Job Discussion Forums

timmyjames1976 · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 148

Hello,

I was reading information about visas and how to obtain them on the sticky when I noticed that the information was a few years old. Is the information still the same. As an American without a job should I enter on a toursist visa and then find work?

Any up to date information would be great. I am reading all the info I can find, but it is starting to get very very confusing.

Thanks

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Help us out a little. How about a little background on you? You'll need a degree for the work visa unless you have at least 3 years of teaching experience.

Otherwise, the info you read still holds.

timmyjames1976 · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 148

Sorry, I should have given more info.

I am a 29 year old American male. I am finishing my 1st year of ESL in Taiwan. I work for a big company and they have supplied a TEFL. I do have a 4 year degree as well. I believe I can legally work in Japan if I follow the correct process, but figuring out that process has tiwsted my brain into painful positions.

Thank you for the fast reply already!!!

Tim

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Ok, timmy, you're an American with a BA degree. That's enough for entry level work in Japan.

You either come to Japan and look for work on tourist status (could take 1-3 months to land a job), or you apply to the few places that recruit in the USA and attend interviews there. Once someone hires you, you provide the employer with copy of your degree, a resume, a couple of photos, and a copy of your passport information page, and then the employer forwards that and his company info to immigration to get the ball rolling on a work visa. If you are in the USA, you have to wait to get a Certificate of Eligibility stamped in your passport and word on when to schedule a flight here, and upon entry to Japan the COE converts to a work visa day zero starting time. If you are in Japan, you get a temporary "visa pending" stamp in your passport, which allows you to work, and then you wait for the visa itself to arrive (which means a second trip to the immigration office).

Best of luck. Let us know if you have any specific questions about job hunting.