Job Discussion Forums

Ewok · Joined: 01 Aug 2010 Posts: 3

I have searched a lot about this topic....and am still confused. I am a British citizen on a working holiday visa. I want to change to work visa (my WHV runs out in August) and I have a company willing to sponsor me.

What do I do? and do I have to return to the UK or not? Does anyone know the specific procedure?

I would prefer to hear from people who have actually done this before cos it seems there are many conflicting stories.

Thank you very much for your time,

Ewok

fluffyhamster · Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject:

I realize the following link is for HK residents, but the Q&A 5 is pretty categorical:

Ewok · Joined: 01 Aug 2010 Posts: 3

Hi, actually UK residents cannot extend the WHV, Australians can and maybe Canadians.

I have called every information center I could find but they all say they don't know if it's possible...

fluffyhamster · Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 4:38 am Post subject:

Ah OK. That makes sense, because the UK WHV is twice as long as most others (and more convenient I guess). I was sort of "reading between the lines" with that one LOL! But I think it's safe to say then that your WHV status can't be changed. But the best people to ask would surely be Immigration - I mean, what harm could it do? If they say No then you'll have gotten a pretty unequivocal answer...and if they say Yes, it'll be news not only to you but quite a few others I suspect!

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

fluffyhamster · Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 4:15 pm Post subject:

The short version of this post: Did I really need to be corrected twice? Being corrected the once was surely sufficient.

The long version: OK Glenski, I should make it perfectly clear that I haven't ever applied for a WHV, so I'll admit that I'm not entirely sure of the exact details regarding each nationality's respective allowed length of stay and permitted renewals, and there is only so much time I can put into scouring websites trying to find up-to-date information and clear answers. (I do however recall reading that some nationalities get six months, which can then be renewed another six months, bringing the total to the year that UK nationals get given. And the fact that Aussies apparently are allowed 18 months didn't make it beyond the realms of possibility that the same might apply to UK nationals - as we all know, these Immigration/Visa websites can be frustratingly vague or really beg questions).

The most important point however is that despite the slight bit of misinformation I peddled with regard to that minor detail (which Ewok himself recognized as dodgy and corrected me on, which I appreciated), I have actually answered Ewok's question - it most likely won't be possible for him to change his status/WHV to a full work one, so he will unfortunately have to leave the country and re-enter with or soon thereafter obtain a completely new visa. And I really could ask the same question of you ("What are you talking about, Glenski?"), and indeed add a more damning one ("WHO exactly are you talking to there, Glenski?!") when you solemnly interject that:

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

Fluffy,
I didn't correct you twice. I corrected Ewok once and you once. I'm sorry you took offense to the use of the word "extend".

fluffyhamster · Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 1:23 am Post subject:

Glenski, I cannot for the life of me understand quite what you were correcting Ewok about, but the strangest thing about your reply was your quoting Ewok but addressing him in the third person ('He's not looking to extend the WHV. He's looking to change it to another type of visa'). Obviously Ewok knew that, I also knew that (I mean I knew he wanted to ultimately change), so really, again, who were you talking to let alone correcting? (It would just about make sense if you had been talking to me, but you claim to have been addressing Ewok. Perhaps you need a few remedial lessons on English pronouns, to help you make clear precisely who you're referring to, otherwise you'll continue to sound as if you're talking to yourself almost).

Anyway, this has been tiring and unproductive enough already, especially when we have both ultimately more or less concluded "I'd suggest that Ewok contact his own office directly or contact Japanese immigration."

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

Confusion aside, I just hope Ewok comes back to inform the masses about what they find out.

tombarnes · Joined: 15 Feb 2011 Posts: 2

hi ewok - this guy (british as well) writes on his blog that he got his WHV changed to a three year specialist in humanities visa so it can be done Very Happy

let us know if you manage it too!

gwynnie86 · Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 159

As far as my company told me when I was originally going to come over on a WHV, you just need to be outside Japan to change it... so you can pop to Korea for a weekend break and change it there...

bobbysix · Joined: 07 Oct 2010 Posts: 23

Back in 2002, I had to go to a Japanese embassy outside of Japan to change my WHV to a work visa.
I went to Korea because it was the closest and cheapest place.
It took about 3 days IIRC.