Work visa rules

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

Let's say I find a work place that is willing to sponsor a work visa that lasts for 1 year.

Now, hypothetically speaking, what would happen if I quit my job already after the first paycheck? There would still be 11 months left on my work visa, right? Could I then find a new place and start working there? And should the new work place turn out to be great, could they extend my visa after the year has passed? Would a visa extension be just as troublesome as getting a work visa? Remember, I'm not a native speaker so there are not many possibilities for me in the first place. Nevertheless, I have been told that as long as I have a working visa, then many employers don't really care whether I'm a native speaker or not.

The reason I'm asking is because I might have found a work place that can sponsor me, but the job is really hard and pays crap. I'm pretty sure I wont be able to last there very long, but at the same time I don't want to go back to my home country yet. I know it's a douche move to use a work place to get a visa, but I'm in a desperate situation here. My CV is good and employers always seem to love me. But when it comes to visa sponsorship, most of them either fail or realize that the process is too hard, considering the fact that I'm not a native speaker.

[GomiGirl]

Yes hypothetically what you want is possible - and people do it but it is not technically kosher. Just don't tell immigration that you have moved companies until you are ready to renew - or hope that you current visa sponsor doesn't tell immigration.

But at renewal time your new employer has to start the process from scratch again as the visa is linked to the company that sponsors you and not you. This differs from a WHV.

But don't jump ship until you have found a new job. Still it is kinda douchey to jump ship on the company that sponsored you.

About not sponsoring you as a not native speaker - this is a load of crap cos if native speaking was the most important criteria for the job, then they would have hired a Japanese person. Methinks it is a saving face excuse for not keeping you around.

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

Thanks for your reply!

I should have pointed out that I meant native ENGLISH speaker. There are two obstacles for foreigners who wish to teach English in Japan: being a native speaker and/or holding a proper visa. If you don't hold a proper working visa, then you pretty much have to be a native English speaker in order to find sponsorship. The fact that I have a place willing to sponsor me, is nothing but luck. However, according to another employer, as long as I have a work visa many schools don't care if I'm a native English speaker or not. What matters to them is that my English is perfect and that I can start working almost immediately.

[GomiGirl]

If it is a bonefide language training company and they want to hire you, then immigration is not going to care what your native language is. There is not a "tick the native language box". Yes there is a bachelor degree box which is kinda crucial but otherwise, it doesn't really matter AFAIK.

Like I said, if they don't want to sponsor you it will not be for your native language - Japanese or English. It is cos they either can't be arsed, don't think the company is in a healthy enough state or they really don't care enough if you work for them or not. It isn't hard to sponsor a person but it is a bit of running around getting paperwork done. Lots of companies are nervous as they haven't done this before and are wary of govt scrutiny or really they just don't want the hassle which is mostly imagined anyway. So you have to make it a compelling enough reason for them to sponsor you.

The company that IS going to sponsor you, know that it isn't hard and have done it before.

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

It depends on the immigration office and who's at work that day. Some applications will be declined if the person feels that you don't have enough skills to show for. Most of the big companies (ECC, Interac etc) require you to be a native English speaker now because of this.

But there is a decent amount of places that don't require you to be a native English speaker, as long as you already hold a visa. These are the work places I will be aiming for, once I am sponsored. And who knows, maybe even the big companies will consider me after I've earned some experience and a proper visa?

[Coligny]

Yes hypothetically what you want is possible - and people do it but it is not technically kosher. Just don't tell immigration that you have moved companies until you are ready to renew - or hope that you current visa sponsor doesn't tell immigration.

I think, that in a previous conversation we established that visa were like automotive shiaken. What is important is your situation at the time where the visa is requested.
Once granted, it's good for all its duration. (well at least the shiaken is...)
Also I don't remember any visa having a clause were you should contact the immigration office as soon as your status change, before the visa expiration date.

[Doctor Stop]

Just don't tell immigration that you have moved companies until you are ready to renew - or hope that you current visa sponsor doesn't tell immigration.

The rules changed in July. If you change employers you must to notify immigration within 14 days. Previously you'd just inform your ward or city office.

Page 13: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/ ... 8EN%29.pdf

[Coligny]

Just don't tell immigration that you have moved companies until you are ready to renew - or hope that you current visa sponsor doesn't tell immigration.

The rules changed in July. If you change employers you must to notify immigration within 14 days. Previously you'd just inform your ward or city office.

Page 13: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/ ... 8EN%29.pdf

Hope it's still the same for the shiaken...

If not I'm good for a long night under the hood...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Just don't tell immigration that you have moved companies until you are ready to renew - or hope that you current visa sponsor doesn't tell immigration.

The rules changed in July. If you change employers you must to notify immigration within 14 days. Previously you'd just inform your ward or city office.

Page 13: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/ ... 8EN%29.pdf

Ouch! I hope this doesn't mean you lose your visa status, too..

[Ikemen-of-d00m]

Hey, I'm back again with more questions!

My work visa is fixed, and I'm already back in Japan ready to work. The thing is, I'm still not happy with my employer(unsurprisingly). He's the biggest cunt in the world, the salary is actually lower than minimum wage, and he doesn't even provide health insurance. To top this off, I work like a slave and have to commute over very long distances. There is in other words nothing good that comes from working for him.

According to the new rules, I know that I have to inform the immigration office within 2 weeks if I quit my job or change my work place. The scary part is that they don't explain exactly what happens after this. My work visa lasts one year, but what would they do if I suddenly stood without a job? Would they allow me to stay until my visa expires, even if I don't earn any money or pay any taxes, or would they kick me out of the country?

The next obstacle would be my future employer. I don't know what the immigration office will want from them? Will they have to provide a certain salary etc? At this point in my life, I don't really need that much money. I can live like a king with only 15 man per month as long as I don't have to spend more than 1000 yen per work day on commuting. In other words, working part-time as a private english teacher would fit me perfectly. I only intend to stay in Japan until July anyways, so I don't need to get "rich". The most important thing for me is to have a lot of spare-time to spend with my girlfriend, and enough money to get by without counting coppers.

Thanks in advance.