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13Beast
Joined: 06 Nov 2008
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:36 am Post subject: Japan visa - criminal record? |
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Hi there,
I have been accepted into a teaching contract in Japan with one of the big 4 schools. I now have a small quandry that may now threaten my entry into Japan. About 8 years ago, when I was only 21, I earnt myself a criminal record. Apparently Japan doesn't allow anyone with a criminal record in the country... What is the likelihood of Japanese officials finding out that I have a record and preventing my visa application?
I won't disclose what it is, but it was one conviction with NO jail time whatsoever. It wasn't drug, violent, or sexual in nature either. And it was 8 years ago, and in another state (so not Federal police etc).
I live in Australia. Help!  |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:44 am Post subject: |
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| DUI eh. You should be OK. No real way of telling though, submit your application and cross your fingers. |
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stillnosheep
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 2068
Location: eslcafe
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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Probabaility of discovery:
If you don't disclose: approx zero
If you do: approx 100% |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:27 am Post subject: Re: Japan visa - criminal record? |
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| 13Beast wrote: |
I won't disclose what it is, but it was one conviction with NO jail time whatsoever. It wasn't drug, violent, or sexual in nature either. And it was 8 years ago, and in another state (so not Federal police etc).
I live in Australia. Help! |
Depends on the visa class & the crime. For some visas you have to provide a police clearance/record and that will cover each State. Depending on the conviction it will either be ignored or it's instant refusal time.
Basically, there's no way to say without more info. |
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stillnosheep
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 2068
Location: eslcafe
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:47 am Post subject: |
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| It's a specialist in humanities visa, oh evil one, OP has been accepted by one of 'big 4 (down to big 2 or 3 now w/o Nova). Last I heard neither Geos nor Aeon were asking for police checks. |
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iverin
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Ontario
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 2:05 am Post subject: |
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I was hired by Aeon in April and I'm pretty sure during my interview I did have to agree to getting a police check for visa purposes, but I could be mistaken. It's been a while and I don't remember all of the interview details  |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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| stillnosheep wrote: |
| It's a specialist in humanities visa, oh evil one, OP has been accepted by one of 'big 4 (down to big 2 or 3 now w/o Nova). Last I heard neither Geos nor Aeon were asking for police checks. |
He's Australian - it could be a WHV for all we knew at that point. And the background clearance is required for most *visa* applications these days, not by the company. |
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kitano
Joined: 18 Nov 2004
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
And the background clearance is required for most *visa* applications these days, not by the company. |
Since when? I have never been asked for a background clearance or a criminal records check and no one I know has ever mentioned this and I have been here for 10 years. Maybe for permanent residency or working in some kind of sensitive area but not for teaching. If they do want this information they also obviously need to tell you up front so you can get the documents for them, if they spring it on you at the last moment how can they expect you to get it on short notice be it immigration or a company. If you have not been asked yet you won't be asked. |
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stillnosheep
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 2068
Location: eslcafe
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| Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
| stillnosheep wrote: |
| It's a specialist in humanities visa, oh evil one, OP has been accepted by one of 'big 4 (down to big 2 or 3 now w/o Nova). Last I heard neither Geos nor Aeon were asking for police checks. |
He's Australian - it could be a WHV for all we knew at that point. And the background clearance is required for most *visa* applications these days, not by the company. |
Neither Aeon nor Geos offer teaching posts to people outside of Japan on a WHV basis. Therefore it is a Specialist in Humanities visa that is being applied for. |
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stillnosheep
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 2068
Location: eslcafe
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| Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| iverin wrote: |
| I was hired by Aeon in April and I'm pretty sure during my interview I did have to agree to getting a police check for visa purposes, but I could be mistaken. It's been a while and I don't remember all of the interview details |
Aeon may well insist that you agree that they can ask you to get a police check done, at which point you give the answer that allows you to proceed, as one does in reponse to the 'Are you or have you ever been a member of a terrorist organisation dedicated to the violent overthrow of the United States governnment?'-type question on US visa waiver forms). Nonetheless I've never heard of them actually asking you to get a police check done. If they were to ask then is the time to find out what'll appear.
But as far as Japanese immigration and any questions concerning previous convictions on the CoE application form are concerned:
JUST SAY NO
Last edited by stillnosheep on Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:17 am; edited 1 time in total |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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| stillnosheep wrote: |
| G Cthulhu wrote: |
| stillnosheep wrote: |
| It's a specialist in humanities visa, oh evil one, OP has been accepted by one of 'big 4 (down to big 2 or 3 now w/o Nova). Last I heard neither Geos nor Aeon were asking for police checks. |
He's Australian - it could be a WHV for all we knew at that point. And the background clearance is required for most *visa* applications these days, not by the company. |
Neither Aeon nor Geos offer teaching posts to people outside of Japan on a WHV basis. Therefore it is a Specialist in Humanities visa that is being applied for. |
Well, there you go. I'm not familiar with the internal hiring policies of either company, and as I pointed out, the clearances are required for the visas, not by the companies as some people seemed to think. |
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kitano
Joined: 18 Nov 2004
Posts: 86
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:58 am Post subject: Visa |
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Again, this is misleading for the OP if he is applying for a Specialist in Humanities or Instructor visa.
| G Cthulhu wrote: |
| as I pointed out, the clearances are required for the visas, not by the companies as some people seemed to think. |
I have had both and most of the people I know have one or the other and no one has ever had to get a records check to obtain either of these visas. In fact no one has ever mentioned even knowing anyone who has had to do this. I wonder what visas you are applying for and where.
To the OP don't sweat it. |
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AgentMulderUK
Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 360
Location: Concrete jungle (Tokyo)
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:36 am Post subject: Re: Japan visa - criminal record? |
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| 13Beast wrote: |
Hi there,
I have been accepted into a teaching contract in Japan with one of the big 4 schools. I now have a small quandry that may now threaten my entry into Japan. About 8 years ago, when I was only 21, I earnt myself a criminal record. Apparently Japan doesn't allow anyone with a criminal record in the country... What is the likelihood of Japanese officials finding out that I have a record and preventing my visa application?
I won't disclose what it is, but it was one conviction with NO jail time whatsoever. It wasn't drug, violent, or sexual in nature either. And it was 8 years ago, and in another state (so not Federal police etc).
I live in Australia. Help! |
The type of visa you will need for the "4 big schools" does not involve police checks. It should, as it could involve working with minors, but it doesn't.
You have nothing to worry about, assuming your little previous episode wasn't on Japanese soil or involved a Japanese national, which from the sounds of it, didn't.
Foreign countries cannot simply call up other countries and ask for police checks on one of its citizens unless there is very good reason, such as they are a fugitive, or applying for a specialised position that required it. E.g Medical, social work, diplomat,etc
Rest easy. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:08 am Post subject: Re: Japan visa - criminal record? |
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| AgentMulderUK wrote: |
Foreign countries cannot simply call up other countries and ask for police checks on one of its citizens unless there is very good reason, such as they are a fugitive, or applying for a specialised position that required it. E.g Medical, social work, diplomat,etc
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Haven't applied for a visa to many places lately, have you? :) The US, for example, requires police clearances for *every* visa class that isn't covered by the VWP. |
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stillnosheep
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 2068
Location: eslcafe
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| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:36 am Post subject: |
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| AgentMulder is correct. The US govt may require applicants for some classes of visa to accompany their application with the results of a police check. Nonetheless nation states will not to run police checks on their own citizens at the request of a foreign state without very good reason, and the fact that the citizen has made a routine visa application is not a good reason, even in the case of a US visa and if the US govt might wish otherwise. |
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