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bethybeth12:52 UTC10 Dec 2010

Hi there! I've used ThornTree Forum lots of times to find answers to very random questions, but this one seems to have not been answered so I'm really hoping someone can give me up to date advice!

My boyfriend & I are planning to move to Japan in March. He has been given a transfer to Tokyo & I will be a CELTA qualified teacher. I've been looking for jobs & want to try to avoid the large companies like GABA & Westgate because I've not heard good things about them & also because they don't often seem to allow you to choose where you'd like to live (I'm keen to stay in Tokyo with my man!). However, there doesn't seem to be all that many jobs advertised within Tokyo that you can apply for outside Japan which means I would be unable to get a Work Visa until I was in the country. Is it easy to change from a Tourist 90 Day pass to a Work Visa? I spoke to someone at the Japanese Embassy in London who told me this is very difficult to do & advised me to marry my boyfriend (!) to obtain a Dependent Visa which'll (with special dispensation) to work 28 hours a week. He also said it'd be relatively easy to change the Dependent into a Working Visa. While I am not adverse to this, I would prefer to first see if there is another way, & also if this is indeed possible!

I just wondered if anyone had done anything similar & if they had found it very hard to get a job once inside Japan. I have thought about getting a Working Holiday Visa (I'm 28), but we're planning to travel as much as possible around South-East Asia while we're in Tokyo (likely to be 12-18 months at least) & as they are single-entry, non-renewable, this doesn't seem like a viable option...

Thank you so much in advance! (If anyone wants info on Turkmenistan, I'd be glad to help out in exchange!).

everbrite15:54 UTC11 Dec 2010

Two suggestions. One, you might want to ask on forums that specialize in ESL regarding teaching jobs in Tokyo. Try Dave's eslcafe.com.

Two, you might want to ask on the NEAsia branch where there are several ESL teachers based in or around Tokyo about jobs and there are others who might have information about changing your visa.

Ruth

bethybeth12:04 UTC13 Dec 2010

Hi Ruth,

Thanks for the advice! I've posted this on the NE Asia branch now too and will do the same on Dave's ESL Cafe so hopefully this help...

Beth x

Visa Change Advice Japan Interest forums / The Long Haul - Living & Working Abroad
bethybeth12:52 UTC10 Dec 2010	Hi there! I've used ThornTree Forum lots of times to find answers to very random questions, but this one seems to have not been answered so I'm really hoping someone can give me up to date advice! My boyfriend & I are planning to move to Japan in March. He has been given a transfer to Tokyo & I will be a CELTA qualified teacher. I've been looking for jobs & want to try to avoid the large companies like GABA & Westgate because I've not heard good things about them & also because they don't often seem to allow you to choose where you'd like to live (I'm keen to stay in Tokyo with my man!). However, there doesn't seem to be all that many jobs advertised within Tokyo that you can apply for outside Japan which means I would be unable to get a Work Visa until I was in the country. Is it easy to change from a Tourist 90 Day pass to a Work Visa? I spoke to someone at the Japanese Embassy in London who told me this is very difficult to do & advised me to marry my boyfriend (!) to obtain a Dependent Visa which'll (with special dispensation) to work 28 hours a week. He also said it'd be relatively easy to change the Dependent into a Working Visa. While I am not adverse to this, I would prefer to first see if there is another way, & also if this is indeed possible! I just wondered if anyone had done anything similar & if they had found it very hard to get a job once inside Japan. I have thought about getting a Working Holiday Visa (I'm 28), but we're planning to travel as much as possible around South-East Asia while we're in Tokyo (likely to be 12-18 months at least) & as they are single-entry, non-renewable, this doesn't seem like a viable option... Thank you so much in advance! (If anyone wants info on Turkmenistan, I'd be glad to help out in exchange!).
everbrite15:54 UTC11 Dec 2010	Two suggestions. One, you might want to ask on forums that specialize in ESL regarding teaching jobs in Tokyo. Try Dave's eslcafe.com. Two, you might want to ask on the NEAsia branch where there are several ESL teachers based in or around Tokyo about jobs and there are others who might have information about changing your visa. Ruth	1
bethybeth12:04 UTC13 Dec 2010	Hi Ruth, Thanks for the advice! I've posted this on the NE Asia branch now too and will do the same on Dave's ESL Cafe so hopefully this help... Beth x	2

Visa Change Advice Japan