Job Discussion Forums

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:10 am Post subject:

William,

With the working holiday visa option. you are effectively your own boss.
As long as Bertliz know your plan and are happy with it and you have the contract signed before you leave its something you can consider.

You can use it for up to 12 months in total. .

If you want to keep your options open , after you get here, working holiday might be better, because you might hate the first company and/or job you came to do. Having said that, working visa's (the non holiday variety) are not tied to a company but its poor form to arrive then skip jobs so soon.

Working Visas are also tied to a very specific type of work. There are different ones for working in public schools/language schools; your working holiday will let you work in both and Disney land too if you must :p

There is also a limit to the number of working holiday visas granted per year, so see if you can get one first.

See how long it will take and if its a deal breaker with any company, go for whatever they advise. Just ask them.

Check this link to the Japanese embassy in London, it's good:
http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/visa/work_hol.html

japolak · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 40

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

No, there is no demo.

Usually if you come across as 'normal' and not too culturally insensitive and are willing to be trained, you won't have any problems.

Also don't put too many restrictions on where they can place you, though generally they will place you very near where you live if you're already in Japan (unless you request otherwise).

williama · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

Thanks guys. I had a bit more of a look into the working visa, some things came up. First off.

1)
Either ￡2,500 in cleared funds (last 3 months bank statements must be shown)
Or ￡1,500 and a return or onward journey ticket or a receipt for such.
(Traveller's cheques, credit cards and overdrafts are not acceptable as evidence of sufficient funds)
(In the case of a married couple applying for two visas, the minimum amounts are ￡4,500 and ￡2,500 respectively.)

So you have to have this amount of money to be able to travel with a working visa.

2)
Intend to leave Japan at the end of their stay.

This is part of the Applicant Prerequisites. My plan was to go to Japan for one year, possibly two...this sounds as though you are only able to stay for one year max? Would there be no way to extend this?

3)
"which allows them to enter Japan for up to one year, and take work for up to one year, incidental to their holiday in order to supplement their travel funds."

From the sounds of this it sounds that you can only take part time work? I did ring up the embasy in the UK as well, and they said the same thing. The work should be part time, not full time. My aim to work full time while I'm over there.

Anyway, thanks for all the help.

williama · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

This is the link: http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/visa/work_hol.html

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

Looks like your choice is clear then William, if you don't have all the funds and all the rest of it.

At least if you come with a company they will help set you up here. Perhaps that would suit you best, as you sound more like you want to work properly, rather than prance about the country aimlessly.

Also, generally, be careful when you use the term "Working Holiday Visa" and "Working Visa". They are not interchangeable and are different animals. You will likely get confusing advice from both posters here and various agencies in Japan if you mix 'em up.

Re: not being allowed to work full-time on a WHV: I know of 4 doing it now, and several in the past. Odd. Depends on who is defining "full-time" I suspect

williama · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

My funds arnt too bad, I would probably be ok for a Working Holiday Visa. I though I did make it clear when I was talking about either Working Visa and Working Holiday visa, but I hope I didn't confuse anyone.

japolak · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 40

Also, do they hire many teachers without degrees? Because I don't have a degree.

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject:

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

No Berlitz does hire people on working holiday visas, but generally just for the summer months (when all the branches tend to be very busy). It would be best to ask them if it is possible to start that way. You can then later change your visa to a regular work visa if they agree to do it.

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

williama · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

Yeah you have to have a degree to be able to apply for a work visa, it might be different for a working holiday visa though.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

As far as I know you can only have one company sponsor your first working visa, so only one should be applying for a COE. If you have two companies applying for a COE for you at the same time, Immigration will wonder what is going on.

You're going to have to pick one of them, as having a company apply for a COE for you represents a commitment to work for them.

williama · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 14

Ah right, this is what I was worried about...