Job Discussion Forums

wayne432 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 255

So I read the FAQ, but I still wasn't sure of the exact process of the visa... wondering if someone could clarify/correct me.

Here's how I was understanding the process:
1. Get an offer from a company willing to sponsor you
2. Send the company the documents required for a visa
3. Company files for a certificate of eligibility in Japan
4. Company sends you a copy of certificate, which you use along with other materials to apply at a local Japanese consulate/embassy.
5. You receive your visa from consulate/embassy.

Now, the part that is supposed to take 4-8 weeks is getting the certificate of eligibility?
Also, if the company was in the process of getting you a certificate, etc... is it possible to enter Japan? Would you have to enter under a tourist visa, and if so, can you change that over once in Japan?

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

You've got the process right, and yes, the COE can take up to eight weeks to arrive. I'm not sure why you'd want to rush into entering Japan without the COE > work visa already in passport, though...

A thread where somebody was asking about entering Japan as a tourist just with COE in hand, rather than with entitled-to visa entered in passport enabling a smooth entry, and the immediate granting of a lengthy (at least one-year) 'Period of Stay' and transition to presumably immediate work:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=60551

It seems that the guys at the consulate that that guy had to rush to thought that not getting the COE processed into a visa prior to arrival in Japan made little if any sense...now, I know that it is apparently possible to nowadays enter as a tourist, find an employer, and change to a work visa without having to leave Japan and go to an overseas consulate, but those who choose to go down this route don't seem to have had an employer lined up and a COE on the way - I suspect that a COE would be useless if not processed outside Japan, so don't make yours potentially invalid, especially if an employer is expecting you to be able to start work immediately (and a related concern is that working illegally would not only be, well, illegal, but leave you open to abuse from a disgruntled employer).

wayne432 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 255

Well what I was thinking was that, what if I arrived in Japan and picked up the COE from my employer? I could then go to a work visa in Japan and begin work immediately, is that right?

The reason I'm wondering is that I need to begin booking a ticket relatively soon, and I wanted to see what would happen if I didn't get my COE in time from my employer.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

The best thing would be to ask your employer if your plan is a good idea (don't blame me if they are a bit puzzled by such a question, though!), but like I say, there probably isn't much that Immigration in Japan can do with an unused COE, and the time you'd spend getting the work visa issued in Japan would be at least as long as the time you'd spend waiting for the COE and going to your local consulate i.e. my guess is that the latter is at least the surer and securer, if not the faster, route to getting into working in Japan. Put simply, no COE=no chance of more immediate work visa - why the rush to book a flight if you can't start work straight away? Leave the sightseeing (that's what I'm presuming is making you want to rush, perhaps you want to cram as much in as possible before you get too busy working) until after your livelihood and income is more secure (you'll have at least the money if not the time then)! But maybe I am too cautious a type...

wayne432 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 255

It's not for sightseeing. If everything goes well, I should begin work in early August, but I don't know when I will receive my COE. I guess I should probably book my flight for just before my training should begin? The reason I want to book it soon is the ticket prices lately. If I have to wait and book it in a few weeks, chances are that certain flights will be booked... which means it could cost an extra $300 (at min) or so...

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject:

Ah, OK, but if there's a delay in getting the work visa (meaning, you possibly wouldn't be able to start legal work as quickly as you would by just "cashing in" the COE in the usual way), you could end up losing at least those $300 (through lost earnings)...I'd still be wary be of rushing (into) things if I were you...

fluffyhamster · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

campbed219a · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 13

Regarding the CoE, my application went to immigration on the 30th June and I now have it in my hands. The company received it after 18 days. I was more than a little surprised! My friend, who is going to work for Interac, received hers after 3 weeks as well.

Don't know if the whole process is faster than it used to be, it's a good time of year to apply or it was down to sheer luck, but there you go.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject:

Came across a useful website the other day (link is within link):
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=684012#684012

It seems that a COE is needed in every instance to get a work visa (whether from an overseas consulate before entry, or when changing with Immigration from tourist status to whatever work visa status if already in Japan as a tourist), but I myself would prefer to enter on a work visa than as a tourist (or if I were for some reason to enter as a tourist, I'd want a COE in my hand as I did so, so that I could be sure that the employer definitely had a job waiting for me; and like I say, Japan can be an expensive place to be if one isn't able to start work immediately).

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

wayne,
When did your employer file the paperwork for the COE? That is the bottom line, IMO. If it was less than 8 weeks ago, consider waiting it out. If it was more, ask for the status.

Some employers are less than legitimate and will say the process has been delayed for various reasons, and the ultimate goal is to get a body in place to work for less than standard wages, work illegally while being told of these "delays" until they have overstayed their tourist status, and then boot the teacher without a final paycheck. The guy has been working illegally all the time and has no legal recourse but to apologize to immigration and go home.

wayne432 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 255

They filed it possibly 6 weeks ago. I already have my flight booked for the beginning of August, so there's no real changing it. They said that if they don't get it in time, that they will help me with changing it over the day I get there.

I have talked to a bunch of employees that are finishing up their time with the company, so I'm pretty confident that everything is legitimate.

campbed219a · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 13

I had a discussion with the school that I'm going to work for about what to do if the CoE hadn't arrived by the date that I was due to fly over there. They said... worst case scenario was that I would come in on a Tourist Visa and would then fly to Seoul to have my CoE processed into a Working Visa. They were definitely under the impression that I wouldn't be able to have the CoE processed inside Japan.

This raised a couple of big questions for me;

1. Will immigration definitely let me in on a 1 way ticket with a Tourist Visa?
Was going to cross that bridge when I came to it, but probably would have taken a copy of my contract / asked the company to write a letter stating that I would be employed by them and that they had applied for a CoE. From reading around, chances are I would have been okay as it seems that plenty of people are allowed in on 1 way tickets without a Working Visa, but it's a niggling thought nonetheless.

2. What happens if they expect me to start working on a Tourist Visa while waiting for the CoE?
This is illegal of course, but it worried me that they might ask me to do it (the worst companies will apparently). I would refuse of course. From there? Who knows. Hope the CoE turns up, get it processed so that I can work legally, then start work while simultaneously looking for an escape route from that company! If it turned out they weren't even applying for a CoE and had messed me about then I'd have been in a bit of trouble. I probably would have ended up travelling around Japan, looking for someone to employ me / sponsor me for a Working Visa before my Tourist Visa expired.

If you've talked to people at the company and it's all okay then I doubt you'll have a problem. However, for peace of mind, I'd get the company to convince you that you'll be able to process the CoE within Japan. Like I said, the school I'm going to work for didn't seem to think this was possible.

Good luck!

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

wayne wrote:

wayne432 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 255

Glenski, I thought you needed to use your COE at a local consulate to get your visa before you went to Japan? Can you use a COE to just show that you have a job lined up in Japan? I'm a little confused.

And they have been keeping me updated every 2 or 3 days about the COE. Going there on a tourist visa is still a last resort which they prefer not to use, is what they said.

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

wayne,
If you are not in Japan, then you get your employer to serve as proxy to apply for the COE. Then, he delivers it to you. Usually, that means the applicant is still in their home country.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/03.html#c

In your case, it might not happen that way. No problem. You just take it to immigration in Japan after you arrive. Like I wrote earlier, the days of having to leave the country to finalize processing are gone.