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		| skarp 
 
 
 Joined: 30 May 2004
 Posts: 50
 
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 3:16 am    Post subject: Entering Japan - advice |   |  
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				| Asking for some advice about entering Japan on a sightseeing visa with a view to finding work. 
 
 1 - should I pretend to be a tourist or admit to looking for a job?
 
 2 - does everybody get the maximum length of visa - 6months for Brits?
 
 
 Is health insurance/travel insurance mandatory? Some countries demand it I believe. It's obviously a good idea and I'll be trying to sort it out before departure.
 
 Skarp
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		| Glenski 
 
  
 Joined: 15 Jan 2003
 Posts: 12844
 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 4:18 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Do NOT tell customs that you are here job hunting, or you will be put on the next return flight!!!! 
 Visas are issued either for 1 year or for 3 years.  It's entirely luck of the draw, and you cannot request what length you'd like.  Neither can your employer.
 
 I have known people who worked in Japan 5 years at various eikaiwas with absolutely no health insurance.  It was their gamble.  They figured they were saving money.
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		| skarp 
 
 
 Joined: 30 May 2004
 Posts: 50
 
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:15 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Strange how we have to lie when so many people must be doing this... 
 But I did to come into Korea.
 
 I guess customs officials have their rules to follow.
 
 Thanx for the advice.
 
 Skarp.
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		| Gordon 
 
  
 Joined: 28 Jan 2003
 Posts: 5309
 Location: Japan
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:57 am    Post subject: |   |  
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	  | skarp wrote: |  
	  | Strange how we have to lie when so many people must be doing this... 
 But I did to come into Korea.
 
 I guess customs officials have their rules to follow.
 
 Thanx for the advice.
 
 Skarp.
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 You're not lying, you're just not telling them everything.  You aren't teaching, just scouting for work.  I'd classify that as a tourist activity.
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		| shmooj 
 
  
 Joined: 11 Sep 2003
 Posts: 1758
 Location: Seoul, ROK
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 1:32 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Of course, you're coming in on a return ticket to Seoul with a valid E-2 visa for Korea to back up your story aren't you Skarp. 
 If not, you might be in for a rough ride.
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		| skarp 
 
 
 Joined: 30 May 2004
 Posts: 50
 
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 3:20 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Pretty hard to maintain the pretence I'll be coming back to Seoul.... 
 WOuld have to have a return ticket booked within a few days if I had any intention of coming back.
 
 Best to present Japan as a holiday on my way on to a thrid country following a stint in South Korea?
 
 Anyway when I entered at Osaka for a visa run they were pretty cool about it all...
 
 Surely they aren't going to care too much?
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