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wayne432
Joined: 05 Jun 2008
Posts: 255
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 Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 1:16 pm Post subject: Self-Sponsorship |
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I have heard that it is possible to self-sponsor yourself and get a visa extension for your current visa in order to continue teaching....
I'm wondering if it is possible to self-sponsor and change your visa-type?
So let's say for example that I get hired by a different area of work, such as finance or IT... If a company doesn't sponsor me, is it possible to still switch visa types to the correct form? Or am I screwed if a company doesn't want to sponsor me?
Just a hypothetical question for the future. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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I think you have to be able to show that you have worked on your current visa for at least a year before you can even apply for self-sponsorship (a term that will baffle immigration officials, so just don't use it). As for changing your visa type, that is probably a big maybe. My inclination is to say no. The policy/guideline/rule to use your year's experience (or in your case, lack thereof, regarding a different type of employer) is probably what will get you in trouble.
The Land of Case by Case will judge. I wouldn't want to bet the farm on it, so just try getting the regular work visa for the job type you seek. |
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deadzenpoet
Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 71
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| An Australian in Osaka last year told me she was able to do this by attaining 3 part time jobs. Sorry I don't remember the details and I rather lost interest when I realized she was probably on a holiday visa and I'm American. |
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Inflames
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 486
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 5:53 am Post subject: |
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I switched my visa type by self-sponsoring this year. I had special permission to work at other places and when I applied I told immigration that my work hours had changed so I worked more at those places than at my original job.
One thing about self-sponsorship nowadays - you need a company to fill out and stamp forms for immigration. Some companies will tell you this means they are sponsoring you - this is not true! One company flat out refused to do this and told me that it meant that they were sponsoring me, even though I had a letter from immigration saying otherwise (they said immigration was wrong).
I figured out that, at immigration, 「複数の仕事」 (fukusuu no shigoto) is understood to be self-sponsorship. The idea about self-sponsorship is that you have several jobs instead of one - if you have one job, you should have your employer sponsor you. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:48 am Post subject: |
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| deadzenpoet wrote: |
| An Australian in Osaka last year told me she was able to do this by attaining 3 part time jobs. Sorry I don't remember the details and I rather lost interest when I realized she was probably on a holiday visa and I'm American. |
If self-sponsorship was mentioned then she would have been on a working visa. Sponsorship isn't necessary for a WHV- you don't even need to have a job lined up. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Inflames wrote: |
| I switched my visa type by self-sponsoring this year. I had special permission to work at other places and when I applied I told immigration that my work hours had changed so I worked more at those places than at my original job. |
So, you had a FT job for one type of visa category, plus other work that required special permission because it wasn't covered under that visa category (completely legit, I know), and then you stopped the FT job to do nothing except the other type of work, and they let you do that with a different visa because you already had been doing that other sort of work, right?
Makes sense, but it doesn't sound like what wayne is doing now. Nice to know, though.
| Quote: |
| One company flat out refused to do this and told me that it meant that they were sponsoring me, even though I had a letter from immigration saying otherwise (they said immigration was wrong). |
Amazing that they figured immigration didn't know its own policies. Go figure.
| deadzenpoet wrote: |
| An Australian in Osaka last year told me she was able to do this by attaining 3 part time jobs. Sorry I don't remember the details and I rather lost interest when I realized she was probably on a holiday visa and I'm American. |
Gotta agree with Apsara here, but the way you describe that situation is confusing. PT work in practically any field is legit with a WHV. The big question is whether that Aussie switched from PT work on a WHV to a self-sponsorship situation with PT work and a work visa with no FT work in between. |
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deadzenpoet
Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 71
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| Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:40 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah crap I don't remember if she had a full time job first. Sorry for the confusion, I just remember she said at the time she was working 3 part time jobs and she was self-sponsored. She was trying to encourage me somewhat to get a self-sponsored visa as a visitor but it sounds like you guys are saying one needs to at least get a full time job first on a working visa before that can happen. |
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Inflames
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 486
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| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenski wrote: |
| Inflames wrote: |
| I switched my visa type by self-sponsoring this year. I had special permission to work at other places and when I applied I told immigration that my work hours had changed so I worked more at those places than at my original job. |
So, you had a FT job for one type of visa category, plus other work that required special permission because it wasn't covered under that visa category (completely legit, I know), and then you stopped the FT job to do nothing except the other type of work, and they let you do that with a different visa because you already had been doing that other sort of work, right?
Makes sense, but it doesn't sound like what wayne is doing now. Nice to know, though. |
That's fairly close. I was working at one place and reduced my hours (for the instructor visa) and started working more at the other places (covered by the special permission). I still work at all of the same places, only the hours (and, as I am hourly, the salary) changed. I have the impression it wasn't necessary for me to get this changed but I had wanted to do so for some time as the Specialist in Humanities visa is more flexible.
One of the things I've learned about immigration is that they consider most teaching to be the same and they're not overly concerned with someone teaching at an eikaiwa with an instructor visa isn't an overly big concern (although YMMV, especially if immigration doesn't like you). If you apply for the special permission (something I recommend as it's free and you're entirely covered) it usually is approved right away. For a small side job they may not even encourage you to apply for it but they won't refuse a completed application. When I first started my outside job I was told that I didn't have to apply for it (when legally I did have to). |
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