Job Discussion Forums

[Bozo Yoroshiku]

PM'ed this to Jim, but he recommended I post it to the forum in case there are those out there that can answer a strange visa question that I don't think has been asked before.

Must a visa sponsor be a school? I have a friend (a retired, relatively minor sports celebrity) who wants me to come over to Japan and teach her (and her friends) English on a private basis. Can she sponsor me legally (she owns a bar, not a school), although technically, her friends would pay her the private lesson fees which in turn go from her to me? Her friends work for 2-3 different companies, so it may be possible to work directly with the companies rather than through my friend, but again, they are not schools.

Not that Japanese Immigration has to know anything about how she pays me, just that she does in fact give me a monthly salary (which would be quite substantial considering the number of friends involved). Is this one way to get around the private teaching/visa issue for a newbie to Japan EFL (let immigration think she is my sponsor when really she is just a private teaching facillitator for her friends)? I have a sweet salary at uni here in Korea, and would be loathe to give it up without the chance of making some more-than-typical money over Japan way. (ie. I'd hate to be making standard Nova wages).

Anyone know the visa regs well enough to tell me if my friend and I can do this (or at least with her friends companies)? I'll be spending the Christmas holdiays in Tokyo and visiting my friend, so I know the topic will come up again. I'd like to propose this idea if it's kosher.


--boz

[PAULH]

Bozo,

I cant give you a definitve answer but immigration will turn down sponsors if they dont meet certain requirements. It doensnt have to be an employer but they need to satisfy certain conditions


1. Guarantee a minimum income that you can sustain your life unassisted in japan. Usually you need a contract showing you will be paid minimum salary. Your bar owner could agree to pay you a salary but whether immigration accepts that is questionable
2. A sponsor will guarantee your welfare in japan. if you are hospitalised or arrested by the police, its the sponsor of your visa they go to. They become responsible for hotel bills, bail, fines whatever if you can not afford to pay.
3. The sponsor will pay your airfare back to your home country if you can not afford it
4. the sponsor must be a long term resident of good standing. Foreigners may sponsor people but they must have PR or spouse visas, preferably business owners.

She would have to contact immigration to see whether she meets the criteria for sponsoring your visa and they judge it on a case by case basis.

[Bozo Yoroshiku]

[PAULH]

Immigration's main concern is that you can support yourself here, you dont go on the dole or uemployment benefit, become homeless because you have no job or land up in hospital with no health insurance and a huge hospital bill. They dont want you to be a burden on the state and its the sponsor who must vouch for you.

If she owns a business maybe she can tell them she runs a language school out of her shop offering English lessons. Draw up a contract with the hours and salary and take it to immigration.

She becomes your guarantor and sponsor and makes sure you stay out of trouble.

Plane fare is only required if you are broke and have to be repatriated or deported and cant pay the plane fare.

[Bozo Yoroshiku]