Job Discussion Forums

[ironopolis]

Glenski, you wrote that single people may not have wait 10 years for PR and that it was case by case.

I well know that so many aspects of immigration are indeed case by case, but I'd be interested to hear how many single (or not married to a Japanese) people you yourself know of who got PR status in less than 10 years.

The reason I ask is because it's something I've taken a bit of an interest in myself, yet I've never come across, or even heard of second hand, someone who managed this in less than 10 years. I've been here about 10 years and although I'm not really interested in getting PR status anymore I have considered it at times in the past. I've asked several different officials at the immigration office I go to, which I find to be a much friendlier, more helpful place than other offices I've had to use elsewhere in Japan. But still, the answer has always been - "10 years". I've asked if there are any exceptions to this and got the same answer.

I've taught some students who work at a different immigration office and they've also given the same answer. I know a woman who's been here just over 10 years - 4 years as a student and 6 and a bit working for a Japanese company. She briefly left Japan for 2 months between graduating and starting work, coming back on a different visa. On asking if she would be deemed to have satisfied the 10 year rule, the immigration staff were very sympathetic but insisted that having left in 2001, however briefly, meant she'd had to start from scratch again - sorry, rules are rules etc, etc. I've asked friends in a couple of other areas of Japan about this and all of what I've heard was consistent with my experience.

So my impression is that not many people, if any, get around this 10 year rule. It might be a wrong impression though, so if you have a different one, glenski, it be interesting to hear how you came to it.

[azarashi sushi]

[Glenski]

I'd heard recently that requirements were loosened for married and single people applying for PR. Can't find the source of that news, but I recall it was official. Sadly, the MOFA site and immigration homepage don't cite it, either.

Look here for a description similar to the one on the immigration homepage. http://www.pref.osaka.jp/kokusai/OIS_web/english/immigration/04_4.html
It describes several types of situations where unmarried people can be eligible for PR in under 10 years.

The immigration homepage itself uses a somewhat loose description as follows (emphasis is mine):

[Apsara]

I know a few people in Tokyo who have got PR without being married to a Japanese, all of them were here more than 10 years before being able to apply. I know someone who tried to apply before he had been here 10 years, he was told to wait. Case by case I'm sure but my guess is that it is still 10 years in the majority of cases.

[ironopolis]

I too know some people who got PR without having a Japanese spouse, but they also were only able to even apply for it after 10 years. And it's specifically those NOT married to a Japanese that I was asking glenski about.

Thanks for the links, glenski. I'm not that surprised that the theoretical possibility exists of getting the PR status in less than 10 years, but your response has actually reinforced my impression that the realistic chance of it is very limited indeed. I'd thought for a moment, given your strongish response to the initial mention on this thread of the 10 year wait, that you perhaps had come across some cases of people managing it in less than this time. I guess I probably misinterpreted your response.

10 years is quite a long time. I'm sure there must be other countries with a requirement as long or longer, but most of the other examples I'm aware of are considerably shorter. I once asked about this in Korea, and IIRC I believe I was told the equivalent length of time was 5 years. I think it's 5 years in the UK too. Japan has been showing a bit of flexibility on visa issues of late - they now, albeit long overdue, have reciprocated with Korea on tourist visitors, allowing their nationals to come to Japan visa free for tourist visits. So, if they're relaxing how they apply the PR rules, that would be a welcome step too IMO.

Ultimately however, this is probably not something most newbies or people thinking of coming to Japan would or should be worried about.

[nawlinsgurl]

Everyone has pretty much said what I was going to be, but I must add a big PLUS to living in Japan:

IT'S SAFE!

Yes kids do cut off their mom's head and old grannies posion their nagging husbands, but it's nothing like the news I hear from the States.

Even with the occassional murder here now and then, I never feel like I have to worry that some crazy student will come into my class and kill everyone because I gave them a bad grade-or just because.

I read somewhere (a very relaible newspaper, I think) that last year Japan had like 30 or 60 deaths by gun violence. I know its bad that I can't remember the EXACT number but I can tell you that it is WAY lower than the States. I'm not from a bad neighborhood in the States, but I have known a few people who were shot and one who was murdered.

Trust me, there are lots of bad points to living in Japan, but I never once have to worry about anyone pulling a gun on me.

And you don't have to worry about Japan going and starting a meaningless war with any country.

Those are two good points, both good enough to keep me where for a while.

[Zzonkmiles]

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of staying in Japan long term is the feeling that life is passing you by. If you have many career or educational aspirations, it's hard to achieve those in Japan. Yes, there are non-teaching jobs in Japan, and you can pursue graduate study at various universities there. I'd imagine most of us on this site are not career EFL teachers. Unfortunately, there's a definite ceiling regarding advancing in EFL in Japan. You may become a head teacher or a trainer or something, but if you aspire to do something else with your life, it's likely much easier to do so back in your home country.

Having said that, Japan's a great place to live. I stayed there for four years and returned to the US this spring. A part of me really misses Japan, but the professional and educational opportunities I have now outweigh the fun, beauty, and overall way of life I had back in Japan. I accomplished many things while I was in Japan and had a great time, but I felt it was time to move on to the next stage of my life.

[gaijinalways]

[Apsara]

I definitely had that feeling while I was teaching eikaiwa- I was pretty sure that I wanted to do something else eventually and felt that I was possibly missing oppourtunities. Luckily I did find my niche in Japan soon after- teaching yoga, so I no longer have that feeling.

I agree that if you stay a long time and feel in limbo teaching eikaiwa then it is probably a good idea to up sticks and move on- this doesn't only apply to teaching English in Japan though of course!

[southofreality]

[TokyoLiz]

Good stuff -

For me, there are lifestyle reasons I like Japan. In Japan, I rely on bicycle and train transportation, and don't need a car. I have no desire to own a car again in my lifetime.

I'm a student of traditional Japanese things - martial arts, Eastern Thought (Buddhism, Shinto etc.), . These are interests I can satisfy here.

I have year round employment and salary. In my hometown, ESL is a big industry with many major schools serving foreign students. But if you're not at the top of the roster, you get laid off in the winter down months. Here, you have a captive audience and continuous income.

Taxes are so low compared to my home country.

If, like some other posters, you are located out of urban centers, you have to put your academic/educational pursuits on hold. However, if you are in a major center, and you want to pursue ELT at the post graduate level, there are a few universities that provide on campus programs.

The quality of the food, either in the markets or the restaurants, is for the most part great. Depending on your situation, you can enroll in the national health insurance scheme. Both medical and dental coverage are included. You can keep a healthy lifestyle here.

Depending on your industry, you might get to socialize and work with foreign nationals from just about anywhere.

Japan is pretty low crime, and there is little evidence of drugs (besides alcohol and tobacco).

The bad -
You are at the mercy of immigration in terms of your longevity in Japan. It's a year or 3 year visa at a time. I don't know if I'll make the 10 year mark. I'm in my fourth year this time out.

Like any country, some people have prejudices based on age, race and gender. That's nothing new. But the prevalence of prejudice can be stiffling.

Alcohol and tobacco are the drugs Japanese people abuse. Drunken people are everywhere, and people smoke inside restaurants and offices. In my home town, public drunkenness can get you arrested, and you can't smoke in restaurants. I hate inhaling other folks' smoke and sidestepping used food on the pavement.

[psychedelic]

"Yes.............States." Oh yes!!!! OMG...there's a criminal lurking at every corner in the United States!!!!! I will surely be attacked or mugged if I live there!!!!! YOU are a ****. Your posting unfortunately is the typical,******** c****** that makes me want to throw up!!!! Until last year,serious crime had gone down for nine consecutive years in the U.S.A. But,you didn't know that did you? Oh,and you obviously haven't read about the horrific crimes that have happened in other countries..have you? Oh,but that's not newsworthy right? I like MILLIONS of other Americans and foreigners have never been attacked or mugged or robbed in the U.S.A.!!!!! Got it? "I........................................because." That is just h********* and waaay over the top. Sure,there are more gun-related deaths in the States than Japan..there are also a LOT more people that live in America! Hey,it is VERY unfortunate about what happened..but Cho had diagnosed mental problems. Actually,people in Israel are very open about carrying guns in public. "Trust.............................me." Oh yes!!!!! At every possible moment in the States, there's a good chance that someone will pull a gun on me!!!! I might as well just put my hands up everywhere that I go!!!!!! "And....................................country." Oh yes,it figures that you'd throw in something about Iraq. "a meaningless war"..look there were definitely some screw-ups/major mistakes as far as going into Iraq..but why don't you tell that to the MANY Iraqi's that have lost loved ones due to Sadam Hussien and his murderous thugs/regime!!!!!! Okay? Or,tell that to all the people that have lost loved ones because they were gassed..like the Kurds!!!!!! Give me a break!!!!!!!

[Glenski]

psychedelic,

Put..........the............coffee.............down.