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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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 Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 3:03 am Post subject: |
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| Quibby84 wrote: |
Hey,
We have a contract and our school is pretty well known in this area. The reason we dont have a visa is because I graduated at the end of December, they needed us because someone cut their contract short so we came earlier than we planned. When we got to the airport my husband and I were split up, I got a stamp and he didnt although they did let him through. We didnt think anything of it at the time because we havent done anything like this before. But when we got to our job they were very shocked that he didnt have a stamp, so now it is just finding the time to go to immigration and get it. When I talked to the owner of the company (who doesnt understand all english) she said no about going for a month. But after we left she approached a friend of ours (who is to working without a visa because he has only been here a few weeks,we have been here a month) and said that she was worried that we would quit. He said he was to, and another employee asked him the same thing. So I know that they dont want us to leave, we are both dedicated teachers that they would be stupid to run off. So I know that we will eventually get our way because we will leave and find a new job if they dont let us go like they promised. I dont know if I mentioned this before but I found emails where I specifically asked about taking off THE MONTH OF JULY and was told yes you have full permission, go ahead and buy the ticket. I asked him several times and was told the same thing "you gave us enough warning, everyone at the office knows about this" etc etc. So I will print this stuff out and bring it in to work.
The visa issue is a whole other thing. Our school is short teachers (anyone looking for a job..private message me...lol....) and the office workers are so busy that they can not breathe. The owner only comes in for about 10 min. a day so knows nothing about what goes on, she probably doesnt know that we dont have visas or knows what could happen to us if we were caught. I was once stopped by the police while riding my bike and because I didnt know japanese I was saved (I believe) I gave them my passport and it wasnt expired so it was ok. But then I called the office and said that I needed a visa NOW because I dont like working illegally, but finding the time is very hard and I dont think that they realize the importance of the situation. It is hard because the japanese workers do EVERTHING but the owner has final say. She knows nothing about the way the business is run so if she says we cant take a day off to go to immigration then we cant...its really stupid. BUT I dont want to find a new job because I love this one, outside of the disorganization in the office I love my job. And I am actually going to be put in preschool as the head teacher so I am really excited about that, and I dont want to lose that. When it comes to the school and teaching english part of the school it is great, if I need supplies they either buy them for me or I buy them and they pay me back immediately. I can do WHATEVER I want because I am the boss, and I love that. I also like my co-workers....its just the management that gives me trouble.
The other guy who doesnt have a visa has a higher position than us and his wife is japanese so I am going to tell him about the fine thing and maybe he can get the ball moving.
And I will go home for July, because I have proof and I now know that they dont want to lose us as teachers....so....I will get what I was promised.
So anyways, any advice would be appreciated. |
You don't have a visa. Your husband doesn't either. You're currently working. You don't have time to sort it out and go to immigration. You don't speak Japanese. You don't know if you can take your holidays as planned. You're going to be head teacher now.  You're asking for help but aren't doing anything about it.
#1. Sort out the visa situation for you and your husband immediately. Don't take, "No" for an answer. This must be done. If you fail to do something about it immediately, you get what you deserve.
You don't have a leg to stand on until you are entitled to work in Japan. Please name the school in this thread so others can be warned to stay away! |
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Quibby84
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:14 am Post subject: |
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I talked to one of the coworkers today and he said that he is going to tell the school that he is going tomorrow regardless of what they say....(I already have my gaijin card, one of the japanese workers came with me to get it).
there is only so much I can do without the help of others...so at this point, nagging them is all that might work (and I have been doing that) but I agree, this needs to be dealt with immediately.
how long does it normally take to get a visa if you are in Japan?
I will get on the visa now... |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:32 am Post subject: |
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| how long does it normally take to get a visa if you are in Japan? |
It varies, but expect 4-8 weeks.
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| It really bothers me...but how do I speed up visa progress? |
You can't. |
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littleturtle
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 24
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Re advice from JimDunlop,
How would one go about filing in the small claims court?
My own employer is not appearing to honour a condition of my contract (which is on paper, signed, and in English). I believe it would be open-and-shut, because of the written contract.
In these courts, what are the legal fees like, and if I win, does my employer (the defendant) have to pay them too?
Im wondering if its a waste of effort when the amount in question is around 5,000 yen. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:42 am Post subject: |
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| littleturtle wrote: |
Re advice from JimDunlop,
How would one go about filing in the small claims court?
My own employer is not appearing to honour a condition of my contract (which is on paper, signed, and in English). I believe it would be open-and-shut, because of the written contract.
In these courts, what are the legal fees like, and if I win, does my employer (the defendant) have to pay them too?
Im wondering if its a waste of effort when the amount in question is around 5,000 yen. |
You're joking right? Or do you mean $5,000? |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:35 am Post subject: |
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| Quibby84 wrote: |
| I get off of work at 5 on Tuesday, if I can get someone to go with me, do you think it will be open then. |
Immigration won't be open after 5pm. Depending on the city, the nearest one might be a ways away. Immigration is different than the ward office (where you got your alien registration card).
| Quibby84 wrote: |
I have gaps in my work schedule but my husband does not....it is just very complicated and I would give advice (to whoever is listening) to GET A VISA BEFORE YOU COME, and get EVERYTHING in a signed contract form, even if you trust the person.
oh, I dont think that our school is a scam I work with many people who have worked there for a year or longer and they are all legal, it just takes time because everyone is so stinkin unorganized...
I will keep you updated.
Thanks |
As a newbie, you're giving advice and then not following it yourself? After reading all this, and you continue to make excuses on something so basic, fundamental and important to working in Japan, you continue to say, "Sorry, I have to work until 5pm."
It's going to cost you a lot more than a days pay. Maybe in order to teach you a lesson, immigration should fine you and ban you from Japan for 5 years, stick you on that plane back to America. No problem with getting to your friend's wedding in time.
Simply, go in Monday and tell them you need to have this dealt with today. If they come up with a reason not to, and since you seem to be a bleeding heart visa-less type of person, demand it be Tuesday so that they have time to cancel your classes (which you are not legally allowed to teach and shouldn't be doing so now) to find a replacement or postpone them until next time. You need to know your situation and get it corrected.
I thought the NOVA teachers getting busted for drugs were stupid, but after hearing this story, I'm having similar thoughts about the participants here. (and they have been given sound advice from many people who actually know a little bit about this country) |
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Dipso
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Posts: 194
Location: England
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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You can use Google to find out your nearest immigration office. Hours are typically 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday, often with an hour's break for lunch. It may take a couple of hours to submit all your paperwork, so don't bank on being able to do it in your lunch break - the queues are often very long. You will need to go to immigration twice - once to submit all your documents and again a few weeks later when your application has been processed.
Good luck! |
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seastarr
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 76
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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May I suggest looking into teaching for one of the bigger schools that will take care of your visa for your before you start teaching? It sounds like you are happy with your school, but how happy will you be if you end up getting deported? I would look into the thread on the Nova teachers that got arrested for drug use, it has some good info on the Japanese legal system and it doesn't sound like something that would too fun to get mixed up in. Everyday you put off taking care of your visa is a day that you could get pulled over by the wrong police officer and end up in a really bad situation. I would just go, forget about waiting for a day off. Immigration will find someone to help you with the English part if you don't have anyone you can take with you. This is something you need to fix asap. I'm sorry that your school isn't taking it seriously, because it is a very serious matter. Ignorance is never a good excuse in the eyes of the law.
Good Luck! |
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littleturtle
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 24
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:18 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
| littleturtle wrote: |
Im wondering if its a waste of effort when the amount in question is around 5,000 yen. |
You're joking right? Or do you mean $5,000? |
I will take it from your tone that you, personally, think it is a waste of my effort. Do you actually know how to file in the small claims court? |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:08 am Post subject: |
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| Quibby84 wrote: |
| Who decides if I can get a 3 year visa? My boss or immigration? |
Immigration. You don't have a choice to what time limit they give you. It's either a one year or a three year visa.
Prediction: If what you have been telling us is true, there is a good chance your husband will be arrested and you will have a lot of explaining to do working without a visa.
How's house hunting? |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:17 am Post subject: |
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| littleturtle wrote: |
| Gordon wrote: |
| littleturtle wrote: |
Im wondering if its a waste of effort when the amount in question is around 5,000 yen. |
You're joking right? Or do you mean $5,000? |
I will take it from your tone that you, personally, think it is a waste of my effort. Do you actually know how to file in the small claims court? |
No experience, but I can't see anyone bothering to go for $50. Why would you want to waste hours and hours of your time for a possibility of receiving 5,000 yen? |
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Quibby84
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:21 am Post subject: |
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canuck, you sure to like to assume the most absurd negative thing possible.
but like you said (I think that was you), if i get to go home then I definitely get to go to my brothers wedding...so its a win win situation. 
(I can see where the $50 suing thing comes from, we are in that sort of situation now, you just want to person who is not going through with what they said they would do to feel the burn....lol) |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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| littleturtle wrote: |
| Gordon wrote: |
| littleturtle wrote: |
Im wondering if its a waste of effort when the amount in question is around 5,000 yen. |
You're joking right? Or do you mean $5,000? |
I will take it from your tone that you, personally, think it is a waste of my effort. Do you actually know how to file in the small claims court? |
The cost varies from prefecture to prefecture AFAIK, but was usually around 2500 yen back in 2003. You can file the paperwork through the citizens legal affairs section of your town office. IIRC you can't claim consequential losses, only direct and actual.
Why are you even quibbling over 5000 yen? Just steal two dozen toilet rolls from the school for your house or take an extra twenty minutes at lunch for two weeks and call it even. |
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kendoman1
Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 69
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littleturtle
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 24
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| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:21 am Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
Why are you even quibbling over 5000 yen? Just steal two dozen toilet rolls from the school for your house or take an extra twenty minutes at lunch for two weeks and call it even. |
Mainly for the principle of the thing. I take enough 'extra' time in the afternoons when I have no classes anyway, but given that I dont work at my company, nothing else works.
Kendoman1, thank you very very much, that was EXACTLY what I needed!  |
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