Anyone know how long it takes for alien registration to be processed ? It says on the arakawa prefecture website that it takes 3 weeks? is this true? it seems a bit long

As i have mentioned in previous threads...i want to open a cell phone and bank account, so i would need this as soon as i can.

This would also help me plan on how much yen i should have on hand before i arrive in japan.

Thanks

Some are faster then others.

When you apply for your ARC, you can get a temporary one issued, sometimes its free other times i think its a few hundred yen. With the temporary one you should be able to open a bank account and get a phone etc without much problems.

Don't plan on carrying enough cash to last until you get your Alien Registration card. Even though Japan is relatively safe, I wouldn't want to carry several week's worth of spending money. Better to rely on your US bank account - Make sure you have an ATM card with the Cirrus or PLUS logo. You will be able to use it to withdraw cash at Post Offices, 7-Elevens, Citibanks (and a few other places - but probably not at a "normal" Japanese bank).

certificate of registered matters is what you can obtain when you put in for your registration. it worked for me to get a bank account, but was not helpful for a cell phone.

thanks for the info..this forum has been very helpful while ive been planning my stay in tokyo.

Softbank (at least here in Osaka) accepts them.

To clarify, the registration is processed immediately at city hall. It just takes some time to make the photo ID card. The certificate of registered matters is basically a temporary thing to show that you're legally registered while you wait for the card to be made.

I had trouble using a certificate to get a phone; the DoCoMo shop in central Tokyo said they needed "a card." Others I know have reported success with the certificate. It seems that this depends on which employee you get and how much of a stickler for the rules they are. (As I noted on another thread, you can get around this by having a friend or host family member go to the phone store with you and apply for the phone in their name, but providing your credit card as the method of payment. The only catch here is that they must approve any later changes to the contract, e.g. cancellation.)

Banks are generally fine with the certificate so you shouldn't have much trouble in that department.

To provide some more data points, here's my experience:

Registered at Minato City Hall the day after I arrived; got a temporary certificate (which has the date to collect, which was indeed three weeks distant) and also several copies of the certificate of registered matters. It's 300Y per copy but it's worth having a few.

From there, I went to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau to get my multiple entry stamp and register for the automated gates at NRT. 6000Y for the multiple entry stamp; buy it from the convenience store downstairs before queuing up.

That afternoon, I went to Shinsei Bank in Roppongi Hills (6F of the Mori Tower) who told me I couldn't open a bank account until I had a phone number. Since I didn't actually have a permanent extension at work yet, I went to get a cellphone.

I went to the SoftBank store at Roppongi Crossing and they only needed my passport and a copy of the certificate of registered matters to send me on my way with a phone. They had at least two good English speaking staff and I got the impression they're used to expat types coming straight from the ward office without their cards yet.

Back to Shinsei who opened my account straight away - but for security reasons they had to send my cash card through the post (they don't do this if you have the actual alien registration card). It arrived three days later and the internet banking card the day after.