Job Discussion Forums

[moksha]

Hi,

I searched for these answers I swear...

If I fly to Tokyo in early Feb. will I find a job in a month? Do the terms begin March 1? Will I have to leave to apply for work visa?

I have a BA in English and some Lit teaching experience plus a lot of computer training experience.

Am looking for 30-40 somethings to live with... I'm brave, clean, reverent and my mother still accepts my calls.

peace,

moksha

[Sherri]

moksha

You asked:

If I fly to Tokyo in early Feb. will I find a job in a month? Do the terms begin March 1? Will I have to leave to apply for work visa?

The answer:

Well no one here can guarantee that you will find a job, that is a chance you have to take. But I think you are coming at one of the best times of the year to look for work, so you are increasing your chances by coming in the early spring. Even schools that don't have terms, tend to hire more teachers in the spring. Try to line up as many interviews as you can before you come here to increase your chances.

The new term for most schools usually begins in April but it depends on the school, some start one or two weeks into April, some schools don't have term systems. It also depends on what you mean by "school". There are so many different kinds of schools here. Do you want to teach in the state school system (junior high or high school), do you want to teach adults? There are private schools, company classes and cram schools to name a few. Each has its own system and schedule.

As for leaving to get your work visa--I have heard that you don't have to do it anymore. I actually read about it on this board--so if you search a bit harder, I think you will find quite a few posts on this topic (other topics have been covered too to some extent.)

Good luck.
Sherri

[shmooj]

[moksha]

Yep, I saw that reference (to being able to apply for work visa in Japan) but it was brief and uncorroborated.

[Sherri]

If you want the official lowdown, ask at your local Japanese embassy. If you just want to hear people's opinions and experiences, then ask on this board.

Keep looking for experiences. I remember one poster gave a very thorough explanation of what happened.

[whatthefunk]

Hey Moksha,
Ive been in Japan for a week and these are the problems I have encountered.

1. Nobody wants to rent an apartment to a jobless, potentially illegal foreigner.
2. Nobody wants to give a phone to a jobless, potentially illegal foreigner.
3. Without an apartment and a phone you cannot get a job.

Also, its insanely epensive. Ive been keeping track of my costs here: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=12079

Have you considered the jet program?
Have you looked at the job boards? Very competitive job market right now especialy for those visa sponsership positions. Wthout esl experience, id say your chances are limited. Are you prepared to risk all your money and then some?

[PAULH]

[Glenski]

[homersimpson]

[Gordon]

[shmooj]

No one's reading the link he offered then. He's in an apartment now... but it cost him.

Whatthefunk, thanks for letting us in on your situation. There are many here who should take note of what you are doing and what it is costing you. You only came in from Korea. Imagine if you had come in from much farther away. It sounds bad enough for you, but it could be a lot worse.

Sherri, I'm confused. Could you find where the poster gave the explanation? I only remember a brief reference and that was challenged and never properly explained. Maybe we are at cross purposes. Sorry, no Japanese embassies around here although there is a love hotel down the road called the Taishikan. Actually, from my experience of info at Japanese embassies, it might be worth giving it a try...

[Sherri]

It took me about 3 minutes to find. I used the key word "eligibility" as in certificate of eligibility when I did the search.

As for my reference to contact a Japanese embassy I meant that for the original poster who I think is in LA, not you (you don't need a work visa do you?). Sorry it wasn't clear!

What I meant was, I think it is better for people thinking about coming here to contact their nearest embassy or consulate for information on visas. I certainly hope that people don't use this forum as their sole source of information on visas!

Anyway, here is the post I remembered. It is the experience of a woman who found a job in Japan on a tourist visa and then changed it to a work visa without leaving the country:

Ange
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
Posts: 21
Location: F U K U O K A
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2003 10:06 pm�� �Post subject:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK - here is the deal as well as I can remember.

First you need a company to sponsor you. I provided my company with a photocopy of my degree (they didn't need the original), a copy of my passport, and a couple of photos. They then sent off their info (company information and reasons behind the sponsorship) with the copies of my documents to the immigration department. I then had to wait three weeks for the certificate of eligibility to be sent back from immigration to my company. I heard that the time it takes for the certificate of eligibility to be issued can vary from 1-2 months but in my case it was only 3 weeks.

Once I had the certificate I had to take it in to immigration along with my passport and a couple of other photos. I had to fill out a form which asked personal information and information about the company. The information they asked about the company was general contact details plus info about how much they make per year etc... I didn't know this information but the lady at immigration said that it was no problem to leave it blank. The immigration then looked at all the forms etc and stamped my passport with a stamp marked APPLICATION with the date. I didn't have to leave my passport there, just get the stamp in my passport. They told me I would receive a postcard in a month telling me whether my application had been approved or not. Certificate of eligibility doesn't necessarily guarantee a visa.

Two weeks later I received a postcard from immigration in the mail saying my application had been accepted and I had one month in which to go back to immigration to get my visa. I went back to the airport and had to buy a special stamp at the airport post office which was 3000 yen. I then took that with my passport and postcard to immigration where they then issued my working visa and cancelled my tourist visa.

It was all incredibly easy and painless - the people were very friendly, efficient, and helpful and I experienced no problems whatsoever at any stage of this process.

[shmooj]

Hmmm no I hadn't read that. I must have read a reference to this instead. THat bit about the airport post office stamp thing is new - I haven't heard of that before.

So, Moksha, do us all a favour and phone your embassy. Ask them if you can change from a tourist visa to a work visa without leaving the country after you arrive in Japan. Let us know what they say.

[canuck]

You can get prepaid phones. The phone thing shouldn't be a hassle at all. Get a prepaid phone to accept calls. Put 10,000 on it. You're laughing in that depart. Stay in a weekly or monthly "gaigin" house to save money than hoteling it.

[Celeste]

shmooj-

I think Ange was just talking about a revenue stamp that she happened to purchase at the post office outlet that is located in the airport. (The immigration office in F ukuoka is at the airport, and the postal outlet in the airport is where most people get the revenue stamps for their documents)