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Cool Teacher
Joined: 18 May 2009
Posts: 930
Location: Here, There and Everywhere! :D
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 Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 5:32 am Post subject: |
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Hmmm....seems this guy had a similar problem:
http://www.tamegoeswild.com/thedailymumble/2008/05/japan-exchanging-tourist-visa-for.html
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I received an email from a friend of mine from New Zealand who did exactly what I'm thinking of doing. He married his Japanese partner in New Zealand, then shortly afterwards returned to Japan (on a tourist visa) with her and went about trying to get his visa status changed to that of Spouse.
In the end, it took two and a half months for the authorities to grant the visa. During that time, he wasn't allowed to leave Japan, and he wasn't allowed to work. |
I suppose you could double-check with immigration but like happened here and on the other guys thread it seems "case by case" is the rule.  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 5:58 am Post subject: |
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If you were a native English speaker seeking a work visa, I'd probably say don't worry, just work. There would be some caveats, but just work.
However, that is not your situation.
1) Immigration will not tell you you can work while under the situation you are in, so DON'T ASK THEM.
2) If your application gets turned down (perhaps more likely than for a work visa), then you will DEFINITELY have been working illegally.
3) What's more, your employer doesn't "seem to mind that I don't have proper visa yet". That is a red flag in my book. If they can't wait for proper visa processing, you should be wary. What's their hurry? |
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Bucky420
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
If you were a native English speaker seeking a work visa, I'd probably say don't worry, just work. There would be some caveats, but just work.
However, that is not your situation.
1) Immigration will not tell you you can work while under the situation you are in, so DON'T ASK THEM.
2) If your application gets turned down (perhaps more likely than for a work visa), then you will DEFINITELY have been working illegally.
3) What's more, your employer doesn't "seem to mind that I don't have proper visa yet". That is a red flag in my book. If they can't wait for proper visa processing, you should be wary. What's their hurry? |
Yeah, that's what I've heard as well that basically people start to work even without work visa, if it's pending. But never read about anything about pending spouse visa. Obviously I'm not gonna ask the immigration, because that would just raise suspicion and increase the chance of being denied the visa, which I don't even want to think about.
As far as the job goes, sorry I was bit unclear. I made it clear to my future employer that my visa application is still pending, so they are familiar with my situation. It's actually a dispatch company organizing English lessons for major companies. And being that I'm a non native speaker, it's not very likely I will come across such a sweet deal anytime soon again. So that's why I'm leaning towards taking this job even if it might leave me in legal limbo. The position starts in October, so that's why they are in a hurry.
btw, a technical question...how might immigration find out that I'm employed? Is it through taxes? or just by being registered? |
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Cool Teacher
Joined: 18 May 2009
Posts: 930
Location: Here, There and Everywhere! :D
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Bucky420 wrote: |
| Obviously I'm not gonna ask the immigration, because that would just raise suspicion and increase the chance of being denied the visa, which I don't even want to think about. |
You could do it anonnymously dont say "Hi I'm Bucky420 and want to find out info about my visa etc etc..." Just ask if it is possible to work on pending visas. Seems okay to me. 
| Quote: |
| As far as the job goes, sorry I was bit unclear. I made it clear to my future employer that my visa application is still pending, so they are familiar with my situation. It's actually a dispatch company organizing English lessons for major companies. |
Yeah, they usualy can be a bit loose and fast about rules. Beware!
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| And being that I'm a non native speaker, it's not very likely I will come across such a sweet deal anytime soon again. So that's why I'm leaning towards taking this job even if it might leave me in legal limbo. The position starts in October, so that's why they are in a hurry. |
Just be sure to check the "sweetness" of the deal because they sound a little suspicious from here.
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| btw, a technical question...how might immigration find out that I'm employed? Is it through taxes? or just by being registered? |
I don't know if they do. Probably a different department becase immigration always want YOU to bring all employment records and such when you get work visas and renewals and ask to do XYZ work. Unless employers are required to register with immigration... I don't know...sorry. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Cool Teacher wrote: |
| Bucky420 wrote: |
| Obviously I'm not gonna ask the immigration, because that would just raise suspicion and increase the chance of being denied the visa, which I don't even want to think about. |
You could do it anonnymously dont say "Hi I'm Bucky420 and want to find out info about my visa etc etc..." Just ask if it is possible to work on pending visas. Seems okay to me. |
No. Immigration officials may sometimes have their "case by case" scenarios which infuriate us foreigners with mixed signals, but when it comes to certain things, they are typical bureaucratic sticklers. Don't ask. They will only try to find out who you are, or at the least just tell you "no, you can't work until the visa comes through".
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| btw, a technical question...how might immigration find out that I'm employed? Is it through taxes? or just by being registered? |
They may very well not find out at all, but what happens if you get fired or screwed out of pay, and you are still on a pending visa situation? You have very little to stand on for support with the Labor Standards Office or a union, let alone immigration. And, if the visa eventually DOESN'T come through (worse case, and I just heard of an American who WAS refused a spousal visa!), then you are most definitely guilty of having worked illegally.
Worst case: the government has a snitch site. Anyone could report you. ANYONE!
Just wait. |
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starteacher
Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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Never mess about with immigration issues.
I know of friends in immigration (they don't help me much though other than to say stick to the rules) who have "horror" stories galore and usually on stupid and desperate things people do. A few years back, a friend called me from the airport, the evening before being deported. Stupid really, he was working without a visa. Met up with him back home a little later. He cannot return to the country ever.
You often do not hear stories from the people who have gone through the horrors. |
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Bucky420
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:11 am Post subject: |
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| Cool Teacher wrote: |
| Quote: |
| As far as the job goes, sorry I was bit unclear. I made it clear to my future employer that my visa application is still pending, so they are familiar with my situation. It's actually a dispatch company organizing English lessons for major companies. |
Yeah, they usualy can be a bit loose and fast about rules. Beware!
| Quote: |
| And being that I'm a non native speaker, it's not very likely I will come across such a sweet deal anytime soon again. So that's why I'm leaning towards taking this job even if it might leave me in legal limbo. The position starts in October, so that's why they are in a hurry. |
Just be sure to check the "sweetness" of the deal because they sound a little suspicious from here. |
In what sense? what should I be careful about? |
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Cool Teacher
Joined: 18 May 2009
Posts: 930
Location: Here, There and Everywhere! :D
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| Bucky420 wrote: |
In what sense? what should I be careful about? |
Well because why are they in such a hurry and don't seem to care about valid visas? Make suer everything is above bored because if you have trouble with them then how can you complain to the union or whatever if you have no valid visa? |
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:08 am Post subject: |
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| Cool Teacher wrote: |
| Bucky420 wrote: |
In what sense? what should I be careful about? |
Well because why are they in such a hurry and don't seem to care about valid visas? Make suer everything is above bored because if you have trouble with them then how can you complain to the union or whatever if you have no valid visa? |
Sometimes you have to be above and beyond bored. |
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