Job Discussion Forums

feebleweiner · Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 17

So I'm hoping someone can help me out with this situation I'm facing:
I got hired by a company to start teaching this April. They said I needed to be out there by March 15 and all of that is fine. I sent all my documents to get the CoE and all that worked out and when it came time for them to send it to me I clearly told them do not send it through the regular post because it will take at last 4 months to get to where I live. Guess what? they send it through the regular post.

Now they kept this lil gem a secret. It wasn't until I got an email asking for me to confirm my arrival date and I responded that I would love to confirm but I'm not buying a ticket till I have the CoE and visa stuff sorted that I learned what was up.

My family and friends all have diff opinions on what I should do.

Some think I should try finding employment with another school and kiss this one goodbye since they screwed me/didn't listen. But would I be able to do that seeing as I already have a CoE pending with one company already?

The other half think I should just wait...and wait...and wait until it finally comes in the mail and then just move over in the Summer.

I think I'm going crazy. I quit my job already because I was under the assumption that this was being sent via courier and because I was given a tracking number (come to find out it only tracks up to where the package left Japan and after that who knows). So I don't have employment now, I have all sorts of people squawking in my ear. I'd just like some advice from people who know more about visas, Japan, and CoE's than I do. Seriously, advice from someone besides my mother telling me to "don't worry, be happy" would be appreciated.

Thanks, feeble.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:06 pm Post subject:

HI FW!

Hmm(/Grrr!), any school that would send something as important, and need-to-receive-ASAP-so-everyone-knows-things-are-well-on-track, as a COE, is clearly incompetent, stupid, tight-fisted (especially if you'd sent them the necessary documents via a courier from your end!)...the list could go on. I mean, WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?! (Are you dealing with Japanese inakabreds, who maybe haven't heard of DHL, UPS etc? I certainly hope you weren't dealing with a foreigner residing in Japan, who should know better!).

Anyway, hope you get the COE eventually, and that you can line up an alternative job. Or you might still like to politely insist that the job you were set on try to get a replacement COE issued and courier it to you ASAP, but I guess all that would depend on how much you and/or they were really still wanting to work for each other!

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

Just where do you live that it takes almost half a year to receive regular mail?

When did they mail the COE, so we know when you should expect it?

If you want to work for these guys, remind them of the mail time and ask them to get another COE from immigration.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:09 pm Post subject:

Even if FW lived a day's mail away, the school really should have sent the COE via a courier!

Bread · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 318

Are you from Tristan da Cunha or something? I am really curious here.

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

I'm also curious. 4 months, even by air mail? I had stuff shipped from Spain to New Zealand by surface mail a few years ago, after finishing studies in Spain, and that took 3 months. Spain and New Zealand are geographically on the opposite ends of the earth, so there is no longer distance that mail can go, but it didn't take four months even to arrive by ship. An ordinary air mail letter will go from Japan to NZ in 4 days these days, so where is it that you live that it takes four months? Shocked

feebleweiner · Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 17

FH: I live in the Caribbean. The particular country that I live in is seriously backwards and does things on it's own terms...one of the many reasons I am fed up with living here.

Glenski: I've politely asked if they can get another CoE from Immigration but they've made it seem like it's impossible to do. They mailed it Jan 30th so it can come here whenever it wants.

I told myself to just wait till the end of this week and if it hasn't come by then well I know it's lost in limbo land and I should resign myself to waiting till the summer herd. They're making it sound like they can't get another one issued which is why I was thinking if I try to find employment with someone else it would be hard for me to get another COE issued.

feebleweiner · Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 17

and i'm really not exaggerating about the time it takes for post to get here. it doesn't take four months every time but it can and then to top it off, sometimes the people at the post office hold your mail just because they can. there are bags of mail sometimes sitting there for two weeks that has not moved just because "it ain't my job to open that". or if they don't like you they will not put your mail in your box. seriously gotta get out of here.

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

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

Make a friend at the post office so you have someone looking out for that letter. Check back often regardless.

How exactly did they send the letter? Boat or airmail? To say "regular mail" doesn't answer the question.

Have you considered contacting immigration yourself and asking for assistance?

I still say that despite all the suggestions and advice I've given, you should also look for another job. Make it clear to your so-called employer that if it doesn't arrive on time (whatever you define that to be), you will have to go elsewhere for work. Canceling the visa/COE is not that hard to do at this point, so neither of you has to worry about that. What's important is YOU knowing you have a JOB and visa!

If they don't understand common sense now, how do you think they'll treat you after you arrive?