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Instructor to Humanities Visa

 
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rich45



Joined: 26 Jan 2006
Posts: 127
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 5:13 am    Post subject: Instructor to Humanities Visa Reply with quote
I'm moving to Japan next month on an Instructor Visa, working as an ALT until February.

My question is:

How easy is it to change from Instructor to Humanities visa?

I am more comfortable in an academy rather than a school, so once I have completed my ALT contract, I fully expect to search for an eikaiwa job. How long will the change in status take?

Thanks,

Rich
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GambateBingBangBOOM



Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
You'll be working until FEBRUARY???? That's more than a little odd. But then, so is preferring to work for an eikaiwa over a school. To each his own, I guess!

It's not that big a deal to get transferred over from instructor to humanities, like everything else in Japan it depends on where you get it done.

You're bigger issue may be getting an eikaiwa job. There's more than a few people who used to work for GEOS running around looking for jobs, as well as a few NOVAs still out there in the eikaiwa market. Eikaiwas themselves are struggling. Not just the big chains, but also the small mom-and-pop ones (which are also the ones commonly run by expats who've been here for a long time).

If it's because of the hours, small class size and not having to sit in a Japanese teacher's room that has you wanting to do eikaiwa over a school, then have you looked into working at a juku instead (you may need to know quite a bit more grammar etc than at an eikawa, though).
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rich45



Joined: 26 Jan 2006
Posts: 127
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
GambateBingBangBOOM wrote:
You'll be working until FEBRUARY???? That's more than a little odd. But then, so is preferring to work for an eikaiwa over a school. To each his own, I guess!

It's not that big a deal to get transferred over from instructor to humanities, like everything else in Japan it depends on where you get it done.

You're bigger issue may be getting an eikaiwa job. There's more than a few people who used to work for GEOS running around looking for jobs, as well as a few NOVAs still out there in the eikaiwa market. Eikaiwas themselves are struggling. Not just the big chains, but also the small mom-and-pop ones (which are also the ones commonly run by expats who've been here for a long time).

If it's because of the hours, small class size and not having to sit in a Japanese teacher's room that has you wanting to do eikaiwa over a school, then have you looked into working at a juku instead (you may need to know quite a bit more grammar etc than at an eikawa, though).

Sorry, I meant March...my mistake.

Thanks for your reply.

I'm just thinking ahead at the moment...i like to know what my options are. The problem with looking for eikaiwa jobs from abroad thesedays is that most ads say "must hold a visa" or words to that effect. So basically, I was wondering whether having a humanities visa would make the eikaiwa job hunt easier than having no visa at all? Your reply seems to indicate that it won't be such a big issue.
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I agree with Gambate. Landing the eikaiwa job will be far more difficult than changing your status of residence from Instructor to Humanities visa. The change in visa is easy and straightforward. It could take a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on a zillion factors.

Quote:
The problem with looking for eikaiwa jobs from abroad thesedays is that most ads say "must hold a visa" or words to that effect.
I don't think this applies to most. The real problem lies in being what the employer wants in these days of a flooded market, and in the fact that many do not consider teaching work outside of Japan as real teaching work. It's up to you to prove otherwise.

Quote:
So basically, I was wondering whether having a humanities visa would make the eikaiwa job hunt easier
I don't think you understand the process here. You need the job before you get the visa. So, if you have an ALT job and get the instructor visa, you will need an eikaiwa job to be able to switch over to humanities visa. You don't get the humanities visa first then the eikaiwa job.
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rich45



Joined: 26 Jan 2006
Posts: 127
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Glenski wrote:

Quote:
So basically, I was wondering whether having a humanities visa would make the eikaiwa job hunt easier
I don't think you understand the process here. You need the job before you get the visa. So, if you have an ALT job and get the instructor visa, you will need an eikaiwa job to be able to switch over to humanities visa. You don't get the humanities visa first then the eikaiwa job.

Thanks for your reply Glenski. I do understand the process. I was just trying to establish whether an eikaiwa could easily do the switch after offering me a job, and the answer seems to be yes. Therefore, I'll be in a much better position next March than if I was still in Korea searching from afar.
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Apsara



Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It won't be the eikaiwa doing the switch to a Humanities visa- they will provide you with a contract and some company financial info, and you will fill out the forms and go down to Immigration to apply. This is why you have to get the job first- you need documentation from your sponsor to change your status.

Provided all the documentation is in order, the change in status is quite straightforward.
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