Job Discussion Forums

[milesdenman]

Hi

I'm planning to come to Japan in February to look for a job (teaching). On finding a job what is the general procedure and timing for getting a work visa and being able to start the new job?

Apologies if there's already a thread about this (tried searching), if there is could someone point me in the right direction please?

Thanks

[fluffyhamster]

This might help (link is to a specific post in a thread, where the info becomes more sure and relevant, so make sure you allow it to load and appear before trying to click further or scroll through):
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=685410#685410

There are further links within the link.

[Miyazaki]

As a Professor in a Japanese university, I can tell you that any time is the right time to look for EFL teaching gigs in Japan.

I kow more about Japan and the Japanese EFL scene than anyone else on this forum. All of the people here are "Newbs", thus the name of the forum...

What I say is accepted among Japan TEFL practioners and must not be disputed.

I will teach you. I will also teach others who seek my knowledge.

Good luck!!!

Professor Miyazaki
Tokyo, Japan

[stillnosheep]

Get the visa before arriving in Japan. Apply to Aeon, Geos, ECC & Berlitz, in that order, and let them sort out your initial visa. Once you are in Japan look for another job if you wish and then jump ship, with your visa.

Other schools in Japan, with few exceptions, will not sort out your initial visa from outside Japan and most Japanese chains will not want to get you an initial work visa once you're here, although you can renew your visa without much trouble. If you get turned down by the big four you can fly over on a tourist or working holiday visa and try to get a job and a change of visa in-country, but you are exposing yourself to risk, the high cost of living in Japan without a job, and the problems involved in renting apartments without a guarantor and without knowing where you will end up.

First get a job offer, next let the offering company sort out your visa, then enter Japan into an apartment sorted out by your employer, then you can look for a better job while employed, housed and being paid, not unemployed, without an apartment and spending money like water.

And join gaijinpot.com.

[fluffyhamster]

Great advice, SNS. I (and others) have, in between the technicalities of obtaining COEs and visas, kind of said more or less the same things on those others threads I linked to, but I didn't have quite the time or inclination to summarize the general issues involved in coming to Japan without a visa, accommodation and job all lined up and ready, and probably wouldn't have been able to do so as succinctly as you have here (I'll link to this thread if not your very post in future, the next time somebody's seeking similar advice!).

[Glenski]

[milesdenman]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've already made my mind up, plus have booked tickets to come. I'm generally a cautious person, and don't like leaving things to chance, but I'm pretty confident I'll be ok. I spent a year working for an eikeiwa (eikaywa?), am pretty employable and have sufficient funds, plus I'll be looking in Tokyo at the right time of year.

Glenski you said 2-8 weeks, is this to get the COE, or is this once you have the COE and have taken it to immigration? If so would that mean a combined possible time of 16 weeks (8 weeks for COE, plus 8 weeks for the visa).

My plan is to start applying a couple of weeks before I come out, and just hold up in a guest house while I interview.

Do you need to be available while your visa is being processed? I'd like to take the opportunity to travel around a bit while I wait.

[Glenski]