to apply before the expiration date.

In order to prevent the application counters from becoming crowded, applications sent by post and arrive no later than October 30 will be accepted. However, if you are in Niigata, we recommend you submit your application in person at the Niigata Branch, Immigration Services of Agency of Japan. If you send your application by post, you will have to appear in person at the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau (Minato-ku, Tokyo) to receive your residence card. Furthermore, according to the Niigata Branch, it is not crowded as of August 24.

In preparing the necessary documents for application, use the checklist published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, and the supplementary explanation prepared by the International Office.
Please be sure to call the Niigata Branch in advance so that you complete all the necessary procedure. If the change of status has been permitted, please inform the Student Affairs Office of your Faculty or Graduate School immediately.

Niigata Branch, Immigration Services of Agency of Japan
Tel: 025-275-4735
Address: Terminal building, Niigata Airport, 3710, Matsuhamacho, Higashi-ku, Niigata, 950-0001
For your reference: Ministry of Justice (Japanese only, updated on October 19, 2020)

(ii) Those who are permitted to engage in designated activities (continuing job-hunting activities):
If you change to a residence status of "Designated Activities" you may search for work for up to one year after graduation. If you are forced to continue job hunting due do the impact of the novel coronavirus,you may extend your job hunting activities beyond one year. If you receive permission to work a part-time job, in principle you are limited to up to 28 hours of work per week.

When you extend your job hunting activities beyond one year, you do not need recommendation from NU. Please be sure to call Niigata Branch, Immigration Services Agency of Japan and complete the necessary procedure before your period of stay expires.

If the extension has been accepted, please inform your faculty's students' affairs section of it immediately.

(4) FRESC (Foreign Residents Support Center) HELP DESK
For non-Japanese people affected by COVID-19, the FRESC (Foreign Residents Support Center) HELP DESK accepts consultations by phone in 14 languages. It's free of charge. You may need to wait for a moment to consult in the language you wish to use, but do not hang up and wait for assistance.

FRESC HELP DESK 0120－76－2029 *Toll-free number
Days: Monday to Friday
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays)
Languages: Easy Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Nepali, Thai, Indonesian, Tagalog, Burmese, Cambodian and Mongolian

For your reference: Ministry of Justice (Japanese only)