Job Discussion Forums

[mikeffd]

I'm a Canadian in university. I'm sick of school, and I'd love to move out of my house for a while.

I understand what you need for a working holiday visa, but with this type of visa let me work full time hours?

My plan would be to get the WHV, go to Tokyo, and then start looking for work teaching english.

Is this a legit, viable plan? Could I make enough money to support myself??

All info is appreciated.

thanks

[canuck]

The WHV doesn't let you work full time. Some employers disregard that. The limit used to be 20 hours a week. For example, NOVA used to be able to hire WHV holders for part-time evening work only. However, you can work two jobs, and get around the rule.

Some people actually prefer working a few part-time gigs rather than something full time. However, I would be more open the just Tokyo. If I were to do the working holiday visa thing with your qualifications, I would try to secure a job over the internet before hand. I had a friend, that was in your similar situation, and he found a school in a smaller town that set him up with a job making the 250k a month before he came. Since he was in a smaller town, his rent was much cheaper and already set up for him. He didn't have to waste time looking for a job and incur a lot of start up costs etc. Good luck.

[mikeffd]

Thanks

So it's possible for me to go to Tokyo or Osaka (I really dont want to live in a small city) and get a full time job?

Sounds good.

thanks again

[Glenski]

[PAULH]

For the purpose of promoting greater mutual understanding between Japan and Canada, the governments of these two countries agreed in 1986 to start a Working-Holiday scheme to help encourage the exchange of young people. This program makes it possible for citizens of one country to enter the other primarily for a holiday over an extended period, and also to engage in employment as an incidental aspect of their trip in order to supplement their travel funds.

With this visa, Canadian citizens need not obtain further permission to engage in remunerative activities while in Japan, provided that these activities do not contravene the Japanese law regulating businesses offering food and entertainment as well as any other regulations in force which affect public order and good morals.

The Working-Holiday visa will be issued only once to the same Canadian citizen. The Government of Japan, on a reciprocal basis, will issue, free of charge, a single entry visa for the Working Holiday to persons who satisfy each of the reqirements outlined below:

Applicant Prerequisites:

Must be a Canadian citizen currently residing in Canada;
Intend primarily to holiday in Japan for a specific period of time;
Be between 18 and 30 years of age at the time of application;
Possess a valid Canadian passport and a return travel ticket;
Possess reasonable funds for their maintenance, including medical expenses, during the period of initial stay in Japan;
Be in good health and not have a criminal record.

[PAULH]

For the purpose of promoting greater mutual understanding between Japan and Canada, the governments of these two countries agreed in 1986 to start a Working-Holiday scheme to help encourage the exchange of young people. This program makes it possible for citizens of one country to enter the other primarily for a holiday over an extended period, and also to engage in employment as an incidental aspect of their trip in order to supplement their travel funds.

With this visa, Canadian citizens need not obtain further permission to engage in remunerative activities while in Japan, provided that these activities do not contravene the Japanese law regulating businesses offering food and entertainment as well as any other regulations in force which affect public order and good morals.

The Working-Holiday visa will be issued only once to the same Canadian citizen. The Government of Japan, on a reciprocal basis, will issue, free of charge, a single entry visa for the Working Holiday to persons who satisfy each of the reqirements outlined below:

Applicant Prerequisites:

Must be a Canadian citizen currently residing in Canada;
Intend primarily to holiday in Japan for a specific period of time;
Be between 18 and 30 years of age at the time of application;
Possess a valid Canadian passport and a return travel ticket;
Possess reasonable funds for their maintenance, including medical expenses, during the period of initial stay in Japan;
Be in good health and not have a criminal record.

[mikeffd]

great news.

I'll start gathering funds after my trip to brazil this summer. I think I'll just head over to tokyo and start looking for work there.

thanks again.

[wangtesol]

I have begun to regard the Working Holiday Visa as the "Activist Visa"

Canadians cannot get this kind of visa with any other country I don't think.

It is a great way to get your activist buddies over to Tokyo and demonstrate in the streets in the morning with the National Union of General Workers, and then teach in the evenings to pay the bills.

Street demos are a great way to see Tokyo. One of my first visits was a multi-union demonstration near Ueno Park where we blocked off part of Autoroute 4 in protest of Corin Motor Company which had declared bankruptcy and was refusing to pay their employees pension plans.

The Union has demos almost every week in Tokyo at firms where their members work: newspapers corporations, banks, Nova and other English schools, private Catholic Schools etc...

http://www.nambufwc.org

[wangtesol]

double post error

[PAULH]

[wangtesol]

Protesting in Japan takes a little bit of knowledge of management and police tricks. Here are a couple...

#1. Do not block the sidewalk or make any loud noises or else management can get an injunction against any further protests.

#2. If the police or a security guard approaches you, put your hands in your pockets or behind your back since they may fall down and try to accuse you of pushing them.

GABA, by the way, is always looking for teachers. Their working conditions are not that great. But if you can find two other guys with Working Holiday Visas, you could start up a branch union and improve things. And they do not provide a visa, so you would be right up their alley.

[PAULH]

[canuck]

[canuck]

@Glenski, this is what I found:

http://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/2004/VisaTravel/WHV.html

The working holiday visa is not applicable to persons wishing to enter Japan to engage in full-time employment or to enroll in academic institutions. (The suggested hours of work are about 20 hours per week.)

[mikeffd]

From what I understand the WHV isn't intended for full time work, but that doesn't mean it isn't prohibited.

Canuck, when you say you know some people that did well finding work in Osaka.. what do you mean? Perhaps you can elaborate. Did they find full time work?

I'm interested!

thanks