| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
chaz47
Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 157
|
 Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:36 am Post subject: long term/permanent residency eventually retirement? |
 |
|
| I watched Michael Moore's "Sicko" the other night and now I am doubly motivated to find permanent residency outside the US. Do you know any gaijin in their golden years in Japan? What is the healthcare like? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
AndyH
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 417
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Good question. I'd like to know too! (I'm seriously thinking of returning to Japan after I retire.) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Quibby84
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
I have never really seen anyone past 45ish...but I think it could be possible especially if you had a masters degree and could work at a university....
Working at an eikawa (sp?) might be a different story though...it is a lot of running around (like by train, bike, walking, etc) and I know I wouldnt want to do it if I was in my "Golden Years".....
Another reason I wouldnt want to work at a eikawa (and I have seen this be a problem for the 40ish year olds) when I was older is because of the lack of respect given to you by the owner or manager or whatever. When you are young you dont expect any respect from people older than you..but when you are older than the boss I think that deep down you feel like they should hold some respect for you, and they dont...I think that would be hard and I have seen people struggle with this...this could be why the 40ish year olds dont stay so long (I think my school has been through 3 or so in my 11 months of being here)
anyways, that is something to think about. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
Most university people I know (including myself) are over 40.
What is it exactly that you want to know, chaz? How to get PR? What awaits one from a pension plan? Something else? Your question is not all that clear. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chaz47
Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 157
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenski wrote: |
Most university people I know (including myself) are over 40.
What is it exactly that you want to know, chaz? How to get PR? What awaits one from a pension plan? Something else? Your question is not all that clear. |
Sicko just really hammered home this feeling I've had most of my adult life that I fundamentally disagree with much of the US mindset. As such I was wondering what to expect if I tried to stay in Japan until I was of retirement age. Then life in Japan afterwards?
1.) What sort of healthcare does a gaijin on permanent residency get? Is it ridiculously expensive as in the US?
2.) Is it necessary to have a Master's degree to stay that long and support oneself and probably a family comfortably. If so how would a university look upon an MFA?
3.) To get PR you have to stay between 5 to 10 years?
4.) I've heard that the Japanese government is trying to discourage foreigners from seeking permanent residence, is this true? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| 1.) What sort of healthcare does a gaijin on permanent residency get? Is it ridiculously expensive as in the US? |
Pre- or post-retirement, healthcare depends on what you take out. There is more than one system here, and many people carry more than one type. Start here for some basic details.
http://www.medhunters.com/articles/healthcareInJapan.html
http://www.kokuho.or.jp/english/index.htm
http://www.htia.org/e/info/health.html
http://www.sia.go.jp/e/ehi.html
| Quote: |
| 2.) Is it necessary to have a Master's degree to stay that long and support oneself and probably a family comfortably. If so how would a university look upon an MFA? |
A master's degree is not necessary to stay here. Supporting oneself and a family can take many forms. Owning your own school or other type of company, for example.
An MFA (Master's in Fine Arts?) is not exactly what universities look for in English teachers, so you might have a little hard time getting your foot in the door. If your Japanese skills are very good, you might find a niche teaching something more than just English, but you will probably always be looked upon initially as an English teacher. Just my opinion. Look at job ads for university jobs at http://jrecin.jst.go.jp/seek/SeekTop?ln=1
and see what sorts of majors and jobs are laid out.
| Quote: |
| 3.) To get PR you have to stay between 5 to 10 years? |
Depends on a lot of factors, but if you go just by bare bones marital status, yes. Even so, it's possible to get PR before 5 years under certain circumstances. Look here for details on what it takes, but bear in mind these are just guidelines. http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/zairyuu/guide_residence.html
and question 8 here http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/zairyuu/qa.html
| Quote: |
| 4.) I've heard that the Japanese government is trying to discourage foreigners from seeking permanent residence, is this true? |
I have not heard of this. Where did you hear that, and just how is the gov presumably going about discouraging PR? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Tokyo
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| chaz47 wrote: |
Sicko just really hammered home this feeling I've had most of my adult life that I fundamentally disagree with much of the US mindset. As such I was wondering what to expect if I tried to stay in Japan until I was of retirement age. Then life in Japan afterwards? |
There are no 'Golden' countries. Some may be more livable for a certain type of person, but you're bound to run into some kind of major dissatisfaction wherever you go if you stay in one place long enough. Having come from the States, and being someone who studied the language and culture (Japanese) for a couple of years at university before coming (meaning I was really interested in Japan and came for that reason), I can tell you that all of the things I find better here than in the U.S. are balanced by things that I find better in the U.S. than here. However, I've got a nice lifestyle here and that's why I stay.
Who knows, maybe Japan will be that oasis in the desert for you. Maybe not. It's worth it to come and see.
| chaz47 wrote: |
What sort of healthcare does a gaijin on permanent residency get? Is it ridiculously expensive as in the US?
|
National healthcare here isn't based on your residency status. It's usually a 70%-30% situation, where you pay the thirty at the time of the doctor visit. The monthly payments are not cheap, though.
It's much better than in the U.S., but it's a social health care system. The approach to healthcare in the U.S. is a f*@king joke. A crime, actually. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Grasshopper
Joined: 01 Nov 2005
Posts: 62
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
You really have to experience it to see for yourself...
I think it would be a bit of stretch to plan to live in Japan through retirement if you have never lived or worked here before (I`m making that assumption based on your questions...).
Come and try it. If you like it, stay a long time. If you don`t like it, try something else.
G.
p.s. I have only seen the trailers of SICKO, but I`ve heard it`s good, and I`m looking forward to seeing it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AndyH
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 417
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 11:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
I would definitely not want to have to depend on eikaiwa work to support myself into my 50's, 60's and beyond. The school for whom I worked was pretty good about hiring older people to teach, but normally only hires teachers for a maximum of three years, and I would venture to guess that most conversation schools are not so keen on hiring old people.
If I were not married to a Japanese citizen and currently working at a place that offers a good retirement package, I don't think I'd consider returning to Japan as an old person.
The thought of singing "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes.." to a bunch of 4-year olds 3x a week when i'm 60 does not appeal to me! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seanmcginty
Joined: 27 Sep 2005
Posts: 203
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 5:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Its not that I don't agree that the US healthcare system is scary, but do you really want to base a MAJOR life decision like this on one movie you saw??? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chaz47
Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 157
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| seanmcginty wrote: |
| Its not that I don't agree that the US healthcare system is scary, but do you really want to base a MAJOR life decision like this on one movie you saw??? |
I currently live and teach in South Korea. I plan to stay in Asia into at least my early 40s, thats about 10 years from now. I want to have permanent residency status somewhere besides the US because of stuff like the medical industry boondoggle, the soon to be bankrupt social security system, the fact that income tax is unconstitutional and the war on terror. Also many many US households believe an internet connection is unnecessary, to me that's willfully choosing ignorance, this makes my head spin.
I love my country but there have been more than a few times when I haven't liked it. Having permanent residency status outside of the US seems like a wise decision to me in case things worsen in the future.
Since gaining permanent residency in Korea is virtually impossible unless you marry in, I think I'm kind of wasting my time here (although I did just get offered a university position). Not to mention the ongoing media smear campaigns against foreigners, and the US military here makes life not so rosy.
I find the culture, language and history fascinating but it seems that the powers that be in the government here are fundamentally anti-foreign.
The movie is not my sole reason for asking about spending my golden years in Japan. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seanmcginty
Joined: 27 Sep 2005
Posts: 203
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
| chaz47 wrote: |
| seanmcginty wrote: |
| Its not that I don't agree that the US healthcare system is scary, but do you really want to base a MAJOR life decision like this on one movie you saw??? |
I currently live and teach in South Korea. I plan to stay in Asia into at least my early 40s, thats about 10 years from now. I want to have permanent residency status somewhere besides the US because of stuff like the medical industry boondoggle, the soon to be bankrupt social security system, the fact that income tax is unconstitutional and the war on terror. Also many many US households believe an internet connection is unnecessary, to me that's willfully choosing ignorance, this makes my head spin.
I love my country but there have been more than a few times when I haven't liked it. Having permanent residency status outside of the US seems like a wise decision to me in case things worsen in the future.
Since gaining permanent residency in Korea is virtually impossible unless you marry in, I think I'm kind of wasting my time here (although I did just get offered a university position). Not to mention the ongoing media smear campaigns against foreigners, and the US military here makes life not so rosy.
I find the culture, language and history fascinating but it seems that the powers that be in the government here are fundamentally anti-foreign.
The movie is not my sole reason for asking about spending my golden years in Japan. |
Fair enough, but you've seriously got to do some more research...most of the complaints you have about Korea apply just as much in Japan. The Japanese government isn't exactly foreigner friendly either.
Actually, a lot of the complaints you have against the US are just as pertinent in Japan. The social security system there is facing a way more serious crisis than the US due to the declining population...you've got to pay income tax there too....etc etc. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Tokyo
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 3:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| seanmcginty wrote: |
| Actually, a lot of the complaints you have against the US are just as pertinent in Japan. The social security system there is facing a way more serious crisis than the US due to the declining population...you've got to pay income tax there too....etc etc. |
Not to mention, nobody in his/her right mind plans on living solely off of social security in the U.S. after retirement, anyway. The amount a retiree receives is so puny, it's insufficient to live off of. For decades now, non-government employees in the U.S. have been forced to have private retirement plans to have enough money to maintain a meaningful lifestyle after retiring.
Sure, the social security system in the U.S. can get worse, but it sucked to begin with. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AndyH
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 417
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 5:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Chaz47, I can identify with a lot of your reasons for wanting to be abroad. My one piece of advice for you is to start putting money into a retirement account now, if you haven't already done so. You'll have more options when you are older, and will likely be glad you created a nest egg for yourself. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
chaz,
I am not completely sure I understand what it is you want. To say you want permanent residency outside the US as some sort of fallback "in case things worsen in the future" in the USA. Do you realize that you actually have to remain living in that foreign country to be considered a permanent resident? In Japan, you can leave for only a maximum of 3 years, and then you have to return or else you forfeit your PR status. PR is not like having some ace in the hole or get out of jail free card if you decide to bail out of the USA.
The Japanese government has lost/fouled up millions of Japanese people's pension records here.
Japan, as of Nov. 20, 2007, has brought back fingerprinting coupled with photographing of almost every foreigner who visits or otherwise enters Japan. This includes us upset PR holders.
Worried about income tax? You will still have to file for US taxes while you are here, and the only loophole you have is that you are exempt from paying taxes to the US on foreign earned income under a certain limit (roughly $80,000). Other income you may earn is still taxable.
The medical industry "boondoggle" in the US is not unique. With Japan's declining birthrate and ever-growing population of senior citizens, there will soon be no one left to contribute money into the pension/social security system here. Not much of a fallback for you unless Japan decides to open its doors more to immigrants (unlikely considering its history).
As for Americans who don't believe in Internet connections at home, did you know that computer sales in Japan are falling due to the fact that many Japanese prefer to use their cell phone Internet connections instead? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
