Job Discussion Forums

[guest of Japan]

The skin rashes may also be a result of the high heat and humidity of the Japanese summer.

[Nismo]

or shellfish. Maybe he likes the kaiten a bit too much.

[seditiouscloud]

Glenski is right- a visa problem is a nightmare. My employer claimed to know about the visa application process and since they had a foreign teacher before, I figured they would know. But they didn`t and when the notice of approval arrived, my boss actually thought it was a visa. I guess the Japanese explanation isn`t very clear. But with the notice of approval, you are actually suppossed to leave the country to get the visa, which takes another 2-4 weeks. Somehow he managed to get them to issue the visa from within Japan, but this is not the usual procedure.

The job might be okay (but four months being too much for the other teacher might be a suggestion it isn`t), if you go for it, make sure the visa is in your hand when you go there.

[Glenski]

[blueboy]

Working without a visa or on a tourist visa while waiting for the visa to be processed isn't unheard of is it? I know in Taiwan it was more than common for people to start on a tourist and eventually get a residency card. However, in Taiwan authorities looked the other way on a lot of stuff, I don't know how it is in Japan. Since my original post, I've e-mailed with another teacher who is pretty happy, and the job sounds alot better.

[Mtnkiwi]

I'm not sure, but the job sounds a bit iffy to me. Are you sure the second teacher you communicated with is not the head teacher?(that happened to me when I got my first job - company turned out to be terrible, was blacklisted on this site too). The problem with some company apartments is that they are actually getting some of what they pay you back by overcharging you (again, happened with my first job). You will probably not be able to leave the apartment and still work for the company if they are making profit off this arrangement.
Visa thing is also a worry.
In the end it is up to you, no risk no reward and all that.

[blueboy]

It's a really small family run school in a smaller city, so there are only two teachers. I don't think they're marking the apartment up, because the rent is pretty cheap. I think I'm gonna do it and keep my fingers crossed. I know the visa situation is bad, but the other teacher had to leave because of his condition so they're in the position of needing somebody before it can be completely resolved.

[J.]

I would hazard a guess that you are not going to be happy with the situation there if the teacher you talked to is that negative. It will take a lot of money to try to change apartments and it's not that easy. Most companies try to insist that you rent their place. And asthma and skin rashes sound like a toxic mold problem, and there's a lot of mold here in old buildings, especially this time of year. Not to mention the proliferation of c**kroaches, but you'll probably get used to them.( Jeez ,would you believe that word is bleeped, c'mon Dave.)

The other thing that I would not do under any circumstances is come without a valid work visa stamp in your passport. Not only is it illegal and you might get stopped at immigration and given the third degree, including being told to empty your pockets and prove that you have "enough money" for your stay, but you will be at the mercy of your employers for everything and you may suddenly find that your schedule and pay are not what was promised, and you won't be able to do ANYTHING. Except bide your time and try to save enough to find another job, which without extra funds you won't be able to manage in under 6 months, at the least. At a small school there won't probably be much support from co-oworkers, or much information to help you, unless you speak good Japanese.

There are much better opportunities. Check Ohayo Sensei.

Good luck--you're going to need it.

[PAULH]

[Glenski]

If you are bound and determined to come, heed what "J." wrote. I would also make absolutely sure that the visa processing has started before I set foot on a plane.

[myesl]