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ac949
Joined: 10 May 2006
Posts: 11
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 Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 4:26 am Post subject: Options other than teaching? |
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| Im planning on landing in Tokyo in a few months to pursue eikawa teaching opportunities. I managed to get a free flight and temporary boarding from a friend of mine so I'm not passing that up. Because of the short notice, I won't have a chance to apply domestically with any of the agencies here so I'll be starting the job search from scratch. My question is - if for some reason I cant land a working visa with an eikawa school, are there any non-teaching opportunities out there for me that would grant me a working visa? I dont speak Japanese so im assuming the opportunities are few and far between. My understanding is that vacation visas only last for 90 days, so Im trying to avoid a situation where I would have to come back if I cant land anything prior to my vias expiring. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 6:40 am Post subject: |
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| I would look into a working holiday visa ASAP. If you're American, you're SOL. Without Japanese ability, it's going to be very, very difficult. Is there any reason why you think you won't be able to get a job teaching English? What are you qualifications? Have a free room and board is a good start and you should be able to hit the ground running. |
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ac949
Joined: 10 May 2006
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Well, i dont think I can get a working holiday visa since I'm american. As far as my qualifications, I dont have any teaching qualifications but am a native english speaker and have a 4 year undergrad and graduate degree from reputable institutions.
I'm thinking that my best chances are to have my good friend in Japan act as a guarantor for me and submit a "certificate of eligibility" for me? I dont think its legit to just show up on a tourist visa and start looking for work. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:39 am Post subject: |
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| It's legit to come on a tourist visa and starting to look for work. Being American, you can't get a WHV. You meet the basic requirements for immigration. You should start getting ready now, preparing your resume, reading the stickies on this site, and applying for jobs. Good luck. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, it's legit to look for work on a tourist status, but just don't tell customs that that's your reason for coming here. They'll chew you out and put you on the next return flight.
You are right in that Americans don't qualify for the working holiday visa.
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| My question is - if for some reason I cant land a working visa with an eikawa school, are there any non-teaching opportunities out there for me that would grant me a working visa? |
What are you qualified to do, especially without Japanese language skills? Say that some Japanese person landed in your hometown without any knowledge of English. Who would hire him? Your chances are slim to next to nil, unless you find some miraculous opportunity.
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| I'm thinking that my best chances are to have my good friend in Japan act as a guarantor for me and submit a "certificate of eligibility" for me? |
Is your friend in business for himself? He'll probably need to be to serve as your visa sponsor. If not, plan ahead to hit the pavement hard and look for work on your tourist status.
You plan to come here in a couple of months? That's August, a pretty dead time of year. Wait a month or so longer if you can. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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| ac949 wrote: |
| I'm thinking that my best chances are to have my good friend in Japan act as a guarantor for me and submit a "certificate of eligibility" for me? I dont think its legit to just show up on a tourist visa and start looking for work. |
Your friend doesnt submit the COE, you get it from immigration when they are satisfied you qualify for a visa. Its the final stage before you get the visa stamp in your passport.
Sponsors of visas are usually employers and they have to be able to show immigration you can independently sustain your life in Japan by paying you a minimum level of salary so you can live here. |
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ac949
Joined: 10 May 2006
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:21 am Post subject: |
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You plan to come here in a couple of months? That's August, a pretty dead time of year. Wait a month or so longer if you can
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There are some posts stating that eikawa schools hire year around (except may holidays). Is this not true?
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| If not, plan ahead to hit the pavement hard and look for work on your tourist status. |
Would you suggesting hitting the mom and pop outfits? Really, I dont think Im going to be particularly selective as to the institution. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:00 am Post subject: |
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| ac949 wrote: |
Would you suggesting hitting the mom and pop outfits? Really, I dont think Im going to be particularly selective as to the institution. |
What exactly do you mean mom and pop outfits? Do you mean like a little hole in the wall one-teacher eikaiwa?
Sorry dont want to burst your bubble but they are more shaky than the big chain schools.
2. How do you plan to find the mom and pop schools? How do you know a mom and pop school when you find one?
3. Owner operators arent always up with the play on foreigners's labor rights. How do you know that the contract you sign is a a fair one?
4. How do you know anything about the school before you sign a contract? What do you do if it has no Internet or web presence? You are in a foreign country, dont speak the language and the boss is a virtual stranger. Are you going to take a job because he has a nice 'professional' school and they seem like nice people?
5. Mom and pop schools because they are small operate on very thin budgets and may not have enough classes to employ you full time. Many jobs in Kansai now are part time or they are dispatch companies. What will you if they only offer you part time work but you want a sponsor for your visa?
6. when problems strike such as late payment of wages, summary dismissal or classes shrink, or the owner re-arranges the contract on you do you know how to protect yourself? I see many teachers come here, get chummy with the boss, treat the boss like a big brother and then wonder what happened when the tide turns and the boss stabs them in the back or rips them off. never get too friendly with the guy paying your salary. He can still fire your a-ss. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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| There are some posts stating that eikawa schools hire year around (except may holidays). Is this not true? |
This means that in general you will be able to find ads from many eikaiwas throughout the year. It does not mean that every school continuously posts ads. Only a few places do that (large ones like NOVA, for example). The Japan Times classified section reduces in size drastically, from 4 pages to half a page sometimes. Lots of ads these days are for PT work, which doesn't sponsor a work visa, too.
So, yes, you can find eikaiwas posting throughout the year, but much fewer in August.
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| Would you suggesting hitting the mom and pop outfits? Really, I dont think Im going to be particularly selective as to the institution. |
If you can come here and look for work, take advantage of any opportunity you can find. If the mom and pop place sponsors a work visa, and you are satisfied with their contract and working conditions, go for it. You'll have to be here for them, though, because they just don't advertise abroad.
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| I dont think Im going to be particularly selective as to the institution. |
In a sense, you should be. Some employers practically bully applicants to apply. They wave a carrot in front of them, usually like "start today!" but they later tell the applicants (who are working illegally and waiting for a visa to be processed) that there are "delays" or "mistakes" in the visa processing system, until the person has overstayed his tourist status, doesn't get paid, is fired and on the streets illegally, and has no legal recourse but to apologize to immigration as he leaves Japan.
Look at this link for a classic example.
http://www.gaijinpot.com/bb/showthread.php?t=21614 |
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