Job Discussion Forums

[babyblue135]

I hope someone can help me here...

I am living and working in Korea. Im tired of it here and I want to work in Japan. My husband is from Nigeria and he is studying an M.A. online so I would like him to be able to follow me to Japan.

As a Nigerian he needs a visa to enter this country. Can I arrange a dependant visa before I start a job? Do regular schools or academies allow you to bring your spouse and are they willing to give you the supporting sheets for a spouse visa?

Finally, In Korea we have a lot of problems with anyone who is an 'official' because the people here are very racist. How is Japan better? What is the overall treatment of people with black skin?

Thanks for all your help! If you want to post here thats cool and if you want to email me that would be great [email protected]

[lajzar]

You can't get a spouse visa for him, because you aren't Japanese.

You can get a dependant visa. I'm not sure of the exact requirements, but I expect that first, you'll need to have a valid work visa, then you can sponsor him.

[Glenski]

lajzar is correct re: spouse vs. dependent visa.

I don't know the ropes on it, but perhaps you can apply for it at the same time you apply for your own work visa. Just remember that the dependent visa by itself does not permit him to work in Japan. He must also file a simple document requesting permission to engage in other activities (including work). It'll only grant him eligibility to work PART-time, but that's better than nothing. Beware of how much he makes, too, or you may get taxed quite a bit.

[pnksweater]

My husband is also on a dependent visa. Yes, bias can enter into it, but if he can jump through the hoops he'll get his stamp.

My husband applied at the Japan embassy in Seattle (USA). All he needed was a photocopy of my passport face page and my current working visa for Japan, a photocopy of our marriage certificate, his passport, and a letter of guaranty. Do a search for letter of guaranty and Japan and you should be able to find a sample form online. It took a few weeks to process and the visa was free.

In theory, if he has all of the above he will get the stamp, but the last time my husband tried to get his dependant visa the embassy worker did everything he could to stop him.

First he claimed that I could not sponser his visa because my visa was expired. Um... check the new visa stamp next to last year's?

Then he wouldn't believe that his wife could change her status to proffessor. (My husband deals with this one all the time.) For some reason I had a student of mine standing in the embassy behind my husband that day... so the clerk had to give in. Your visa really isn't the issue in this situation, but they may prod for a little more proof of your job.

Lastly they accused my husband of being a deceased man born in 1948 who died in prison in the 70s. So a trip down to the capital to get records was in order. At this point my husband was fairly ticked off and berated the clerk for such an obviouse screw up. The embassy paid for transportation costs and issued the stamp.

I doubt it's possible to have more hassle than this. Most of the time it's a snap.

[guest of Japan]

Wow pnksweater, I think your husband should get an award for going through all that. I'd love to read an extended version with quotes.