Job Discussion Forums

fluffyhamster · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

The reply from Gordon near the start of that first linked thread about sums up my initial reponse (I haven't read much beyond that). Your very own financial circumstances, dealings and arrangements should only be of any concern to Immigration, and then only in the context of sponsoring your own work visa (=Period of Stay renewal). Assuming the company is going to employ you full-time, if anybody's finances are going to be scrutinized, surely it should be theirs!

Anyway, perhaps attend the (initial?) interview, but blow them off with the excuse that you don't yet have a bank account, or are in the process of setting up a new one, or even that you've simply not brought along (not necessarily forgotten!) such details for their perusal quite just yet (and if they demand why not, simply tell them that it would only be relevant if they were to offer you a job and need to start paying you a salary, and then it wouldn't take long/be of no real delay in any case to supply those last few details "later" (that is, indeed ASAP after signing the contract)).

About the only excuse for their request would be that they have had to decide to employ you, anyone! sight unseen as soon as possible (and thus want to get as much paperwork done as quickly as possible in one fell swoop), which should have you wondering why the sudden vacancy/exit by the previous teacher.

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

ShioriEigoKyoushi · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 364 Location: Japan

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:56 am Post subject:

There should be no need to fully "hand over" (relinquish) your passport and ID card, even after signing a contract: tactful employers usually realize that you don't want to let them out of your sight let alone your possession, and will make the necessary copies in front of you in a matter of seconds (what good office doesn't have a photocopier or scanner) before handing them straight back to you after the most cursory of perusals. But they probably do need to ask to at least see the passport and ID card, if not make copies, at some point, in order to make absolutely sure (and presumably cover themselves regarding the fact) that their employees are fully legit - I mean, just look at what happened (albeit in the UK) with Baroness Scotland and her Tongan maid! (And the more severe punishments meted out to lots of much less unwary but then much less "important" employers). That is, I would assume that Japanese employers need to cover certain things, if only because there's doubtless always been a foreign employee or two who's then lost an ARC and even a passport, and who didn't think to make and keep copies themselves.