Job Discussion Forums

[Sadebugo]

I will soon accept my first position in Japan. I was just wondering about the 'work visa' process. How long does it usually take to get the visa? Must you get it before you arrive in country? Is there anything unique about a Japanese visa that I should know about?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[Sherri]

You should be asking your employer these questions as you will most likely need their sponsorship to get a visa. I can't be more specific because you need to supply more details to answer your question. How much research have you done on the topic--there is plenty here in the FAQs!

What passport do you have?
How old are you?
Are you still in your home country?
Has your employer agreed to sponsor you?
Do you have at least a BA (in any subject)?

Best
Sherri

[Glenski]

I agree with Sherri. It is extremely difficult to answer your general question without knowing what she asked or to have the slightest background on you.

[Sadebugo]

I kept the description general because I just wanted a general idea of the process which you kindly provided. Thanks again.

[Sadebugo]

My future employer told me this morning that they would need me by the beginning of February and that they were sending me a contract to sign. I asked about the visa process and she told me that they hoped the visa would be issued by 12 January and then they would send it to me. I hadn't even been offered a job until about a week ago and only even applied for the job in mid-December. In the past in other countries, a signed contract was always needed before a visa could be issued and this visa had to be issued by an embassy/consulate in another country. What could she have meant?

Please forgive my ignorance, but this is my first foray into Japan.

Thanks in advance for your help and the lack of criticism for any specifics I may have failed to include.

[shmooj]

Sadebugo,

please keep us posted. If this works out in the timeframe they mention I will be very interested because it seems like a miraculous application time to me. In my experience a month would have been a miracle. Usually nearer 6-8 weeks from initial application which, as it requires a contract signed by the employer still shouldn't have actually been made yet. They may have "signed for you" if you get my drift though.

FWIW, you can now even come here on a tourist visa and carry out the application after you arrive though I wouldn't let on to anyone that you were working while you did so.

And what they will send you will not be a visa, it will be a Certificate of Eligibility. You have to take this to a Japanese embassy (or in Japan an immigration office) and apply using this. In the UK, for example it takes three working days. In LA, for example, you can have it rushed through the same day. In Nagoya, Japan, for example you will be asked to return at a date on a postcard they will send you - typically a week to ten days later depending on their backlog. You have to figure this into the timescale and this is vital if you are working towards a deadline such as a flight booking.

ANyone please correct this if I am wrong or my experience does not tally with y'alls

[Sadebugo]

Thanks Shmooj!

I'm not sure what she meant exactly in her correspondence. Of course, she must have meant a cert. of eligibility, but this would still mean that she got it in less than three weeks, over the holidays, and without anything signed by me nor my acceptance of the position at that time. Curious, isn't it?

I'll keep you informed.

[guest of Japan]

In the last few months Immigration has been under pretty intense political pressure by the national government to speed up processing times and dispose of irregularities. Perhaps it is working.

[shmooj]

[april]

Sadebugo, are you from a country that has a working holiday agreement with Japan? WHV's only take a couple of weeks to process so perhaps this is the visa your employer is referring to. I know that some companies, eg. ECC, now use WHV in preference to WV because it is less hassel.

But do be careful because I know that one of the Big 4 is so understaffed right now that they are shipping out their teachers as soon as possible and are getting them to start work even before the CofE has come through.

[Sadebugo]

April:

First of all, thanks for your response. I am American and older than the cutoff for the WHV I believe. You have raised my suspicions however. Below is the approximate timeline for the hiring/visa acquisition process:

12/6--Respond to advertisement

12/8--Receive e-mail asking for further materials

12/10-12/23--Send additional materials and receive official offer with proposed starting date of late February.

12/24-1/5--minimal contact because of holidays

1/6-1/8--notified that contract will be sent to me along with 'Visa?' which should be approved on January 12.

Today--told that position became available earlier than expected and am asked to report to Japan on 1/27!

Maximum possible time for visa application and approval would be from December 10 to January 12. Is this possible?

Any comments appreciated.

[Glenski]

What were the "additional materials" you sent between 12/10 and 12/23? And, can you be more specific on when you sent them?

I still say that's rather fast, but it could be legitimate.

BTW, since you are American, your age has nothing to do with a working holiday visa because you are ineligible for one based on your nationality.

[Sadebugo]

Glenski:

Those materials probably included everything necessary for a visa such as copies of diplomas, transcripts, photos, etc. However, they could not have been received before 16 or 17 December. As of today, I have still not received a contract nor obviously signed one although it is supposed to be sent out soon. I have received details of the contract through e-mail however.

Perhaps, I have such an exalted nature about me that immigration chose to expedite the process. Ha, ha, ha!

Thanks for your help.

[guest of Japan]

Immigration will require your original diploma. It seems to me that they are checking to make sure that they will be able to get you a visa rather than going through the process. It sounds like they are going to have you come in on a tourist visa and then change it while you are in Japan.

[denise]

My certificate of eligibility and visa were rushed through, and the whole process took less than a month. I was hired in mid-April for an early June start, so the whole process was kinda sped up. I guess provided the school has everything in order on its end and immigration isn't too backlogged, it's possible.

Oh, and once they sent me the certificate of eligibility (took a couple of weeks), I got the visa in I think two days in San Francisco.

d