Job Discussion Forums

[Lauramarie]

Hi there,

On the WHV application form, you're asked where you are going to be living for the first 6 months. What should one say if they haven't gotten a job in Japan arranged as yet, but would like to obtain the visa before applying for jobs (hoping that will help in lieu of a university degree??

Also, do the 6 months of the visa validity begin when you receive your visa, or when you arrive in Japan?

Your thoughts/tips are much appreciated!

Laura

[PAULH]

[CanKorea]

The WHV is valid for 6 months once you enter Japan. When you receive your passport with the WHV you have one year to enter Japan before it becomes void.

I just got mine last week and this is what the consulate explained to me. I don't think the WHV will be considered an alternative to a degree though. Good luck with your job search!

Cheers

[ionix-]

And you can work Full time with a WHV. Also, you can do pretty much any job.

[PAULH]

[Tomasama]

When I filled out the WHV application form, I put down all the places I'd like to visit after reading Lonely Planet's book on Japan
For the activities I put down things like teaching English, skiing, onsens, site seeing.
Just so long as you give the consulate the impression that you�re not just going to Japan to work and that you have a genuine interest in seeing the country, you can write down whatever. I wouldn't sweat it.
Things that did get me were the letter of contact and accommodation.
The bureaucrat gave me marching orders to arrange at least one night�s accommodation somewhere so I booked a nice hotel. Luckily I have a friend in Japan who was kind enough to email through the letter of contact.

[ionix-]

[PAULH]

[CanKorea]

I had to sign a form stating I wouldn't engage in work such as hostessing, prostitution and the like. Not that I was raring to go for all that anyway.

My consulate actually told me it was fine that I didn't have addresses of where I would be staying. So I would call your embassy/consulate to ask them about that stuff.

Teaching English isn't all bad (though not all good either). I managed to have a pretty good time with most of my students in Korea. The sticky part comes from dealing with management for most folks, but I lucked out there too. I guess I'm assuming here that Japanese students wouldn't be so different from them.

[litlmssunshine]

To all that have replied to this post I think there is a little resentment towards WHV holders. Most of you that have answered are forum regulars or even forum regulators, you've probably been in Japan a long time, have degrees and signed a year contract at a job before setting foot in the country all those years ago. (Sweeping generalization)
Those that are WHV holders are going to see the sights, experience the culture and will try to get work. They KNOW they can't be doctors (that comment was just insulting) in Japan and are restricted in alot of other positions but if they can find work they'll give it a go.
Now I do not want to offend anyone out there, I know that teaching English is a job, and a hard one at that but if you are a native english speaker then you can teach english, it may just be pronounciation to begin with, tutoring people you meet in your travels and decide to stop somewhere. You may be lucky enough to land a job - and you may suck at it to begin with, but if you are willing to put your time, energy and effort into it then you'll succeed and get better and better as you go...... and you dont need a degree to know that.
WHV holders have to take a little more risk because there is a chance that you wont find any work, but for a WHV holder that is not the sole purpose for them being there.
Again I do not mean this as an insult to anyone out there, I am going to apply for WHV myself at the end of the year and plan to be in Japan for Feb/Mar time next year and I'm really looking forward to seeing the country, putting my Japanese into practice and hopefully, if I'm lucky enough with my experience to land a job for a period of time with young Japanese children - everyone, including myself has to start somewhere in the learning process.
x LMS x

[Tomasama]

Litlms: I wouldn't worry yourself over the animosity of some posters in forums, it's to be expected that you will encounter the same people here as you would in everyday life. As some one who has worked in the IT industry for 7 years and used the internet for a bit longer than that (English teaching will be my career change ), you'll always find people ready and willing to condescend, provide irrelevant information and generally hijack a forum thread for their own agenda/ amusement/vent. Unfortunately a topic specific forum is no guarantee for useful positive dialogue.
Paul you�re welcome to nitpick, but so will I. You quote me as typing 'leisure' and accuse me of insinuating that English teaching is leisure activity. Please read my post again.
By definition of the word activity, this word is not only reserved for recreational pursuits.
When I posted I was relaying my personal experience in applying for a WHV.
In the documentation and forms that I had to fill, one page was required me to outline what my location will be and how I will be spending my time in Japan each month for the next 6 months of my arrival.
I can hazard a guess that if I had specified that I would only be working for the same educational institute in the same location for the 6 months of my stay, they would have rejected my application as this goes against the intent of a WHV.
Had I only listed traveling and site-seeing as the activities I would pursue it could possibly raise the question or suspicion as to how I intended on funding my holiday for such a long period of time.
There is one issue I would like to clarify about the WHV; some readers have claimed that full time work is permissible with a WHV. I have not seen any indication that this is so from official sources. If any one can confirm and show some evidence that this is the case then it would be greatly appreciated as it may keep a few people out of trouble if the claim was incorrect.
Cheers.

[Doglover]

Remunerative Activities:

Working Holiday visa holders can engage in any kind of job as long as their stay is deemed to be primarily a holiday in Japan. They may not, however, work in places where business is being regulated by the Law on Control and Improvement of Amusement and Entertainment Business, such as nightclubs and dance halls.


Since the Working Holiday programme is intended to promote greater mutual understanding, the applicant's primary aim should be to holiday in Japan. The programme is not designed for persons who mainly intend to work or study in Japan (for which purposes the appropriate visa should be sought). To ensure that the programme's objectives are met, the following requirements are to be satisfied.


Generally speaking on the WHV you can work full time for short periods, or part time at several jobs at the same time. If you are working a 40 hour week at one job, for 50 weeks of the year, earning a salary equivalent to a full time sponsored teacher, it is not deemed a holiday in japan. you will be WORKING. A full time job is not a holiday.

NOVA for example allows you to work up to 20 hours a week on its Flextime schedule

as has often been noted on these forums if you have a full time job working 45-50 weeks of the year, it doesnt give you much time to see the rest of the country, experience festivals, travel outside your city.


Here is a site which says that no restrictions on work hours are present

http://www.jawhm.or.jp/eng/

[Lauramarie]

Tomosama, what exactly is a letter of contact and how can I obtain one? Would proof of a reservation at a hotel be good enough?

Second, related question: when you go to pick up the WHV, is it alright if you have a open-ended return ticket, or does it have to specify a date?

Thanks for all the info everyone!

[Stosskraft]

I think what they want to see when your filling you the WHV application, is that your planning on working as a way to replenish your funds during travel.

I did list the places I wanted to visit first, then noted "search for part-time work" teaching. I believe that as long as your main focus is traveling and or culture related, its ok to mention that you are going to seek part-time employment to top up your funds when needed. Since I had previous teaching experience, this seemed normal to them. I believe you are asked, to submit your resume when applying for a WHV (in Canada anyways) so make sure that whatever employment you mention on the WHV, at least has some relation to past experience on your resume.

[Stosskraft]