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Bozo Yoroshiku
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 139
Location: the Chocolate Side of the Force
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 Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:59 am Post subject: Marriage visas |
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If getting married to a Japanese national, what are the differences between a work visa and a spousal visa?
In Korea, many of things that are illegal under a non-spousal visa (private tutoring, for one) become legal under the spousal visa. Also, work visas are "owned" by the employer, but the spousal visa is "owned" by you.
Such issues do not really apply to Japan, so I was wondering what the actual visa differences are. Is there a link anywhere that describes the different visas and what they define? |
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Khyron
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 291
Location: Tokyo Metro City
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:13 am Post subject: Re: Marriage visas |
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| Bozo Yoroshiku wrote: |
If getting married to a Japanese national, what are the differences between a work visa and a spousal visa?
In Korea, many of things that are illegal under a non-spousal visa (private tutoring, for one) become legal under the spousal visa. Also, work visas are "owned" by the employer, but the spousal visa is "owned" by you.
Such issues do not really apply to Japan, so I was wondering what the actual visa differences are. Is there a link anywhere that describes the different visas and what they define? |
The best reason why Japan is a better place to work than Korea is the visa situation that you just hit on, in my opinion. We "own" our visas here, whether it's a spousal visa or a working visa!
As far as I know, the biggest difference between working visas in Japan and spousal visas is working class restrictions. Like in Korea, your work visa only allows you to work in a certain field. Unlike in Korea, you are not tied to just one employer within that work field. If you have an instructor visa, you can theoretically work at as many schools as you want. If you have a humanities visa, you could potentially work at as many eikaiwa/hagwon as you can handle. If you have a spouse visa, these restrictions disappear; you can work anywhere that'll hire you.
That's my take on it. |
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Bozo Yoroshiku
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 139
Location: the Chocolate Side of the Force
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:17 am Post subject: Re: Marriage visas |
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| Khyron wrote: |
| As far as I know, the biggest difference between working visas in Japan and spousal visas is working class restrictions. |
I thought this would be one difference, but didn't want to ASS-U-ME. It's the same in Korea. Basically, a spousal visa there means you can work as any Korean would; no class restrictions or limitations on number of workplaces. Sposal visas in Korea also allow you to own a business (as opposed to getting a business visa which would cost a minimum of $50,000). Is it the same in Japan? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| If you have an instructor visa, you can theoretically work at as many schools as you want. |
Not just any old schools. They must still fall under the description of the work visa:
| Quote: |
| Activities to engage in language instruction and other education at elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, schools for the blind, handicapped children's schools, miscellaneous schools (kakushu gakko and senshu gakko), or other educational institutions equivalent to kakushu gakko in facilities and curriculum. http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html#b |
So even though people call eikaiwas "schools" or certain business English agencies "business English schools", this is not what an instructor visa is for.
I believe a spousal visa permits you to own your own business, yes. Just call immigration to confirm. This link may also provide some info (I don't know), and of course check into a lawyer.
http://www.gaijinpot.com/c_soho.php
Having a spousal visa will also look better to some banks if you want a loan. PR is even better but not a necessity. And, of course, having a spousal visa will shorten the length of time needed to get PR.
You can even stay in Japan if your spouse divorces you or passes away, but you can stay only until the end of the spousal visa expiration. At that time, you will have to get a new type of visa or leave. |
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Khyron
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 291
Location: Tokyo Metro City
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Quote: |
| If you have an instructor visa, you can theoretically work at as many schools as you want. |
Not just any old schools. They must still fall under the description of the work visa: |
Didn't I make that fairly clear when I pointed out that humanity visas involved eikaiwas? I know I did expect some assumption on the part of the reader... but not a lot. Anyway, as usual... you're a fountain of useful information.
I think you made a good point bringing up the divorce issue. I was aware of this, but I'm sure many people could overlook it.
Either way, this stuff makes me glad I'm not in Korea anymore. I do miss the cheap transportation and street food though. Hard to find dokboki in Japan without going to a specific Korean area. When I find it... it's 2-10X the price that I would've paid in Korea. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Khyron wrote: |
| Glenski wrote: |
| Quote: |
| If you have an instructor visa, you can theoretically work at as many schools as you want. |
Not just any old schools. They must still fall under the description of the work visa: |
Didn't I make that fairly clear when I pointed out that humanity visas involved eikaiwas? I know I did expect some assumption on the part of the reader... but not a lot. |
It was clear enough to me and perhaps to people who know the difference, but just in the last week or two, I have run across people who didn't even know the type of work they could do on an instructor visa. That little shocker, plus the fact that people will often casually refer to an eikaiwa as a "school" prompted me to write that clarification. It was not intended to suggest that you Khyron didn't know what he was talking about. We "fountains" are like that. |
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Bozo Yoroshiku
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 139
Location: the Chocolate Side of the Force
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| All the info is appreciated! |
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Hoser
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 694
Location: Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
You can even stay in Japan if your spouse divorces you or passes away, but you can stay only until the end of the spousal visa expiration. At that time, you will have to get a new type of visa or leave. |
Or get a new spouse!  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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