Job Discussion Forums

[AgentMulderUK]

I came to Japan with Interac. Due to very difficult circumstances I had to leave. Ok, so this is hassle for any company - I know that. But they had replacements so no school children went without a teacher. I made sure of that first.

But...get this..they REFUSE to give me back my degree certificate until I sign a form that cancels my Visa. Yeah, like I'm going to do that.
"I will give you back your certicate , when you give us back OUR visa"
I went to collect it and was given so much psychological B.S. - to his credit he tried every trick in the book. Have to wonder if these people have any moral standards whatsoever. Stupid question really.

And, yes, as has been reported on this forum, the wages are not good, especially considering the pay-cuts for August and Christmas; I have never heard such nonsense in all my life. They also made a shambles of the recruiting process in my case, full of empty promises...etc.

Don't get me wrong, I really don't like complaining...everyone makes mistakes,blah,blah. But this really is too much. What should I do? Call in the law?

Thanks for listening to my rant!

[TokyoLiz]

As far as i know, an employer cannot cancel your visa - only immigration can do that. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong on this one.

However, the company requires a release that says that you are no longer an employee, and that they are not your sponsor.

Is this what they are asking you? When you quit Interac, they provide you with a checklist of materials that you must return and duties you must perform. Then they give you the goods back.

One word of warning to anybody intending to work for Interac - they ask for your original degree. This requirement, I feel, is like holding your children hostage until the hiring process is completed. How do they continue to get away with this?

When I left Interac, I was able to extract me and my documents intact, and with a valid visa in my passport. But the whole process was neither easy nor quick.

AgentMulderUK, the CM may be using the wrong term when he describes the document you must sign - a cancellation of sponsorship, NOT a cancellation of visa.

Likely your CM is a complete newbie and doesn't know his bottom from a hole in the ground. There have been so many shuffles and panics with Interac hiring, management and school contracts that it's likely this person hasn't had adequate training or valid information from on high.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[AgentMulderUK]

They insisted I send my original to Japan (at my expense - world courier)....or no job.....

[Gordon]

Did you insist on getting back your certificate once you started working for them?
They sound like Korean hagwon owners who sometimes used to keep employees' passports until they finished their contracts.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Again, contact your university and see if they'll give you another certificate.

If they will, you have no problem (except that some dubious employer has taken off with your certificate).

ETA: if your university will not give you another certificate, then I guess you have to choose between doing what they want or first threatening and then following through with going to the law and/or the media.

[AgentMulderUK]

Well, what do you know!!!! They just phoned to say I could pick up my certificate....cannot be a coincidence....I have had this problem for nearly 3 weeks, then, on the very day I made the original post , they do a complete policy U-turn?!
I think they must read this board and are getting pretty fed up with their bad publicity.

So, score one point to Dave's ESL Cafe.

Thanks for everyones support and responses

[azarashi sushi]