Changing WHV to Work Visa while in the country?

[sbring]

Hi everybody! I'm planning on coming to Japan to work in the next year. I plan on coming on a WHV, and finding a job while in the country. I plan on staying for around 3 years, so i'd eventually have to change visas. I DON'T have a university degree (Pending), BUT i do have over 3 years of full time teaching experience from an international school in Vietnam.

I've heard that many employers favor the WHV, as they wouldn't have to go through the process of obtaining a Work Visa for the teacher. Would I be at an advantage coming to japan on this visa, or should i consider trying to get a work visa right away? Are there any advantages to having either visa?

Also, if i were to come to Tokyo, how much money do YOU THINK i should bring? I realize it's quite expensive! I'd like to find an apartment (small)

Finally, has the situation with gotten any better after the fall of Nova?

Any advice would be excellent!

Thanks

[Glenski]

If you come on a WHV, you can start work right away, and you wouldn't need to ask the employer to sponsor your visa. Some employers like it that way. The process is pretty simple, but they sometimes balk at having to be responsible for your actions as a sponsor. It costs them nothing, so it's not money out of their pockets.

You can't just "get a work visa right away". You need the job first and an employer willing to sponsor you for the visa. Your 3 years of teaching experience may be enough to bypass the requirement for the degree.

Just how "pending" is your degree, anyway? Even if you can get the work visa without the degree, future employment may actually depend on having it. Some employers are picky that way. They like to put their teachers' names and qualifications in the brochures to attract customers. You may also simply face competition from people who have those degrees, and with the flooded market nowadays, any advantage counts.

Advantage to WHV or regular visa? WHV doesn't require a sponsor, and there is no waiting time for the employer or you to get the work visa. However, the WHV is good only for 12 months once in your life, and you will have to pay 20% taxes with it. Work visas can be renewed practically indefinitely, and their only down sides are that you need employers to sponsor you, you have to go to immigration twice to get it renewed (once to apply, once to pick it up), and your line of work is restricted to the particular type of work visa you have.

After working one year on a work visa, you can bypass the requirement for a single sponsor by showing proof that several PT sponsors will provide you with sufficient income (amount undefined by immigration) and effectively "self-sponsor" yourself (although this term is not used in immigration offices. In effect, you keep the same work visa, but have only your initiative to get PT work as your sponsor.

It is too early to say whether things have gotten better after NOVA's fall. G-COM has already reneged on taking back many NOVA employees.

Come to Tokyo and I would suggest bringing the equivalent of US$4000 to tide you over for 3 months. Finding an apartment by yourself without a job in hand will be very difficult, as you need an employer to serve as your guarantor in most cases. There is a group of foreigners (name eludes me) making some headway on this issue, but it's still nothing I would count on. Go with a place like LeoPalace21 (furnished apartment with Internet set up, no guarantor needed) if you like, but you will have to pay them all of your rent up front, whether you stay for a month or a year. Guest houses will be cheaper because you don't pay utilities, but it's boarding house life.

[Kirirao]

If you can speak some Japanese and have some extra money, you get one of those "guarantor company" to be your guarantor. Thats how I got my apartment.

I'm guessing at least all Fudousan have those list of guarantor company handy, you just need to ask them to help you apply for them. In my case they cost me 1/2 of my rent for a 2 year contract, and the applying procedure was painless and fast, when It's done you'll have an unknown Japanese as your guarantor.

[sbring]

thanks for the speedy and informative responses! That's pretty much all i need to know (and then some), but i have just a couple of other things i'd like to share/clear up.

How pending? Let's just say it's "pretty pending" ;) I'm chipping away at online school (open uni in Canada), but am doing so rather slowly (even by "chipping standards", as i teach a lot and don't really have the time to accomplish much else)

Just so i know, I COULD (if i chose) come on a WHV and eventually "update" to a WV? I don't see why not, but i just want to make sure that i could do all this in japan if needed. This is all assuming i can GET a WV ;) Has anyone here obtained one without having a degree? The process sounds a bit random to me, as i know someone who managed to get a work visa on simply a GAS diploma from college (I believe it was 2 years)

Not having a degree is a bit of a concern from my end. Is there evidence that a degree would be 100% unquestionably REQUIRED in the future (without resorting to working illegally....which isn't really my bag) I do realize that i'd have to compete with a lot of people....i have a feeling that my TESOL from Oxford Seminars wouldn't give me much of an advantage? Do japanese see actual experience as being a big selling point? I'd probably have 4 years by the time i came over.

Oh yeah i forgot to ask. I'm currently in Vietnam. Would i have to return to my home country (canada), in order to get the WHV?

That's interesting that you can just "hire" a guarantor like that. I'll have to look into that further!

I didn't realize that i'd have to pay a 20% tax rate on a WHV. How does this compare to what i'd be paying for taxes with a WV?

I'm actually a bit surpised that i'd 'only' need around 4000US for 3 months! Is this assuming that i have at least some part time work already?

Thanks again!

[Kirirao]

Has anyone here obtained one without having a degree? The process sounds a bit random to me, as i know someone who managed to get a work visa on simply a GAS diploma from college (I believe it was 2 years)


I have no idea what the heck GAS means (would love to know tho), but yes, its 100% possible to get a WV from 2/3 years college diploma, and yes I guess I can confidently say I can name 3 people who got a WV with only a 2 years college degree without a prior 4/3-years university degree. Unfortunately I only know one way of getting a WV with a 2 year college diploma tho. That one way is to get the diploma from a 2 year college here in Japan.

Outside of that "one way", I can honestly say I have no freaking idea, cept for getting a 4-years degree (or 3-years degree, seems some place have a 3-years bachelor degree). Since if its not a 4/3-year degree, its really an uphill battle with the immigration which you will most likely lose to the reason such as "your college is not recognized by the monbukasho" etc.

Thats all I can give you from my own knowledge and experience.


The process sounds a bit random to me, as i know someone who managed to get a work visa on simply a GAS diploma from college (I believe it was 2 years)


If you know someone got a WV with a 2-years non-japanese college degree without working experience, that is out of my experience, so I can't answer on how or why he got it. If you know him, do ask for details, i'd love to know too.

[Annubis]

the Immigration Bureau of Japan
03-5796-7112
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/index.html


the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo
http://www.canadanet.or.jp/english.shtml

Also the official website for the government of Canada has info...

also check out my blog maxineinjapan.blogspot.com ... the early posts describe my arrival here... hehe. You will ned lotsa cash! Food and boaro is pricy when you first establish yourself. I got a job within a month for a private school, but it was quick because I had a degree and a WHV. My boss will sponsor my WV. I know that taxes are also a killer... I mean in the end... and you gotta pay attention to your working hours. There are companies like Eigopass and Mysensei which help you find students right away... these are only a few of many. And then there are cervices to help you find apartments... gaijinpot and Kimiinfo.. are a few. You gotta really do lotsa research. Good luck... if you have a good head on your shoulders and you believe you can do it... then there is nothing stoping you!!! GAMBATE!!

[sbring]

haha maybe it's a Canadian thing, but just so you know "GAS" stands for "General Arts and Science" (it's basically a high school equivalent). I can appreciate your curiousity.

"If you know someone got a WV with a 2-years non-japanese college degree without working experience, do ask him how, I'd love to know too."

Hmmm it's possible that he had some experience, though it wouldn't have been much. He's a friend of my brothers (who's working in Japan as well). I didn't get all the details, just that "he got by with what he had." Sorry i don't have any more details. I'll ask my brother when i talk to him next.

Well besides the common approach to getting a WV (4 year BA), I've read from reliable (and official sources), that i can get a WV with "3 or more years of verifiable, full-time teaching experience". So i SHOULD be able to get one (I'd hope!)

In MY MIND, having over 3 years of experience, a TESOL certificate (and a "Teacher of the Year" award ;) ) should logically bypass the "standard" degree (sorry for all the quotes " " btw ;) ) Maybe i'm getting off topic though.

I'm more curious on the relevance of me obtaining a WV, but not having a degree, and the difficulty i'd face finding a DECENT job.

I'd still love to hear a success story with the work visa process (from someone in my shoes)