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Serendipity
Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 36
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 Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:29 pm Post subject: Missionary VISA |
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Still haven't found a good excuse to go back home - I intend to stay in Japan as long as they'll put up with me, and as long as I can get a VISA.
With this in mind, anyone know how straightfoward it is to get a missionary VISA? I'm happy to work part-time, if such a restriction replies. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Are you a missionary? For a missionary visa you need to be sponsored by a church here and work f/t. Are you involved with a church now? If so, ask them. Funds (or lack thereof) are a big problem for the churches here. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
| Are you a missionary? For a missionary visa you need to be sponsored by a church here and work f/t. Are you involved with a church now? If so, ask them. Funds (or lack thereof) are a big problem for the churches here. |
Not quite true
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website says you have to belong to a foreign church organisation e.g. the Mormons and be sent to Japan by your church from overseas. You can not teach English while on a missionary visa.
I dont know about getting sponsorship by churches here but Im sure special conditions apply for the visa.
Religious
Activities
(3 years or 1 year)
Missionary and other religious activities conducted by members of foreign religious organizations. |
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Serendipity
Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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Apparently there is a work limit of around 20 hours/week for these kinds of VISAs. How reliable that source was, I'm not sure... but when I heard that, it suddenly got my interest.
I'm not a missionary but I am kind of involved with my church. For a church to be considered as a "religious organisation" (and therefore having the power to grant VISAs) the list of requirements are pretty steep - e.g. you've got to own the building, not rent it. Therefore, my church can't help me on this one.
Maybe I'm just chasing the wind here.. but it sounded like an interesting possibility. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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FYI, Serendipity...
VISA is a credit card. All capital letters necessary.
A visa (no capital letters in the spelling) is permission to stay and work. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 12:00 am Post subject: |
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I know a number of missionaries here in Japan. Work hours of course is rather difficult to gauge. How exactly do you constitute work? Teaching? Preparation? Music? Planning? All the missionaries I know work a lot more than I do.
Paul, you don't need to be sent from overseas to be a missionary. Someone could find sponsorship while they are here and remain as a missionary, I know people that this has happened to.
Serendipity, ask your church about another church they know who may be able to sponsor you, if this is something you are serious about. |
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Serendipity
Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 3:14 am Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
FYI, Serendipity...
VISA is a credit card. All capital letters necessary.
A visa (no capital letters in the spelling) is permission to stay and work. |
... the capital letters are more a sign of STRESS than grammatical meaning 
As for trying through another church, mmm, I'll give it a go. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 3:16 am Post subject: |
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| Serendipity wrote: |
| Maybe I'm just chasing the wind here.. but it sounded like an interesting possibility. |
Get a degree or a working holiday visa like the rest of the people here.  It's obvious your just trying to skirt visa regulations and have other motives than help some "higher power". |
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Serendipity
Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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| canuck wrote: |
| Serendipity wrote: |
| Maybe I'm just chasing the wind here.. but it sounded like an interesting possibility. |
Get a degree or a working holiday visa like the rest of the people here. It's obvious your just trying to skirt visa regulations and have other motives than help some "higher power". |
Got a degree.. too old for a working VISA.. taught around 3000 hours of English and I've done my "salari man" time. Which is why I'd like a bit of a break - even though it means getting a VISA is a lot more difficult.
My "higher power" motives are not so strong, agreed, but visa and money permiting, you never know; I can think of worse things to do with my time. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Serendipity wrote: |
Got a degree.. too old for a working VISA.. taught around 3000 hours of English and I've done my "salari man" time. Which is why I'd like a bit of a break - even though it means getting a VISA is a lot more difficult.
My "higher power" motives are not so strong, agreed, but visa and money permiting, you never know; I can think of worse things to do with my time. |
You can't be told for working visa, anyone can get one if they have a degree, even if they are 60. Maybe too old for working holiday if you are over 30.
If you dont qualify for other visa categories you are SOL, I'm afraid and visas are not there for your convenience but for immigration. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 6:16 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| taught around 3000 hours of English and I've done my "salari man" time. Which is why I'd like a bit of a break - even though it means getting a VISA is a lot more difficult. |
So, you've been a teacher here. Can I presume that your salariman remark means you are currently on another type of visa NOT doing teaching but doing some sort of corporate work, and your visa is running out?
What do you mean by wanting a bit of a break? |
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Serendipity
Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Quote: |
| taught around 3000 hours of English and I've done my "salari man" time. Which is why I'd like a bit of a break - even though it means getting a VISA is a lot more difficult. |
So, you've been a teacher here. Can I presume that your salariman remark means you are currently on another type of visa NOT doing teaching but doing some sort of corporate work, and your visa is running out?
What do you mean by wanting a bit of a break? |
My visa matches the work I'm doing now but it won't last forever. I'd like to stay in Japan indefinetly but the thought of working in a small office for the benifit of the owner and my bank account doesn't sound as attractive as it once did. I've done it for a few years but it just felt like I could be doing something better with my time here - hence the need for a break.
Ideally I'd like to find somewhere that could provide me with part time work and also sponsor me to give me the time to do something with a motive above wages. Maybe a gaijin guardian angel or something.
I have 2 friends who have been advised by the immigrtion office to "get married" to save the visa problems. Things aren't quite that bad yet..
[/url][/code] |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 1:16 am Post subject: |
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| One thing I can tell you is that if you want to make some money, a missionary IS NOT the way to go. P/t work perhaps, but very p/t pay. |
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