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MrCAPiTUL
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 232
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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 Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:18 am Post subject: Changing VISAs |
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Question:
If one goes to Japan on a Student Visa, is it possible for one to transfer his or her Student Visa to a Working Visa? I am saying after a few months of being there? Or, will that not happen? Thanks in advance. |
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earthmonkey
Joined: 18 Feb 2005
Posts: 188
Location: Meguro-Ku Tokyo
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:59 am Post subject: |
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If you have a degree and find an employer who will sponsor you, changing visas shouldn't be a problem.
Good luck. |
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MrCAPiTUL
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 232
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Thank you earthmonkey. I know how uptight the JP government can be w/Visas. Your response is appreciated. |
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TRod
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 3:07 pm Post subject: Visa Status Processing time |
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| Does anyone know how long that process would take to change your visa status? |
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justuspost
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 16
Location: Berkeley CA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:25 pm Post subject: degree |
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| A random question here. My friend in considering joining me in Tokyo but he is concerned about his degree. I guess he went to what amounts to a community college for his BA and is worried that immigration wont view it the same as a university degree. Any experience with this? Any advice? |
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abufletcher
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
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| Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't know about immigration but I'm sure as heck curious about how one gets a BA from a 2 year community college! Sounds like a diploma mill sort of thing to me. |
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justuspost
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 16
Location: Berkeley CA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:56 am Post subject: |
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i dont think it was a community college per se. but it wasnt a well known state school or anything. I dunno alot about his school but they arent well known or anything thats for sure. Kind of like a 'university of phoenix or something like that where some of it is online and they have accelerated classes i think.
I wonder how much they care where the degree is from, righ? as long as you have one. Id love to have my buddy come with me at some point but I dont want to have him come out then find that he cant get a visa cause of his school.
What are you referring to as a 'diploma mill '? I know some places have 'fake' degrees but others have 'life experience' credit... I wonder where they drawl the line or if they even look into it as long as you have the paper.
Justus |
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Doglover
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 305
Location: Kansai
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| Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 2:06 am Post subject: |
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| abufletcher wrote: |
| I don't know about immigration but I'm sure as heck curious about how one gets a BA from a 2 year community college! Sounds like a diploma mill sort of thing to me. |
I think you are referring to an AA degree or an Associates degree. Its not a 4 year undergraduate degree but the equivalent of a 2 year junior college degree.
I dont have all the facts and criteria in front of me but i have done battle with people who have done these diploma mill degrees and life experience degrees and argued till they were blue in the face they have a valid qualification, simply because they have spent a lot of money on them (I came across one guy who spent $US14,000 to find out his degree was fake).
Im not going to argue about the merits of particular programs but they seem to be a creation of the US academic community where there is a high demand for regional and state certification. These 'universities' pop up like mushrooms on a warm day to satisfy a particular need.
A diploma mill is simply that. Pay $400 or $500, write a 20 page report and they send you a certificate in the mail with "degree from United Way University of Bermuda"
Life experience simply adds the years you have been working to the degree requirements and counts as part of your coursework, No actual study or academic rigor is needed to pass the degree. "most" such degrees are not recognised outside their own state or by the Department of Education in the US as an authentic Bachelors degree. |
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angrysoba
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 446
Location: Kansai, Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 2:57 am Post subject: |
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justuspost:
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Id love to have my buddy come with me at some point but I dont want to have him come out then find that he cant get a visa cause of his school.
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It would make more sense for him to try and get employed in his home country and go through the visa process there. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 3:11 am Post subject: Re: degree |
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| justuspost wrote: |
| A random question here. My friend in considering joining me in Tokyo but he is concerned about his degree. I guess he went to what amounts to a community college for his BA and is worried that immigration wont view it the same as a university degree. Any experience with this? Any advice? |
Immigration won't view it as a four year degree. The only way he would get a visa is if the immigration people are sleeping at the wheel. His chances are very slim. He doesn't meet the basic requirements for a visa. |
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justuspost
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 16
Location: Berkeley CA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:41 am Post subject: |
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Hmm well good advice. Thanks guys.
I know places like University of Phoenix gives a 4yr BA and the classes are like 8 weeks and a lot is online. I wonder how they decide who a 'creditable' school is, especially like this, vs. one of these 'mills' or simply a fake place. The 'mill' sounds like they have at least some accreditation even if just in their area?
I talked to my friend and his is a BA, but through an art school. I remember he was gonna transfer to a state school, but his credits only transferred to another of these art schools (only 6 in the US I think). I thought of going there while I was in school but decided against this because of that exact reason. If I moved or anything the credits were worthless�.
Well any more ideas on this? Not too encouraging so far haha. I could use a friend when I get to Japan lol.. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:08 am Post subject: |
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| justuspost wrote: |
Hmm well good advice. Thanks guys.
I know places like University of Phoenix gives a 4yr BA and the classes are like 8 weeks and a lot is online. I wonder how they decide who a 'creditable' school is, especially like this, vs. one of these 'mills' or simply a fake place. The 'mill' sounds like they have at least some accreditation even if just in their area?
I talked to my friend and his is a BA, but through an art school. I remember he was gonna transfer to a state school, but his credits only transferred to another of these art schools (only 6 in the US I think). I thought of going there while I was in school but decided against this because of that exact reason. If I moved or anything the credits were worthless�.
Well any more ideas on this? Not too encouraging so far haha. I could use a friend when I get to Japan lol.. |
You need to make a distinction between "creditable" which is simply a value judgement or an opinio i.e. is a it a 'good' school or a 'bad school'.
I know of good schools with top-ranking TESOL professors (University of Anaheim, with Rod Ellis and David Nunan) but the degree itself is not recognised anywhere.
What you need to ask yourself is "what school will accept credits from this university? Can I use these credits towards another degree?" Is the university recognised by the federal government? Why would a foreign government recognise your degree if even your own government doesnt recognise it?
I know in some states in the US there are "diploma mill" universities that are not recognised in certain states of the US. They are only recognised in the state where the university has an address.
If you do a search on the Internet Scott Sommers has an excellent blog on teaching in Taiwan and has excellent links on degree accreditation.
Look up also under "Bear's Guide to Non-traditional degrees. There is a blacklist of degree institutions you should stay away from.
I would also avoid any online institutions that have a website ending in .org or .com as these are not universities but paper companies that peddle worthless degrees. Check where the address is and that it actually has buildings and is not just a postbox. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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justuspost
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 16
Location: Berkeley CA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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WOW.. there is a list of degree mills as long as my leg. There are also many places that seem to fall into this 'grey' area as well. I had no idea that this was so wide spread.
This has me wondering how many people do something like this then are competing for the same job that I am going to Japan for. How many people end up NOT getting a work visa due to their degree, from a mill or otherwise. What would someone do for work if they got denied a work via due to their degree or would they just have to leave? It kind of freaks me out to think of being denied a work visa due to a degree issue. I�m sure I have nothing to worry about, but there are surely many people who face this. I�m sure that Japan is nothing like America in the regard that you can just live here with no education what so ever and sometimes even earn a living.
wow! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 12:12 am Post subject: |
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You will notice most of them are out of the US. The British and Australians have a long history of distance learning and universities there are generally recognised by their governments as bona-fide universities.
My Temple degree in Japan was accepted by the university Im studying with now in the UK.
A diploma mill degree is not a free pass to a visa. Either you have studied at a bona-fide university or your haven't, and you have to do your homework with distance degrees etc. Far too many people want to cut corners when getting qualifications, want to save money on acquiring degrees and its no surprise they get turned back at the gate.
Its not immigrations fault because you want to try and buck the system.
If you dont get a visa you cant work here, simple as that. No one owes you a job or a visa here. |
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