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flyingcolours
Joined: 04 Oct 2011
Posts: 73
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eihpos
Joined: 14 Dec 2008
Posts: 331
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 Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:43 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
I have an interview with them in a couple of days and would love some advice as it sounds like it might be a fairly in - depth one!
I did a search and read the postings on this forum on ALS and they sounds ok, though they seem to hire people on as tourist visa initially, saying they will change it as soon as you get to Japan. Don't know how true this is or how you feel about it. |
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spidr245
Joined: 26 Nov 2008
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:30 am Post subject: |
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| eihpos wrote: |
Hi,
I did a search and read the postings on this forum on ALS and they sounds ok, though they seem to hire people on as tourist visa initially, saying they will change it as soon as you get to Japan. |
How is that good? That sounds shady already. People working on tourist visas are illegal workers here. (Correct me if I'm wrong someone, but that's what I remember.) So if they decide to not pay you, there isn't really anything you can do about it (which I've seen people on here complain about numerous times already).
If you frequent these boards enough, you would have read the horror stories with tourist visas and working already.  |
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nimaime
Joined: 14 Aug 2011
Posts: 51
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:09 am Post subject: |
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| eihpos wrote: |
Hi,
I have an interview with them in a couple of days and would love some advice as it sounds like it might be a fairly in - depth one!
I did a search and read the postings on this forum on ALS and they sounds ok, though they seem to hire people on as tourist visa initially, saying they will change it as soon as you get to Japan. Don't know how true this is or how you feel about it. |
How soon did they get back to you after you sent them your resume? I sent them my resume/CV a couple months ago and never heard from them.
Also, are you outside Japan?
I had a phone interview with them a couple years ago. Didn't have half the qualifications or experience as I do now. I remember the woman was a little impolite and she said they would call back but never did. |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:10 am Post subject: Illegal |
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| I did a search and read the postings on this forum on ALS and they sounds ok, though they seem to hire people on as tourist visa initially, saying they will change it as soon as you get to Japan. Don't know how true this is or how you feel about it. |
Run! Run in the other direction! Claiming to hire you on a tourist visa is illegal and I would even say fraud.
The US Consular Affairs website says
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U.S. citizens should not come to Japan to work without having the proper employment visa arranged ahead of time, or in the hopes of earning a large salary. Teaching English, even privately, and serving as hosts/hostesses are both considered "work" in Japan and are illegal without the proper visa.
Some U.S.-based employment agencies and Japanese employers do not fully discuss or correctly represent the true nature of employment terms and conditions. U.S. consular officers in Japan receive numerous complaints from U.S. citizens who come to Japan to work as English teachers, carpenters, models, actors, entertainers, exotic dancers, and bar hosts/hostesses. The complaints include contract violations, non-payment of salary for months at a time, sexual harassment, intimidation, and threats of arrest, deportation, and physical assault.
A minimum requirement for effectively seeking the protection of Japanese labor law is a written and signed work contract. Without a signed contract, Japanese authorities do not get involved on behalf of foreign workers. If you�re coming to Japan to work, carefully review your contracts and the history and reputation of your Japanese employer before traveling to Japan. We cannot confirm information about prospective Japanese employers although we may be familiar with organizations or have received complaints in the past. If you are asked to do something you find troubling, you should reconsider being in Japan and think about terminating your employment and returning to the United States. |
It's here - http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1148.html |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:11 am Post subject: Illegal |
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| Quote: |
| I did a search and read the postings on this forum on ALS and they sounds ok, though they seem to hire people on as tourist visa initially, saying they will change it as soon as you get to Japan. Don't know how true this is or how you feel about it. |
Run! Run in the other direction! Claiming to hire you on a tourist visa is illegal and I would even say fraud.
The US Consular Affairs website says
| Quote: |
U.S. citizens should not come to Japan to work without having the proper employment visa arranged ahead of time, or in the hopes of earning a large salary. Teaching English, even privately, and serving as hosts/hostesses are both considered "work" in Japan and are illegal without the proper visa.
Some U.S.-based employment agencies and Japanese employers do not fully discuss or correctly represent the true nature of employment terms and conditions. U.S. consular officers in Japan receive numerous complaints from U.S. citizens who come to Japan to work as English teachers, carpenters, models, actors, entertainers, exotic dancers, and bar hosts/hostesses. The complaints include contract violations, non-payment of salary for months at a time, sexual harassment, intimidation, and threats of arrest, deportation, and physical assault.
A minimum requirement for effectively seeking the protection of Japanese labor law is a written and signed work contract. Without a signed contract, Japanese authorities do not get involved on behalf of foreign workers. If you�re coming to Japan to work, carefully review your contracts and the history and reputation of your Japanese employer before traveling to Japan. We cannot confirm information about prospective Japanese employers although we may be familiar with organizations or have received complaints in the past. If you are asked to do something you find troubling, you should reconsider being in Japan and think about terminating your employment and returning to the United States. |
It's here - http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1148.html |
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taffer
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 50
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 6:19 pm Post subject: All due respect |
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TokyoLiz is someone who I, (and many other members no doubt) regard as a boon to this website. She knows her stuff and does not mince words.
However, I want fellow teachers to entertain a thought or two here. I have been hired on tourist visas in Praha, Istanbul, Taipei, Guangzhou, Seoul, Busan, and Shanghai and had those visas changed to work visas after I had gotten to those places and worked for a month or so. Was it perfectly legal? No.
Some here are talking as if this were something which happens only in Japan. Or perhaps just with ALS.
The fact of the matter is there are not many companies who have the juice or the desire to square your visa away prior to your arrival. Most have you come over on a landing visa/ tourist visa then help you to convert post arrival.
I challenge anyone out there to come forward and say that ALS has treated them with anything but fairness. Deception or fraud are not things that this company is known for. I would have had nothing to do with them if it were otherwise. |
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