Job Discussion Forums

lizzyboy · Joined: 14 Jun 2005 Posts: 5

Hello,

I am looking to teach english in Japan.
I am currently in the US and would like to get my working visa before
I go to Japan.
I have called the "larger" schools and they are placing teachers 6-9
months in the future.
I am ready and would like to get a job in the next 2-3 months.
Are there any other ways to get a visa sooner.
I have spend a total of 5 months in Japan on 2 trips.

I am open to all ideas.

thanks for your help.

Regards.

ionix- · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 37 Location: Miyakonojo, Japan

Do you have an university degree?

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

lizzyboy,
More precisely, do you have at least a bachelor's degree?

If so, then your only option is to continue contacting the few places (about a dozen) that recruit from outside of Japan.

GEOS
AEON
ECC
NOVA
Altia
Peppy Kids Club
Language House (Shikoku)
James English School
Westgate Corporation
Earlham College
JET Programme

No other options that I'm aware of. This is a rather dead time of year to be looking for work anyway. The main hiring just ended before April.

lizzyboy · Joined: 14 Jun 2005 Posts: 5

Thanks for the information.

Yes I do have a bachelors degree.
Some people said I could just go to Japan, get a holiday visa for 3 months and I would be able to find a job in 3 months.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

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

Assuming that you are American (from your reference of teaching in the US), you are not eligible for a working holiday visa (probably what others may have meant when telling you to come here on a "holiday visa").

Your only option is to get a work visa (unless you marry a Japanese, marry a non-Japanese who works here FT, or enroll yourself in a school here).

You COULD come here without any visa and look for work. You would be on a tourist status (not visa) for 90 days, after which you would have to leave the country. If you choose this route, bear in mind a few things.

1. If you want to get a job in the next 2-3 months, that's about how long it takes to get a work visa processed. So, you'd have to get the job tomorrow and wait for visa processing.

2. This is a pretty dead time of year for hiring, mostly because the school year begins in April. There ARE jobs out there, but not nearly as many as before, and quite a few (most?) require that people be in Japan to apply simply because they want bodies close by for immediate interviews (and because it shows commitment to be here).

3. You will have to have about US$4000 to support yourself for 3 months. I can give you exact figures on expenses if you like. Also, very few (practically no) employers pay for your airfare, so you will have to eat that cost. An end of year bonus may make up for some of it, but not all places offer that.

4. Three months should be plenty of time to find a job. Of course, it depends on many factors. Where you want to work. What sort of job you are shooting for (university? kindergarten? conversation school? high school? etc.) What your credentials are. How well you interview. Etc.

What are your expectations?

5. Looking for work on a tourist status is common, but DON'T TELL IMMIGRATION OR CUSTOMS when you arrive. They will probably put you back on the plane because although it's common, it's also illegal to do that.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

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

I can see I wrote that a bit loosely. What I meant was, it's common to look for work on a tourist status. It's not common to ship people back, nor is it illegal to do so. It is illegal to look for work as a tourist.

Sigh. Long night at the dormitory before I wrote that. Where's my next class?