Job Discussion Forums

[Hoser]

I was wondering if someone could give me some advice about my visa status. Back when Nova (sign of the cross) was still around I got a 3 year working visa. The visa of course was the "specialist in humanities" visa (or whatever it is that they give to eikaiwa workers). Last year I started working at a private jr highschool but its sort of a dispatch thing. At least a dispatch company is acting as a middleman for my first year. This upcoming school year, I expect to be signing on directly with the school itself. So what I'm wondering is, will I have to go and get my visa changed? Or should I already have gotten a new visa now that i'm technically not working for an eikaiwa?

[Glenski]

Private school? Probably no change in visa status. Public school is different. Ask immigration to confirm.

Specialist in Humanities/
International Services visa
Activities to engage in service that requires knowledge pertinent to jurisprudence, economics, sociology, or other human science fields. Activities to engage in service that requires specific ways of thought or sensitivity based on experience with foreign culture, such as interpreting, translation, copywriting, fashion design, interior design, sales, overseas business, information processing, international finance, design, or public relations and advertising based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan.
Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status.

Instructor visa
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

[Ichigo]

I'm curious about that, too.
A friend of mine works as ALT, she's not a JET, but works for a private company (probably a dispatch company) and she has a "specialist in humanities" visa.
She's been working there for 6 years already.

I guess in the end one has to check with the employer directly what kind of visa is needed for the job.
I'm just curious because I don't have an instructor visa right now, but would like to work as ALT in the future.
It seems I can't get the instructor visa for teaching a language I wasn't educated in for at least 12 years, right?

[Glenski]

No. Do not ask the employer. They don't always know a thing about it.

If you are dispatched to a public school, it may be a gray area whether you are an employee there vs. a subcontractor for the dispatch agency. Confirm with immigration, not your employer (especially a dispatch agency).

[fluffyhamster]

Immigration logically/ideally would issue both JETs and AETs (who both do pretty much the same job with the same qualifications (or lack of them!)) Instructor visas - it would certainly save quite a few of those foreigners who stay on as AETs after JET and change sponsors some time and money.

[Hoser]

Glenski that description of the Instructor visa makes no distinction between private and public junior high schools. In your opinion, when I sign on directly with the private junior/high school in question, should I be getting my visa status changed?