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A question about visa with no degree.
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canuck



Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glenski wrote:
You got lucky. Admit it.

Unlike the original poster, you at least had some college education. It even came with a parchment you call a diploma. (In my home country, a diploma is what you get when you graduate high school. In places like Canada, I think a diploma is what you get when you graduate from a 2 or 3 year college, not a university.)

Your diploma plus the TESOL diploma (not sure if this is from a college or a certification agency of sorts) probably was enough to let immigration figure you could pass visa requirements for an instructor visa. By the way, most of our comments on work visas are aimed at the Humanities Specialist visa, not an instructor visa.

Ease up. You are a rare exception. 99% of the time, you either need a bachelor's degree or 3 years of work experience to get a work visa. If the OP had mentioned similar qualifications, someone like Paul or I would have said "maybe" about getting past immigration with it, and your comments would have lent support instead of snobbish apathy in this thread.


A voice of reason....you listening Joshua....or does everyone that says something you don't want to hear "have no REAL idea" Rolling Eyes

Basically ava77 showed his certificate, marked on the box degree and hoped for the best at immigration. I'm guessing that's the route he took. Only by fluke it worked, if it indeed is true.
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ryuro



Joined: 22 Apr 2003
Posts: 91

PostPosted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have to agree with Glenski and PaulH.

7+ years in Japan, many of those dealing direclty with immigration through recruiting teachers and not once have I had one of the teachers I recruited get a work visa without a BA (even with experience).

There are exceptions so nothing venture, nothing gained- you can certianly give it a try. I really wouldn't get your hopes too high.

I'm certainly not trying to disuade you, only provide info because Japan is a great place. But for everyone like ava77 there probably are 99 that didn't even get more than a glance from immigraiton before being turned down.

Regardless- good luck!

Cheers,
ryuro
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taikibansei



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 3:15 pm    Post subject: Re: Teachers Reply with quote

ava77 wrote:
I hope you aren't implying that I am untrained. I have a TESOL diploma that I used when I taught ESL ( which doesn't mean much). I also have a 2 year college diploma in Early Childhood Education and am now teaching at a top International School as an Assistant Teacher making the same salary as I was teaching ESL. I think BA's are way over-rated!


This is the first time I've heard of someone teaching at a "top international school" without even a completed 4-year degree. Heck, I've only known of a few people to have been hired by reputable international schools without a BA/BS, teaching certification and 2-3 years of teaching experience in their home country...and some of those exceptions had MAs as well. Moreover, when I looked into employment at these schools in the past, I found that none of them accepted eikaiwa instruction as "teaching experience," with content/subject teaching experience much preferred over "ESL experience." Finally, and quite frankly, I can't imagine that parents--paying $10,000-$20,000 per child per year to attend--would easily accept teachers (I sure wouldn't at those prices) without the requisite qualifications and teaching experience--all of this making aya77's achievement nothing short of miraculous.

Is it possible to do what ava77 has done? Apparently so. Does this necessarily mean that Joshua will achieve similar success? Hardly. Certainly, since his heart is set on coming--and especially since a company is apparently willing to work with him on getting a visa (half the battle right there)--Joshua should try. But frankly, ava77 is doing a disservice to people by implying that finding legal employment in Japan without an undergraduate degree is somehow easy.
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joshua s



Joined: 18 Oct 2005
Posts: 6

PostPosted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:45 pm    Post subject: Thanks again for the info Reply with quote

Thankyou CANUK. I think you should look up the word 'sneak' It would imply something underhanded. I am not doing anything like that. I asked a question and you gave a straight answer based on YOUR opinion. Not based on the law of the land. Others who have tried to help have been honest AND supported their information with something. YOU did not. So no, I dont have a BA but I will try any way. IF it gets the green light I will post again, If I get a red light I will also post again. The reason I will post again is so we can all learn something, or are you too smart to learn anything new with your BA. I will also be honest on the paper work just like i was in my post.
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canuck



Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

joshua s wrote:
hi, I was wondering if you could give me a straight answer.


canuck wrote:
Straight answer = no. Get a BA.


Then you have a cow and act all childish.

ryuro wrote:
7+ years in Japan, many of those dealing direclty with immigration through recruiting teachers and not once have I had one of the teachers I recruited get a work visa without a BA (even with experience).

But for everyone like ava77 there probably are 99 that didn't even get more than a glance from immigraiton before being turned down.


Glenski wrote:
99% of the time, you either need a bachelor's degree or 3 years of work experience to get a work visa. If the OP had mentioned similar qualifications, someone like Paul or I would have said "maybe" about getting past immigration with it, and your comments would have lent support instead of snobbish apathy in this thread.


Others have posted information. You wanted the quick answer. If PaulH's answer, provides you with only a glimmering of hope.

I'm going to ignore the snooty remarks you sent in a private message to me. It's up to you to take what and others have said.

Sneak? Underhanded? Am I trying to protect you from stealing my job and protecting potential job opportunities because you might enter the country and reduce my chances? Rolling Eyes

Others have said the same thing I did, but your refuse to accept it. What part don't you understand? Rolling Eyes
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abufletcher



Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:32 am    Post subject: Re: Teachers Reply with quote

taikibansei wrote:
This is the first time I've heard of someone teaching at a "top international school"


Well, actually ava77's claims was only that s/he was working as a "teaching assistant" and making the same salary as when s/he was teaching EFL. That's not such a lofty claim. In the US teaching assistants are sometimes even unpaid positions occupied by a parent with some free time.
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canuck



Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

joshua s, you know what, it's highly unlikely that you can get a working visa in Japan. Most English teachers here have one, or some higher form of education. Companies don't want to have difficulty with immigration. Not having a BA complicates things and isn't a guarantee. When the very small percentage actually squeek through the cracks, it's because of a mistake at immigration or some sort of false paperwork. Your chances are slim, but not impossible, like anything in life. You can't lose, if you don't try, so put on your best and proudest face, and continue to fight the good fight. Battle on, and hopefully you aren't repressed by the B.A.'ist immigration requirements.

You've used your working holiday, and are trying to get back. You're looking for the back door, as you don't want to go through the process of getting a degree like the vast majority teaching here. I understand, Japan is a wonderful country. You are looking for support, a hug and some kind words to reaffirm what you already are thinking of doing and want to hear.

You want us to say you can get in, where the vast majority of evidence points in the direction of, have B.A., can do, don't pick up the scraps, hold on to hope, and try another route. You wanted a quick answer, and I gave it. Others provided minimal hope, although to you, it's an opening, a ray of light, the alchemist's dream...instead of making common rocks and metals into gold, taking the time to a warm fuzzy feeling of other experience to enter the doors of Japan.

I suggest a good luck charm (like a nice huggy bear, a Pokemon), neither of which have completed their BA in toyland, for advice, help and good fortune in your new founded goal and upcoming immigration trial to hold on to a former job. I wish you luck. Godspeed. It's my sincerest hope you receive more answers you would like to hear, so that it makes your journey that much easier on your soul Exclamation Laughing

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so curt originally, even though you asked for the straight answer. I appologize.


Last edited by canuck on Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:50 am; edited 1 time in total
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taikibansei



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:39 am    Post subject: Re: Teachers Reply with quote

abufletcher wrote:

Well, actually ava77's claims was only that s/he was working as a "teaching assistant" and making the same salary as when s/he was teaching EFL. That's not such a lofty claim. In the US teaching assistants are sometimes even unpaid positions occupied by a parent with some free time.


Actually, s/he said ESL, not EFL--which, if you think about it, makes the claim even less "lofty."

I'm assuming s/he meant something different--I just don't think anyone could survive in Japan on a Canadian (or American) ESL salary. Heck, it's difficult enough surviving on those salaries in the US/Canada. Shocked
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Zzonkmiles



Joined: 05 Apr 2003
Posts: 309

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Okay, let's just say for the sake of argument that it is indeed possible to get a work visa without a college degree.

Now imagine you have two applicants for the same job. Both have comparable levels of similar experience, or a lack thereof. One applicant has a BA and one of them doesn't. Upon looking at their resumes, I'd imagine 99% of the time, the school would invite the BA-holder to an interview, rather than the degreeless candidate. Yes, exceptions always exist, but I think most people would take a 99% chance of success over a 1% chance.

The point is, just getting a visa is only half the battle. You still have to compete with other teachers here just to find a job. People without a BA are at the lowest rung of the food chain here, just one rung above people without a BA who are also not native English speakers. One other point to keep in mind is that schools that hire people without degrees are more likely to also be schools that nobody else wants to work at and have the worst conditions.
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PAULH



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Zzonkmiles wrote:
The point is, just getting a visa is only half the battle. You still have to compete with other teachers here just to find a job. People without a BA are at the lowest rung of the food chain here, just one rung above people without a BA who are also not native English speakers. One other point to keep in mind is that schools that hire people without degrees are more likely to also be schools that nobody else wants to work at and have the worst conditions.


I did actually see one school in Shiga that said on its website it pays degree-less or junior college graduates 30,000 yen less a month than someone with a degree. Having a degree or not having a degree makes no material difference to your teaching ability, but usually schools will tell students that teachers are university-qualified and therefore 'educated' and qualified to teach English. Employing a teacher not holding a degree is a kind of false advertising for the employer.
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canuck



Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

double post.

Last edited by canuck on Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:27 am; edited 1 time in total
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canuck



Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PAULH wrote:
I did actually see one school in Shiga that said on its website it pays degree-less or junior college graduates 30,000 yen less a month than someone with a degree. Having a degree or not having a degree makes no material difference to your teaching ability, but usually schools will tell students that teachers are university-qualified and therefore 'educated' and qualified to teach English. Employing a teacher not holding a degree is a kind of false advertising for the employer.


The Peppy's Kids school does this. They even go to the university education programs and have done co-op terms with them, where the university student takes a couple semesters off and teaches at a reduce rate.
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