Job Discussion Forums

superstevieg · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 18

Hi, I would really appreciate someone�s advice on this matter,

I am UK citizen and I have been issued with a working holiday visa. My initial plan was to turn up in Japan and try to find work, but given the current economic climate I decided to find work before I enter Japan. I do have a job offer and they are willing to sponsor me and provide a certificate of eligibility. The job commences late June but I am leaving the UK in April to travel Asia for 2-3 months, therefore I am unable to upgrade the visa in England. The company have said it is possible for me to enter Japan on a working holiday visa and get it upgraded to a full working visa without leaving Japan. The company will post the CofE to Japan in time for me to upgrade before I commence employment. Does anyone believe there will be an issue with this? I�m slightly confused because I�ve read on the forums that some people have upgraded to a full working visa inside Japan whereas other people have had to leave the country and get it upgraded in the Japanese embassy in South Korea. I�m not sure if the policy differs for each nationality or whether it has changed recently.

I�m getting quite stressed about this, so if anyone could advise, it would be a huge help,

Many thanks,

Steve

superstevieg · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 18

Just a further note, the company will be mailing the CofE to the company head office in Japan, so essentially all I need to do is take it the local immigration office and get is switched.

However, because I have read there may be some difficulty getting the visa upgraded in Japan, the company are able to mail the CofE to a hotel address I will be staying in Souel, South Korea, which would enable me to get it upgraded at the Japanese embassy there if need be.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

Hi again Steve! The fact that you already have a WHV means that you're "covered", so don't fret. (It would be an entirely different kettle of fish if you had no sort of visa at all and were just going to land as a tourist on the potentially never-never promise that an employer would (have) like(d) you enough to apply for a COE in order to start you working legally at all). You therefore only really need to worry if the employer you intend to continue working for towards and beyond the expiry of your WHV doesn't appear to want to get you that new glossy full work visa well ahead of time (nearing the end of that WHV year). But by all means try to get the COE mailed (by courier, even if it's at your expense!) to you whilst you are in Korea, because it will prove that it actually exists and has been issued, and get you that full work visa well ahead of time, even though it should not actually be necessary nowadays to go to consulates outside Japan to gain work visas (as this recent thread for a start says: http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=69758 ).

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

It seems that in the past couple of weeks or so, I've run across the same outdated remarks mentioned in the OP. That is, even though the rules changed 3 or more years ago, people are still hearing that they need to leave Japan to complete visa processing.

False!

steve,
Come on your WHV or as a tourist. Collect your COE, go to immigration and pay for your visa (plus reentry permit). There will be no problems.

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

superstevieg · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 18

Hi again and thanks for your feedback,

I spoke to the company earlier today and I asked about whether it is possible to work on a working holiday visa if for any reason I do encounter difficulty changing to a full working visa. They understand it can permit full-time work but they refrain from employing working holiday visa holders due to some insurance issue, so it looks like I can�t work for that specific company with a WHV.

It�s a relief that visa�s can be switched to a full working visa inside Japan. The eikaiwa chain that I will be working for ensured me that it is highly unlikely for me to have to leave Japan and re-enter. However, I keep on hearing contradictory opinion on this matter. I was close to accepting a job offer with Interac, and even in their email detailing the job offer, they mentioned I would have to leave and re-enter Japan in order to change to a full working visa (see extract below)

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

seklarwia · Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject:

I just went to the embassy today with my CoE. I was told that I had to have my instructor visa processed outside of Japan. And since I'm applying for a new visa and not upgrading a WHV, it could possibly be a UK citizen thing.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject:

Probably the safest thing would be like I said to get the COE mailed to you in Korea (seeing as that's been suggested to you) and enter 100% able to work for that company (or indeed any other, not that others would be so sniffy about WHV rather than full work visa holders). It just seems a little "risky" (eggs all in one basket and that) to enter on only a WHV when 1) the company has said that they can't employ WHV holders and 2) even if the COE is then forthcoming (which sometimes it isn't), Immigration might 3) then (you seem convinced LOL - Edit: But wait, Seklarwia has added something!) throw a wobbly and refuse to process it in-country.

superstevieg · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 18

Yeah, I have contacted the Japanese embassy in London and she said I can not change it to a full working visa in Japan, but she also said I cann not change it in any other embassy apart from Britian which I believe is wrong. She only spoke quite limited english, so I don't know if I can trust her opinion. If only this sort of thing was put down in writing!

Would I actually need an instructor visa to work for an eikaiwa?

I may go down the South Korea route and get it changed to a working holiday visa at the Japanese embassy in Souel. I actually suggested that to the company but they are willing to send the CofE to a secure address - I just hope the hotel address in Souel is secure enough! Anybody have any idea how long it would take the Japanese embassy in Souel to change it to a full owrking visa?

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

The usual visa for eikaiwa is "Specialist in Humanities and International Services". This is a much more flexible visa- you can do work like translating, proofreading etc. on the same visa.

seklarwia · Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:56 am Post subject:

The hamster is picking on me lol.
I just have that effect on people... I say it and then everyone rushes to make it happen Razz

To superstevieg, I think you are right about the level of english of the person you spoke to. I was told it only had to be processed before you arrived in Japan which means you could process it in Seoul.

Even on the CoE itself it simply says:

This certificate is not an entry permit. Even if you have this certificate, you are not admitted into Japan unless you an entry visa at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate abroad.

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

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:25 pm Post subject:

Steve said he's got a WHV already, so he probably meant get it (that WHV) changed to a "proper" (Instructor?!) work visa in Seoul...(?).

Anyway, hope things go relatively smoothly for you, Steve.

superstevieg · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 18

Yeah sorry, I have already got my WHV so I actually meant I was looking to change it to a full working visa in South Korea (sorry for the confusion ... I was tired last night!). Given that eikaiwa's require only a Specialist Visa, I guess it might be possible to change the WHV to a full working visa inside Japan. It might just be problematic changing a WHV to an instructor visa.

Nonetheless, I think I will get it changed over in South Korea before I enter Japan as I was thinking of travelling around that country at some point anyway. According to Interac the Japanese embassy in Seoul can do this in one day. I just hope I can find a secure reliable address for the CofE to be sent to in Seoul.

Thanks again for your help, I would be lost without the help I get on this site, Smile