Moving to Japan as a dual national

[mauron]

Hi everybody,

I'm considering moving to Japan next year to get married and live with my (Japanese) wife-to-be. The other option of course is that she would move to Belgium, but I'm not the biggest fan of that option. :P
Although I have lived in Belgium my entire life, due to the fact my mother is American I have both Belgian and American citizenship. The thing I'm wondering is, if I were to move to Japan, which nationality should I use?
I'm guessing it might be easier to find a teaching job if I were living in Japan as an American, and obtaining an Affidavit of Competency to Marry is alot easier at the US embassy (basically just filling out a form) than at the Belgian embassy (I can't even remember how many papers you need to hand in to get one at the Belgian embassy).
What I guess might be the problem would be getting the spouse visa. I'm basically just afraid that it would needlessly complicate things, especially since I've never actually lived in the US. For example, do you need a criminal records check for the immigration process? I could get one from the Belgian police in minutes, but I'm guessing it might not be so easy to get one from the FBI, or whatever law enforcement agency would issue such a document.

Really, it doesn't matter to me in which passport I get my visa stamped. The main question for me is, would I have an easier time finding a job as "an American"?

Well, thanks a lot for your input!

[Glenski]

Claiming you are American in order to get a teaching job would be smart if teaching is what you want to do, and if you need a work visa. You won't, though, because you would get a spouse visa, which permits you to work at practically any sort of job. I would suggest that you get the spouse visa ASAP, and then use your American nationality when you apply for teaching jobs. If you have other skills/experience/education, it may not make much of a difference whether you claim to be Belgian or American.

What sort of work are you qualified for? Or are seeking?

[mauron]

Well, yeah, I would be looking for a teaching job. I'm currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Japanese studies, and I have a little experience in teaching/tutoring children, albeit as an unpaid volunteer.
Just out of curiosity, is it worth getting some form of tesol/tefl certification or wouldn't that make a difference when applying for teaching jobs?

What I'd really like to do is work as a translator, but I think it might be best if I did some teaching work first, while improving my Japanese in my spare time (sure you learn a lot in college, but there's nothing like actually living in a country to learn the language... ;p). I'm fluent in English, Dutch and French, so there must be work translating to/from at least one these languages.

[Glenski]

Most entry level teaching jobs don't care whether you have EFL certification. Some are worried that if you do, you might try to change their teaching format with new ideas.

In my opinion, certification is worth it if you are here for more than a short-term, and if you are serious about teaching.

Work as a translator is very competitive, and it doesn't pay that much. What sort of documents do you think you would like to translate? Scientific manuscripts? General office paperwork? Some employers advertise, such as on SWET or in The Japan Tiimes. Have not seen anything about translating Dutch. Mostly English, but sometimes there are notices about French or German companies. It is probably not something you should approach as a freelancer. That means getting some proper training and credentials. Ask SWET.

[GaijinPunch]

you might try to change their teaching format with new ideas.

Yeah, that, or good ideas.

[Tatsuki]

I heard that people who teach can keep dual nationality but if you move, you must have single. I may be wrong ._.

[GaijinPunch]

That's Japanese + another nationality.