[Crispy]

I have heard some poeple say it is very possible (and easy) to make some serious money correcting papers, giving English conversation lessons, etc as an American student in Japan. Others have said that it is fucking dangerious and can get you deported right quick, after all, any work at all is prohibited by the conditions of the visa. Has anyone here anything to say about this?

[Crispy]

Part of the financial contract with the school we had to sign was two statements:

1) I must not work in any capacity during my time in Japan, or risk deportation (don't remember the exact wording, I already turned that form in)

2) I must show that I can be financially supported without having to work for myself, and have documents, either from the school or from my parents to prove it.

I guess I'm just confused now. Either way, I will be on a program that supposedly works you like crazy, so I don't know if I would have time to do much, but damn, making $50/hour tutoring in English sounds tempting...

[kamome]

The paper you had to sign was a contractual arrangement between you and your employer and has nothing to do with immigration regulations. Many employers require their employees to sign such clauses, presumably because it will detract from time spent on their regular jobs.

I seem to recall, Crispy, that you were coming here on the JET program. I remember signing the same paper that you did before I came here for JET. The threat of deportation comes from the JET program itself, and not from immigration authorities. By the way, many JETs manage to find outside jobs teaching English as private tutors anyway; they just keep it hush-hush to avoid conflicts with their JET bosses.

[Crispy]

Oops, I didn't mean to infer I was going to be a JET. I am going on a study-abroad program though my university, and I am going on a student visa. The financial contract was for my host university.

I am planning to apply for JET if I enjoy my time in Japan, though, and nothing so far has suggested that I won't.

[cstaylor]

...this is a more recent thing... there's been all those media reports of asian gaijin coming over on student visas, and then not showing up for class (supposedly bailing for jobs instead). Maybe this is a backdoor that lets the government eject transgressors immediately?

[mercutio]

I've never heard of anyone getting deported for working as a student. What you may have heard was probably referring to working while in Japan on a tourist visa. You are absolutely forbidden from working on a tourist visa (though some people have been known to get away with it).

does anyone have any experince with people working on a tourist visa? (I know youre not supposed to but...)

I plan to move later this year to study Japanese (depending on when my company goes belly up) so i doubt i'll fit nicely into the oct/apr issuance dates for student visas, especially since the oct issued visas have a june15 application deadline.

I should have enough money saved that I dont *HAVE* to work for several months while studying but it would be nice to have some partime work to strech the money... but I dont want to get deported if it is that big of a risk

[Crispy]

Hm....

I wonder if the program director can clear things up, or if talking to her would be a mistake? Oh, if you are interested, I will be on this program:
http://www.tiu.ac.jp/jsp/

[Crispy]

I just sent an email along the lines of "I hear other people graded papers and such when they were there as students, was what they did risky, or not?" I hope it goes over well.

[kamome]

While the threat of deportation while working on a tourist visa is speculative, I would imagine that other ancillary procedures (like getting a bank account, getting your gaijin card, setting up utilities, etc.) might be frustrated if you can't correlate your work with your visa status. If something seems slightly out of order, government offices, landlords, banks, and other institutions tend to just deny access to their services rather than approve a "questionable" gaijin.

[Crispy]

Yeah, it was late, maybe I shoulda waited until this morning to write it. Still, she must know what I am talking about, I'm sure people have asked her similar questions and/or been screwed over somehow, I'm sure she will give me the straight dope on it so I can avoid problems.

[Crispy]

Here was the response:

I know the situation seems to be confusing.

Students who study in Japan on a 'College Student' visa are not allowed to work unless they received special permission from the Japanese Government. This permission is only given in the case that the money will be used to pay the university or college fees.
In the case of the JSP, you must pay all fees before you enter Japan, so you are not eligible for special permission to work.

I think your the program you friends have been studying on has different status or conditions from the Japanese Government, or they have been working illegally.

On the JSP program you are not allowed to undertake any form of part-time work.

Hm...sounds pretty final.

[Crispy]

Yup, well, better budget a hell of a lot or money. I just got home from college, and there are a couple of jobs I will be checking on. One of them pays pretty damned well, if I get it, I should make $6k this summer. Minus summer expenses, that should leave plenty for Japan. No video game/computer hardware buying orgies though, like has happened in past summers....

besides the money, it is a bummer though. Teaching English and explaining the oddities of our language to non-natives is one of my favorite challenges, if I could get paid for that, I would be in heaven. Guess I'll have to wait until I come to Japan as a JET or somesuch after college, as is the current plan.

[Crispy]

but in your case maybe some sort of "will teach English for food" deal might not break any rules.

Hee! I need a sign like that, and I can stand with it on a street corner. I bet I'd get some good food.

Yeah, I expect to have some joint conversation assignments with Japanese students, just like I did at school here.

[Crispy]

That might happen. Either way, I am pretty sure I shouldn't figure making any money in Japan into my budgeting.

[cstaylor]

I am semi-serious though, and maybe in your case, you could try "will teach English for PS2 games." One lesson, one game. Or maybe "will teach English for cellphone." They would be giving you gifts, not pay.

Hey, it works for the government. "Will give you illegal bidding information for campaign cash"

[esasha]

wow, exelent information in this thread!
oops! im thinking out loud.

[Mulboyne]

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