Job Discussion Forums

[Horizontal Hero]

So, what are my chances of being allowed to bring my Chinese mainland wife into Japan? Do they grant spouse's visas to Chinese nationals? They refused her in Hong Kong, believe it or not (they don't grant them to mainlanders, period), which is a prime reason for leaving HK when my contract expires in July.

I'm interested in working in Japan, but there is no point if my wife will not be allowed into the country.

By the way, I'm seeking a uni job (preferably). I don't want little kiddies (cute as they are) and I'm tired of high school. What are my chances, do you think? I've taught for 15 years, ESL for six years. Postgrad. dip. ed. in English teaching and History (secondary school), but no TEFOL qual. I'm finishing up a PhD now, but in an education related field, not specifically ESL. Published a reasonable amount (11 articles, peer reviewed) Actually I'd prefer to skip ESL and get some other tenure, but ESL will be OK.

Any feedback appreciated.

Thanks, HH

[abufletcher]

Despite your quite reasonable qualifications and publications I think you will find that getting a university level job in Japan -- even a short term contract position is a bit of a crapshoot. Paul can tell you all about that.

Tenured EFL positions seem to be almost a thing of the past. I'm tenured (or at least the Japanese equivalent) but I wasn't hired primarily to teach EFL. In fact the job announcement I replied to stated they were looking for someone with interests in applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, culture studies, bilngualism, etc. You won't see many announcements like that! At the time I was hired I had an MA and BA in linguistics, 15 years of overseas university level ESL/EFL/ESP/EAP, two years of teaching linguistics courses at a Mexican university, and a (very) small collection of publications. I now also have a Ph.D. in Communication Studies (still dealing with novice L2 interaction).

If I were to quit my job today I don't think I'd have much luck getting another equivalent one anytime soon.

Honestly without a least an MA in TESOL or Linguistics, the chance of landing even a university contract position is small (though it has been known to happen). These contracts are usually for either 2 or 3 years and are non-renewable.

As for your wife, I don't honestly know the answer but I think Japan is probably fairly liberal in granting spouse visas -- at least one YOUR visa is in hand. So I would imagine you might have to come here first and then later have your wife join you. On the other hand, my Mexican wife was able to come with me when we moved (from Mexico).

[Everest]

Horizontal.

Hi again. I'm only in here because I too am looking at Japan as an option (sort of) having worked there briefly six years ago.

I STILL don't understand why you can't get your wife to HK. I've been reliably informed by HK authorities that they will DEFINITELY allow my Chinese missus to join me as a dependent once I'm employed there myself. What is your nationality?? Is there some additional problem or complication here that we're not aware of?

As for Japan.....

I had my wife call the Japanese embassy in Beijing to ask this same question. There is no problem (or ought not to be unless your wife is an international subversive, which I doubt). Once you are gainfully employed in Japan with the appropriate work visa, you simply send photocopies of these details to your wife in China together with a letter from your employer confirming that you are 'legitimate' in Japan. She sends these, together with a completed application form AND her passport to AND your marriage certificate to the Japanese embassy here in China. They then issue her with a spousal dependence visa. There then follows a tearful reunion scene at Narita Airport, Tokyo - no problem. From experience, your employer should take no longer than 2 weeks to process your visa application in Japan and things at this end for your wife should take no longer than 2/3 weeks also - if that.

Finally, I would REALLY check this HK thing again because you are quite wrong. Either the HK authorities in BJ didn't understand your situation fully or something got lost in translation somewhere. Mainlanders enter HK every day (in fact the official daily quota is 150) with top priority given to a situation such as yours. I would go as far as to say that the quota rules would probably not even apply in your particular case and that your wife would (or should) be granted permission to enter the HKSAR more or less immediately upon your receipt of a work visa there.

E.

[Horizontal Hero]

Well Everest I have been into the Immigration Department in HK and been told flatly that spouse's visas are not granted to mainlanders. I've sought help through the NET teachers' association and the EMB but they were unable to help. Mainlanders can get working visas if they qualify as a "professional" my wife doesn't. I'm not the only person in this boat. I know two others who have encountered exactly the same problem. Now if your spouse has a passport from another country, it makes some difference. I've only been married seven months, and my wife has no Aussie passport. One other couple I know - Aussie guy and mainland wife with an Aussie passport - were also flatly rejected two years ago. They kicked up a real sh.tfight, and after engaging the services of a proactive politician back in Australia they were able to get her a spouse's visa for HK - one year and many battles later.

As for getting a uni job in Japan, I'll contact a chap who has just graduated with a PhD in the same field as me, and who had the same supervisor as me. He scored a 10-year uni contract in Japan. But he has lived there for a while, so had an edge on me.

[abufletcher]

[Glenski]

[abufletcher]

Very good point, Glenski. I goofed on that too. Dependent Visa is definitely the right term. If you ask for the wrong one you might very well get a big fat NO.

Let me repeat that with my university job my wife and children's dependent visa were all arranged at the same time so they all came with me when I moved to Japan.

[PAULH]

[Everest]

Horizontal,

If what you say is true, then the HK authorities have lied to me in person and on paper.

I know for a fact that these problems would not apply in either the case of SGP or Japan. I can only assume that political tensions between HK and the mainland over immigration quotas are not helping. Perhaps my situation is somewhat different since we have a kid with an EU passport. HK can hardly admit my child and not her mother, now can they?

Still, this is all very bizarre and disturbing.

I know of no other country (SAR?) in the world that would not permit the spouse (Chinese, Martian or otherwise) of a legitimately employed Australian citizen to join him in that country. Weird, man. Really weird.

[Everest]

Glenski and Abufletcher are right. I recently emailed the SGP Government on this point and they came back with a very nice email mentioning - specifically - 'a dependent visa'. Is it possible that this is what you ought to have requested of the HK authorities instead of a spouse visa? Is it possible that they understood what you REALLY needed, that you had accidentally goofed and were too bloody-minded to point you in the right direction?

Just a thought.

[Horizontal Hero]

Seems unlikely, as the two other couples in the same boat as me also experienced the same problem, and I circulated the issue widely amongst the NET community. The two mentioned are NET teachers, with mainland wives. As far as I know we three are the only three such cases in the NET scheme at present. My wife was coming in on a three-month business visas, and one of the other mentioned NET's wife does the same. But my wife got sick and was paying HK3300 (US$600 for those in Japan) a day for a basic hospital bed that local HK people were getting for HK100 (a 3300% surcharge for mainlanders!) - even though I, the working person in the family, am paying the same taxes as HK workers. Thus no choice. She's back at her Mum's place, still seriously ill while I'm worried sick myself. Not a great position to be in.

Thus the desire to move on.

[Everest]

Horizontal.

Call me irresponsible but here's what I would do if all else fails.

Get an airline ticket to OZ for your wife (I assume she has an OZ visa. If she doesn't, get her one because if she has one, she can cross into HK to 'catch a plane' to OZ at any time). The Chungking area on Nathan Road is full of leery individuals who will supply a 'ticket' for a small 'fee'. If you want to buy a real ticket, then fine, but don't use it because it would list the REAL departure and rearrival dates from/to HK/OZ.

Once she's in HK, she's in HK. I doubt that too many cops will be asking her for ID - not unless she's involved in something seriously bad. If she needs to come back - well - you seem like a resourceful young man. How difficult is it to 'get hold' of HK immigration/OZ immigration passport stamps - get it? I have heard (though as an upstanding citizen, I could not possibly corroborate this) that there are many people in Mainland China who can produce these rubbers the same day if you give them a good imprint (dating facility included, of course).

Think about it. I would NEVER be separated from my wife and your wife is lucky to be married to a foreigner because she has at least one legitimate pretext to get over that wall. I know thousands who would never come back.

Sorry to hear about the other problems. Hope things get better, man.

[chirp]

Horizontal,

Unfortunately, I do not have any wisdom to share on this topic. I have been following the discussion quite closely though and just wanted to extend my best wishes to you and your wife, whatever you ultimately decide to do.

Good luck!

Chirp

[Horizontal Hero]

[Everest]

In which case, you've done the right thing, absolutely.

Mainland Hospitals (I can personally vouch for certain Guangdong establishments) are getting better and better. The one in which our baby was born was excellent with attentive staff who seemed to know exactly what they were doing. I agree that the disproprortionate costs of medical care in HK (for what I would guess is not HUGELY better treatment) is not justified in your case, particularly for something as routine and easily treatable as gallstones.