Japanese Immagration help

[rpgherogaz]

Just need some kinda of insight and help folks!

After i finish my I.T degree (in 3 years time) i plan on going over to Japan.

In the mean time i am teaching myself Japanese, by then i hope to have some level of understanding, so being there will improve my ability even more!

From my own research it seems nearly impossible to make this happen!

I want to be able to stay for around 6 months. And if all goes well, the chance to stay longer.

Some people have said the JET program is a good way to get into the country legally, the program is all about English-Japanese relations.

I would really love a home stay arrangement though. The prices seem to be around 800 pounds a month!!! How can one afford that when they can not work? Or can you work on a home stay arrangement? Only part time? Not at all?

Others say you have to be a student to get a good chance at home stay (though i doubt this)

Visa's are also confusing, can anyone themselves or know of someone i can email and talk to about how visa's work and which to get?

I want to be able to work in Japan (hopefully making use of my IT degree) stay there for around 6/12 months (hopefully with a host family to gain a better experiance)

Can anyone help?

Doumo arigatou gozaimasu!
Garesu.

[untmdsprt]

Have you checked into getting a working holiday visa? From what I've heard is non-Americans can get this once in their life, and stay for a year. The visa I came over on is an instructor visa, and allows me to work in the regular schools here. One requirement for this is you have to have a 4-year degree in any field. Unfortunately, most of the jobs that use this visa is English teaching ones.

Can you start sending your resume to different places that would hire you based on your degree? You could try the Japan Times or other Japanese online newspapers in their job hunting section. Be prepared though, you may have to prove your level of Japanese before they'll hire you.

[rpgherogaz]

I am planning on getting the WHV and moving with my partner to Japan.

I really want to live in the Kamakura a\rea, but i can not find any guest houses for that area to begin with.

Seems we will have to live in Tokyo for a bit until we get the work visa sorted, then find an appartment in Kamakura along with a job there

Does that seem legit?

[untmdsprt]

Make sure you find a job that provides an apartment, or at least will help you find one. Most landlords will not rent to foreigners. My Japanese boyfriend found this out when he was trying to find an apartment for us to share. They'll rent to him but not to me. Might have been a different story if we were married, but I doubt it. We finally found a nice apartment, and the landlord only cared about my visa. I provided all paperwork concerning it, and it seemed to satisfy him to where he'd rent to the both of us.

A word of caution though, make sure you get an apartment within a 10 min walk of the nearest station. You'll be glad you did if you're late and have to run to catch the train. Also, check out the surroundings, and see where the closest supermarket is. Life without a car is tough if you're not used to it.

[rpgherogaz]

aa thank you! Sakura House seems a great place to go for guest houses!

One more thing JPO101!

i hear that some UK natives are having problems upgrading a Working holiday visa, to a full visa...you have to leave for Korea to get it processed!

Is this still true? or 3 year old posts getting reused?

Thanks!

[mieth]

if you non american you can of course get a working holiday visa.

if you are american and only looking to do six months just stay for 3 and fly to korea for 3 days and come back in on a second tourist visa. you should have zero problem. I did it twice without a flinch from the immigration officer. But of course on this visa you cant work for money.
what I did is when I first came I stayed at a place called rays english club. TO be honest the place is not superfantastic but much better than a guest house and you have you own place for free in exchange for teaching 12 hours a week. Anyway that is how I got in the door. With no rent or utilities you can get your foot in the door. anyway good luck.

[rpgherogaz]

Thank you for the info!

Really thankful for it everyone!

Working holiday visa first, find a job and get a full work visa, hope immagration dont tel me to leave Japan first (apparently this was stopped about 3 years ago now) and WALA

Gosh i hope it goes go that smoothly!