Online degree problems

[kairu]

Hello everyone, I would like to get some info from anyone who may have some experience with this problem I am currently facing. I have been hired by a major English language institute in Japan. I was hired after I had an interview at one of their offices here in the states. I completed my A.A. in March of 2002 at a regular campus and then completed my B.A. with a fully accredited online university while I worked full time . My employers are wanting me to leave for Japan ASAP, but immigration is giving me problems with the degree. They say that even though it is a fully accredited degree, they are skeptic of and usually do not honor online degrees because they think online education is not as good as a brick and mortar campus. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of problem? Thanks in advance.

[devicenull]

possibly because most online stuff for degrees set off a red flag due to 99% of them being scams/fake.

[ibiza]

This is a problem I have been trying to figure out for a while.

How does a person without a degree get a working visa to teach english in japan?

I wonder if it can be done or not. I know a ton of university students who would love to take a year off to go teach english in japan.

[kairu]

I have a fully accredited bachelors degree, but the last year of it was completed online. This is what is creating the immigration issues.

[Taro Toporific]

I have a fully accredited bachelors degree, but the last year of it was completed online. This is what is creating the immigration issues.

It could be that Immigration has had several fraud cases from that "fully accredited" college so that put it on a "blacklist." Your college might be new and not might not be on their list of colleges accredited by one of the major authorities.

Read the PBS backgrounder at http://www.pbs.org/als/dlweek/dlandyou/faq.htm#7

[Greener]

I've always wondered since I have many teaching certification certificates and coaching certifications, are you able to combine them to obtain a work visa? (6 years of schooling and too many certificates to count in my satchel right now plus 2 years of university at the moment.)

I have never understood how the out clause worked there.

[Taro Toporific]

I've always wondered since I have many teaching certification certificates and coaching certifications, are you able to combine them to obtain a work visa? (6 years of schooling and too many certificates to count in my satchel right now plus 2 years of university at the moment.) .

Call your nearest Japanese consulate and don't hold your breath. 'Rules is rules" in Japan.

[Frost]

why would immigration care what kind of degree you have..shouldnt the school worry about that?

[Taro Toporific]

I've always wondered since I have many teaching certification certificates and coaching certifications, are you able to combine them to obtain a work visa? (6 years of schooling and too many certificates to count in my satchel right now plus 2 years of university at the moment.) .

why would immigration care what kind of degree you have..shouldnt the school worry about that?

It has to be a 4-year not a 2-year degree. A collection of Red Cross certificates and soccer coaching does not count. However after you have a 4-year degree, public schools in Japan will be VERY happy that you have them.

Now, if these all certificates were in one technical field, let's say medicine, you MIGHT be able to argue that a EMT + LPN + Radiation-tech = 4-yr degree.

If J-immigration is complaining about an online degree, it is because 1. it is too new to be on their list of official schools or 2. it is a "degree mill" school and has a bad rep. Either way, it's tough luck.