Job Discussion Forums

thirstie · Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Kagawa Ken, Japan

Could someone give me some more in-depth info about this please. Have done a search but still confused (getting more so everyday, probably a bit stressed too, sorry!!)

I quit my job at the beginning of the year and have since been teaching for a city office and a well respected shogakku. I have contracts from both. Combined they are well above the standard eikiwa salary. I also have some privates.

However, my visa runs out in a couple of months and I'm kind of panicking. Every time I or go into, or someone else calls Takamatsu Immigration, I seem to get a different answer. I only speak survival Japanese at the moment, so my big problem in the immigration office was that the woman I talked to only spoke very basic English too.

The org I do most work for wants to change my contract with them in return for visa sponsership, which on all levels would be disadvantageous for me. They say it will be less complicated for them to organise than for me to do it independently. But, if I can figure it out myself I'm in a much better bargaining position. The contract I have hasn't been signed yet, due to other issues. I've been trying to do the Japanese style softly softly bargaining approach but I'm worried they're going to try to use my visa as leverage.

I have a really important meeting with them on Monday afternoon so want to go into immigration in the morning with a native speaker to figure out my options.

I'm pondering all the million dollar questions about how much this job means etc and just need info on the technicalities of getting my own visa.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu

thirstie

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Your first prioroty is your visa. If this company is willing to sponsor you, it should be worth something to you. If your visa expires, it doesn't matter how good your contacts are paying because you won't be here.
When bargaining, be cool, don't look anxious or desperate, it is all about leverage.
Good luck.

Where in Kagawa are you?

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

Your company doesn't have to sponsor you. If you have worked here a year and have guaranteed income for any time thereafter, you can renew your visa. Just get your shougakko and city hall office to provide the documentation (your private lessons won't count), and show it to immigration.

earthmonkey · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 188 Location: Meguro-Ku Tokyo

thirstie · Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Kagawa Ken, Japan

Thanks guys,

what sort of documentation do I need apart from the obvious contracts in question and educational degrees and certs? immigration were especially vague on this. they also seemed confused about the whole idea of an independent visa. I think 95% of gaigin around here are with jet or one of the big eikiwa.

the sheet they gave me said I needed profit and loss statements of the orgs I'm working for, but it seems odd to me that a company would hand out financial statements. however, before I get slammed, I'm an unashamed arts student and willingly confess i know nothing about business.

Gordon, I live in Marugame, but for obvious reasons don't want to post where I'm working on a public forum at this stage. Kagawa ain't that big!! Are you in Takamatsu?

cheers.

earthmonkey · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 188 Location: Meguro-Ku Tokyo

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

kitano · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 86

I believe the document is called a toukibotouhon but don`t quote me on that it seemed a bit vague. They translated it as a profit/loss statement as the others said but I think it is more like a business registration if the organization is a bit bigger. They will freak you out by being vague and asking for lots of documents, you just gotta go for it, you won`t get a 100% promise until that stamp is in your passport.

One example of their ability to confuse. I got all the documents they asked for which took some doing and then they asked for this profit/loss statement. One of the places I work is a national university, I asked if I really needed a profit/loss statement from that kind of place and they insisted. The university thought it was strange but prepared a wad of official documents for me. When I returned to immigration one lady insisted I needed the original documents. This is obviously crazy and I said so and she changed her tune and then the actual officer who dealt with my paperwork was happy with it all. Get as much paper as you can and try not to sweat it.

thirstie · Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Kagawa Ken, Japan

i'm feeling much more confident now about things. thanks heaps to everyone.

i think a few people have been trying to freak me out about the visa thing, my employers included. i think, to be fair, they're as much worried about suddenly losing a good teacher if i screw up my application, as they want to alter my contract.

common sense dictates that with contracts from two well respected orgs, a good teaching track record and a decent income, there's no real reason why my application should be rejected. but then everyone gets all vague and uncertain on you . . .

i'm taking a good japanese friend into immigration with me next week to double check all the final details.

wish me luck.