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Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You said last Thursday that immigration OK'd the transfer. Fine.

You said that your school refuses to do it, claiming their policy. Uh, ok.

You obviously have serious communications problems with your school beyond that. Get someone who can translate in both directions to go with you to a meeting with the school admin. Give admin immigration's phone number and tell them that you have been told it's ok to transfer, and that you will wait right then and there while they call immigration to find out how it's done.

If you don't do that, then actually get the procedure from immigration yourself and bring it to the admin with that translator.

Or go to the new school and have them request the paperwork.

Don't just walk out. You don't accomplish anything that way.

gittelbug · Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Glad this is falling into place. Plead language barrier and politely ask the school to do all the contacting to avoid confusion. Keep us informed.

Yes, immigration just wants you legal, and as long as you continue to act in good faith to their policies, you shouldn't have problems with them.

gittelbug · Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43

My new school wrote the current one a letter (to be delivered that day) stating I was enrolling in the new school and immigration had given me the OK. I haven't heard anything from my current school about this but as I don't want to be ambushed into another "meeting" I haven't exactly asked them.

A friend of mine called the school this evening for me and asked them why I couldn't transfer. The woman who my friend spoke to said that an agreement is needed between my current school's headmaster and my next school's headmaster. This is quite different from "students cannot change schools." Of course my friend said there shouldn't be a rule like that but she wasn't really given a direct answer. The phone on the phone said the school would still like to talk to me in person with an interpreter (of their choosing I assume). The woman on the phone also said there is nothing mentioned in my contract about a refund. So if there's nothing I signed saying anything about a refund I should be able to get the 6 months i paid for (but won't use) back.

The school acts as though this is a shock but I know others have complained to them that they don't understand the lesson (because the grammar isn't explained at all) they act shocked and tell them to study more. A classmate spoke up in class said she didn't understand and it was too hard the teacher replied with "study more".

gittelbug · Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43

First day of my new school. Wow amazing how things make sense when taught correctly. My friend and I went to a meeting with my old school. They're sill insisting it's not legal to change schools. And apparently people should know these "rules" even though they're not written down anywhere. They keep saying I've made up my mind too soon (mind you I've attended for 6 months and my highest grade has been 60% and still cannot understand enough to pass out of the beginners course). I'm going to immigration with the head of the new school tomorrow after class. What seems to be the issue according to my friend is that there are no real clear rules. So the old school interprets them as no one can transfer and the new school understands them as you have to seek permission from the old school and/or immigration in order to transfer. The old school is still insisting they are my visa sponsor even now that I've transferred to the new school (or as far as the new school is concerned). The old school seems to have written this down and gave my friend a copy. She is going to send me this copy and i'll bring it to immigration tomorrow.

I'm ready to pull my hair out.

spidr245 · Joined: 26 Nov 2008 Posts: 60

Don't give up. They really just want you to stay for two main reasons:

1. Your money.
2. Their reputation. (When a student leaves a school on their own, it makes the school look bad.

Just keep the process going, and continue to attend classes at your new school. If your here to learn, there's no reason to stay at a school where you can't learn anything.

gittelbug · Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43

Second day of class. Going good. After class was over the head of the new school and I went over to Immigration. He explained the situation to the Immigration officer who confirmed there was no law against me changing schools. I have no idea where these "rules" the other school talks about came from but they don't seem to exist. My former teacher texted me asking what I (see: them) were supposed to do. I replied that the immigration officer I spoke to said i could change schools as long as i was studying and had a visa it wouldn't matter I also referenced the guy's name. Now she replied saying of course they cannot stop a student from changing schools. Which is funny because to me it seems that's what all the past meetings were about. Also I couldn't get a refund because it was my issue not theirs.

Here's the thing. Nothing I signed said anything about refunds. In fact I never really had a contract with the school it was just the application to join the school back in April. But the fliers they have with info about classes and prices does have, in the fine print, that no refunds can be issued once the money is paid. My friend who translated for me said she'd ask a lawyer she knows but I know she's busy. Honestly I'm not looking to go to court or anything but since I didn't sign anything that said no refunds is it still valid?

Also thank you all for the support. It's been a crazy and stressful fighting with this school but i think it's finally over.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Sticking to your guns has won you a big battle. Remain firm.

What's important now is not to get angry or non-Japanese. Play it cool. Be plenty patient, too. If you've been here for any length of time you know patience is more than a virtue in Japan.

Let the friend consult a lawyer. Let it take time. This is beginning to sound a lot like when NOVA fell. You may very well not have to take anything to court, but a threat of such could possibly shake up the old school enough to give in. Nothing like bad publicity.

There are some lawyers, by the way, who offer initial consultations for free. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101028f1.html

You might also want to invest in a couple of books.
Living With The Japanese Law. A Guide to Foreign Nationals in Japan (3143 yen), and the other is Survival Manual: A Guide to Foreigners� Rights in Japan (2000 yen)

gittelbug · Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 43