Job Discussion Forums

[eIn0791207912]

I'm not a total n00b when it comes to understanding working Visas. I've been teaching in Korea for some time, but it seems like the Visa law is a bit more cut and dry here than it is in Japan.

As I understand it, one can acquire a teaching Visa from abroad, and this is fairy straight forward. You secure employment, send in all appropriate documents, Visa is stamped in, and your employer or school, is the sponsor.

It's also possible to get a Visa while on a tourist Visa. Should one be able to locate employment and have the proper documents on hand, it just takes the normal processing time, plus a quick trip out and back into the country.

Stop me here if I'm wrong.

Now, here's where I get confused. Through my job hunting, I've noticed a lot of places wish for the teacher to "already have the proper Visa." The only way I can understand this, is if one is currently employed and is looking for a new job during their free time. Then the new school would simply take over the sponsorship and I assume that's much less of a hassle than issuing a new Visa altogether?

Or is it possible to be on a teaching Visa and quit your job, but stay in the country? This confuses me, because in Korea, should you quit your job, your Visa is canceled immediately, and if you don't leave within a few days, you will literally be picked up at your house and driven to the airport. Bags packed or not. It is possible to extend the Visa, but both schools (old and new) have to submit written documentation of a transfer of sponsorship. In other words, your employer owns you here. Should they decide to cancel your Visa or fire you for any one of a million reasons, you gotta go, asap.

I'm also looking into maybe getting my MA or MBA while in Japan. Naturally, being a full time student, I'd be on a student Visa. But I'd also like to job hunt, as I wish to work for a Japanese company upon graduation. Again I see a lot of "must live in Japan and have proper Visa" on many posts.

So, is it possible to be in Japan on a working Visa, without actually being employed at the time? Is an employer sponsorship absolutely necessary? To obtain employer sponsorship, does one have to be actively employed with that company?

[wayne432]

Yes, unlike in Korea, if you quit/lose your job in Japan, you still maintain the visa. The visa is yours in Japan.

If you get a student visa, I think you can work a certain amount of hours , but technically not full time.

[woz]

The visa is yours, you need a sponsor for a working visa. If you start a job with a school or company, they will sponsor you.

If you leave said job, the visa is still yours and yes you can stay here without working until the visa has expired. I wouldn't advise it though. Better to have some sort of work/ income.

Yes, it is possible to get a working visa whilst on a tourist visa. As above, you need a sponsor. You don't need to leave the country, not same as K-Land.

You don't have to leave the country if you quit the job or the contract is finished. You only have to leave if immi don't renew your visa for some reason.

Student visas, idk.

[Glenski]

[eIn0791207912]

Thanks guys/gals, I really appreciate the information. One can google search their hands raw and still not get the same answers they can receive straight from the horses mouth. If you don't mind me calling you horses?

So just one quick thing. If I were to find employment, get the Visa, get over and set up, but for some reason, end up leaving that job, I'm still allowed to legally be in the country for as long as that first Visa lasts. If I were to pick up another job/employer, can the Visa be extended? What happens if someone has 6 months left on their Visa, but signs a new contract for 1 year with a different company?

Again, I really appreciate all your input. I know it can be frustrating giving the same answers out over and over again. I've blasted my share of noobs on the Korean forum for just such things. But with the way the economy is now, I think it's quite possible someone could be caught in just such a situation as I outlined before, and it would be great just know as much as possible before jumping in.

Like I've said before, once I hit Japan, I plan on staying for a while, so it's not an immediate issue for me like it is others. I'm willing to be a little patient and weight for the right opportunity to make the transition from K to J. But in the mean time, I'm just trying to get as much information as possible.

[Glenski]