Job Discussion Forums

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

That's quite normal in Japan. We got married in September, but didn't have the wedding until June of the following year. Some people wait even longer.

seklarwia · Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:31 am Post subject:

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

I am American, so I have no experience changing from a WHV. I've heard plenty of stories in the past decade, and sometimes they are different.

Essentially, if one has the WHV (a certain status of residence, to be exact) and wants to change to work visa (another status of residence), one only needs to file for the "change of status of residence".
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/02.html
I don't think a COE is involved. It's still a 2-step process, though, I believe. Apply and wait, then return when called.

If anyone had experience in this, please pipe up!

seklarwia · Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:37 pm Post subject:

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

Yes, in principle the WHV is for people who want to travel mostly, yet make a little money on the way, ostensibly to pay for much of their journey.

FT or PT work is permitted, but not long-term work at one employer. However, employers and immigration do not enforce this.

Yes, WHV and work visa requirements differ. But, just because you don't need a degree to get a WHV, that doesn't mean you have to apply for a COE to get a work visa. In fact, immigration's page (or is it MOFA's?) states that to apply for a work visa, one doesn't always need a COE at all (!), but that is shortens the process. WHV and work visas are two different types of "status of residence", so AFAIK one should be able to bypass the COE and use immigration's "change of status of residence" procedure to go from WHV to work visa.

Again, anyone here with direct experience in this?

CanadianGirl21 · Joined: 10 Feb 2010 Posts: 6 Location: Ontario, Canada

Is it unusual for employers to be pushy about you getting a WHV?

"The reason that a working holiday visa [is] so important, is because the process for obtaining a work visa in Japan usually takes around 2 months to process.
Therefore, without a proper working visa, we are unable to submit your profile to a local Board of Education.
In the case you can obtain a working holiday visa, the locations [of the schools] are as of yet unknown. We are at this point waiting for a positive response from several BOEs in several cities.
Once they respond to us, we will be able to be more specifici regarding work locations"

A later email:

"The ideal time for arrival is in mid March.
However, I mentioned in my last email that a working holiday visa is needed.
Please update me on your status regarding this issue as soon as possible."

I realize that the school year is starting up soon, but is this a common practise of recruitment companies?

I'm beginning to question this company more and more. It took 2 requests to receive their contract outline (which looked VERY vague to me) after they initially "forgot" to attach it the first time. I've been in contact with two of the recruiters: my Japanese interviewer and another person (non-Japanese name) whose main job is to answer questions, I guess. The interviewer's email address has a traceable IP address in Japan, but I can't trace the second one beyond its google mail host address in CA. (I find that odd)

My fiance was initially excited about this company, but now he is questioning it too. We are hoping that my second interview comes through (they said there was a good chance that I would be offered a position, but that they will still need to process my application and then give me a response). This second company offers positions in a location that is more ideal for us since my fiance was recently offered a business proposition there (in Iwate).

So I guess I'm just wondering if his insistence on a WHV is valid.

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

No, it is not common practice to push (or even accept) a working holiday visa. My suspicions are that this place waited until the last moment and now has to show they have qualified people with a proper visa. Either WHV or work visa will do in many cases.

The letter said BOE, though, so is this job an ALT position? I don't think you can get such a job with just a WHV. Instructor work visa is what ALTs get. Your employer may want to fill the slot quickly, and hope you will get a work visa or spouse visa soon after arrival. No harm in that as long as working as an ALT isn't against the law with a WHV.

Who is the employer, BTW? The untraceable foreigner may be a red flag or not. He may simply be a local (to you) agent.