Job Discussion Forums

nyanko77 · Joined: 23 Apr 2011 Posts: 4

I understand that I will have to submit a document from my doctor verifying that I am in good health in order to obtain the work visa. I also know that a chest x-ray is mandatory (like most countries).

I've had an abnormal chest x-ray since I was 3 due to exposure to TB in Africa - but it's not contagious or active (and has never caused me any problems). Kuwait and Thailand let me in, but I wonder if Japan is a bit more strict here?

I know that this is pretty common for regular travelers, so I wanted to know if anyone has run into this before? What are the odds they will deny me, despite not being a legitimate medical threat to anyone?

Thanks!

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

nyanko77 · Joined: 23 Apr 2011 Posts: 4

I may have misspoke - its not necessarily for the visa, more so for immigration as a long-term resident. Every company I've been in touch with has informed me that it will be required with the visa materials. I've had it done for every country I've resided in so it wasn't necessarily a surprise... but just wondering how strict Japan is about it.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

You do your health check with your company, not for the country, and so you have already been 'let in' when you get it done (the JET program asks for it ahead of time, and so I imagine some other human resources mechanisms [i.e. dispatch companies] that hire in Japan may also). How strict they are on it depends on the school, but when they decide that there's a problem, people 'retire'. If something shows up, then they will most likely contact a doctor and ask them if there's any problem, or if it's anything that they should worry about. I'm not sure how often conversation schools do the tests, the k-12 system they get it done every year.

This is just a guess, but I would imagine that due to the heebee jeebees about tuberculos, you would be looking for a new school every single year (and potential employers who happened to call your school [or that the school somehow found out you were applying to] would likely be told tell about the 'risk', but 'off-record'). And that's if they couldn't get the doctor to say that there was even the chance of a medical risk to the students (which would, of course, lead to you 'retiring due to unforeseen health concerns'). The main point of the chest x-ray is a screen for tuberculosis. And you'd be showing up positive.

Denizen · Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 110 Location: Tohoku

I have a similar situation to you, having been exposed to TB as a child but being totally dormant since. I've had no problem coming and going to Japan, being a resident for nearly eight years. Unless policies have changed over the last decade, I think you're relatively trouble-free. However, the country where you're coming from may have a bearing on their (Japan's) health concerns.

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

nyanko,
I have been in Japan for the past 13 years. Gone through work visa, spouse visa, and now Permanent Resident status. None of these have ever required a health check from me (an American). Don't know if certain nationalities get flagged. I believe SE Asia is flagged for TB, but I don't recall hearing about Africa.

nyanko77 · Joined: 23 Apr 2011 Posts: 4

Denizen, thanks! That was reassuring. I haven't had problems entering other countries but I know the rules are different here and there. As it turns out, my chest xray is considered "normal" since [i]active[/i] TB is not present - so I'm safe!

In case anyone happens across this with a similar situation...
From what I have come to understand, it is required by law that teachers undergo this sort of health screening to work in classrooms in Japan, so it's usually asked for prior to your departure to Japan. It's the same in America - screenings every year for school teachers. Unless you present signs of active infection, you are not flagged, because you are not contagious.

Glad it won't be a problem for me. Off to Tokyo I go! Smile

PS - Glenskie - I am American. Just lived in Africa and Southeast Asia for most of my life.

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

seklarwia · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 11:22 pm Post subject:

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

seklarwia · Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 8:47 am Post subject:

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

seklarwia,
And, who told you that you needed to have it done? Employer for his own reasons? Employer for some mythical immigration reason? Or immigration? That is the biggest thing I have with the issue here.

seklarwia · Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 1:14 am Post subject:

I was never under the illusion that it was for immigration purposes. In fact in one of the documents that my dispatcher sent me before my arrival, they specifically mentioned that it wasn't an immigration requirement but a company one. They said that BOEs require all ALTs in public schools to have a health check which would include a TB test annually, but they wanted us to have a TB test in advance in case we can't get the health check done before we start work.

That's exactly how I had to explain it to the doctors in the UK, because they don't normally give TB tests unless it is an immigration requirement or the person thinks they may have come into contact with TB.

And guess what, they were right. Interesting how a plane crashing on a runway just a couple of hours before you were due to land can cause all kinds of organisation chaos.

I think that many people just assume it is for an immigration reason since many other countries do require it as part of the visa process. I wouldn't be suprised if the OP has done the same here.

What's JETs reason for making people have it done in advance?
I'm not sure why you are taking issue with employers asking to have it done. It makes sense to me. We've only just had huge outbreaks of TB in the last few years in the UK which resulted in schools closures. I know in the case near my uni, the infection was thought to have been brought into the school by a teacher.

But all this is irrelevant. Perhaps you should just accept, that something has changed. In your day, people weren't asked for a TB test in advance but these days there is a good chance that an employer will.

Ikki · Joined: 31 Jan 2011 Posts: 58

I think JETs have a complete health check before coming over because the vast majority of them are contracted directly with public school jurisdictions (e.g. prefectural BOE).

When my three JET years were up, I switched to eikaiwa & a "health check" never even came up for discussion.

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

I'm not "taking issue" with employers requiring health checks. I'm taking issue with the fact that it's not an immigration requirement (as some might perceive), and it's not a common employer requirement. I'd welcome more voices from the ALT front to add weight to your own experience, but beyond that, I can assure you that for direct hires at schools, for eikaiwas, and for universities, it is not required as a matter of course.