Okay here is tha plan

[hobbs1]

Okay so here is the deal. As some of you know I work in a large Brokerage firm in the US, and have for about a year or so. I have basic to intermediate Japanese language skills. I have tried extremely hard to get a job in Japan working in Back Office Middle Office or Settlements. Well as everyone knows, who is going to take a person from the US to Japan when the company does not want to see someone they invested in leave because they don’t like Japan in a few months time. Well I have a plan that I think will work but needs some advise. However, there is one small problem. I do technically have a degree but I officially do not. In short I need two more Japanese classes to finish out my degree completely. The problem arose in college when they took away the Japanese language course in my freshmen year, one of the only reasons I wanted to go to that school. Someone is bound to say “why don’t you just finish the two courses then look at going to Japan.” Well in regards to that there is nowhere, where Japanese is taught except in the local Sushi bar, and the cooks are Spanish. Now my wife has all her credentials and has taught a little bit of middle school in the US and wants to teach in Japan. What are some thoughts on companies seeing my degree and that I only need two courses to complete it. Will the completely dis-regard me? When should I tell a potential job about my degree? Would it work for my wife to go over on a teaching visa and then me go over on a spousal visa and then apply for jobs? If so what teaching schools allow married couples to live together in a school sponsored apartment? Sorry a lot of questions I know, but any advise will help.

[Glenski]

Well as everyone knows, who is going to take a person from the US to Japan when the company does not want to see someone they invested in leave because they don’t like Japan in a few months time.So, you have already resigned yourself to thinking that things can't be done? Bad attitude.


I do technically have a degree but I officially do not. In short I need two more Japanese classes to finish out my degree completely.Don't be wishy-washy about it and say you technically have the degree. Technically and officially you don't.

If you need only a couple of credits to graduate, get them. They don't have to be in Japanese language courses, do they? Perhaps another liberal arts course will substitute. It's worth a look.


Now my wife has all her credentials and has taught a little bit of middle school in the US and wants to teach in Japan.Fine, good for her. She can even try getting a job in an international school with such credentials. This has little bearing on you. Not zero, as I will explain later.


What are some thoughts on companies seeing my degree and that I only need two courses to complete it. Will the completely dis-regard me?This is irrelevant. You cannot get a work visa without the degree, unless you can show a minimum number of years experience. Look at the MOFA site and check out how many are needed for your line of work.


Would it work for my wife to go over on a teaching visa and then me go over on a spousal visa and then apply for jobs?Here's what I wanted to tell you earlier. If she gets a job and work visa, you can apply for a dependent visa (spousal visas are for spouses of Japanese citizens), and with special permission you can work part-time.


If so what teaching schools allow married couples to live together in a school sponsored apartment?
"Teaching schools" (companies and real schools) vary in their allowances for this. Most cater to single people. Plus, you don't HAVE to take their housing, but you are likely to pay through the nose to set up a place on your own, between key money deposits and furnishings.

[hobbs1]

Ya. I believe that the only and best way to get to Japan is to try any and everyway to finish out my degree and then go teach for a year or two with my wife. Then look for a job in the Finance world. Its funny that when you want something for so long and bad enough the things you will do and sacrifice to get it. Thanks for you help.

[Name Deleted]

Ya. I believe that the only and best way to get to Japan is to try any and everyway to finish out my degree and then go teach for a year or two with my wife. Then look for a job in the Finance world. Its funny that when you want something for so long and bad enough the things you will do and sacrifice to get it. Thanks for you help.


Immigration wont even start on the paperwork for your visa until you have graduated and show a copy of your degree certificate. plenty of people drop out with one or two credits to go, it doesnt mean they have a degree. You have a degree when you put on the gown and cape and shake the deans hand, and not before.

Dont count your chickens, graduate first and then worry about how you can get over here. You arent officially anything yet except a college student.

[dumaiss]

Immigration wont even start on the paperwork for your visa until you have graduated and show a copy of your degree certificate.

As many people have said here, Japanese immigration is the ultimate case-by-case bureaucracy. Some people have been a "victim" of this, but, personnally, it has been a blessing. It would be easier to get a visa for Japan then it would be to get one from France since the rules are more clear cut in France.

I don't have a degree, and Japanese immigration won't accept to count my years of experience when I wasn working freelance (which was expected). However, a company in Japan took too long to contact me for an offer and they told me why: they had to talk to their immigration lawyer.

I had found out the same thing that they told me talking to people at the consulate. Basically, what I was told is that the ministry rules are really "guidelines" and if a large enough company is willing to "go to the bat" and talk your case, then it can work. Basically, what they told me is that they want to "protect" the poor gaijin there from unemployment (yeah sure...) by limiting the number of new arrivals in fields where there is already many foreigners.

What I was told twice, is that if the company who is willing to hire you shows efforts to hire Japanese nationals, is big enough to "guarantee" you a job and a good salary and the candidate is "close" to fulfilling the requirements (in my case, the GoJ would be willing to recognize 8 solid year of experience out of 10 necessary); basically making sure to not require help from Hello Work and not "stealing" work from Japanese and contributing taxes for some years to come, then you should be fine.

When I told the people at the consulate about the strict requirements for those who teach English, the answer I got is that there are many already...... that is why they are more strict.

But, basically, strictly speaking, I don't fulfill the requirements, but I had found (too late) a company willing to go to the bat to hire me and the probability that I will make a positive contribution to society is high (in taxes and knowledge).... thus, I was told that the possibility of rejection exists, but is rather low.


So.... case by case..... If you don't fulfill the requirements, it's still possible, but you need a little bit of luck and a solid resume.

[MadeInJapan]

If you have up to 10 years of work experience.

[Mucky]

What kind of ice cream does everyone like?

[Mooky]

What kind of ice cream does everyone like?
Vanilla....

[KYLE=GARY.FINCH]

Vanilla....
Hey Mandrake, I mean Koyom, I mean Mooky--got any pictures of a Japanese salaryman similarly adorned?