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How can a Canadian on a working holiday visa in Japan get a work visa to stay longer?

  • Always desiring to experience living in Japan, I moved in the country from Canada almost a year ago on a working holiday visa, which will expire next month. My life here is stable so far, including a job at a company willing to sponsor me for a work visa. I want to live in Japan for a longer period, but the problem is I don't seem to meet the requirements for a visa. I am aware that getting married is the easiest way, but unfortunately, I do not have that possibility.Is there anything I can do to stay and work in Japan longer? I posted a few times here before with questions about Japan. For those who don't recall (probably everyone), here is my story (or you can review my profile): Many years ago, back home in Canada, I somehow drifted into the Japanese culture. It started by meeting random people from Japan online, then learning the language, getting to know the culture, and finally getting acquainted with Japanese people in person. Unbeknownst to me, Japan gradually became a part of my daily life, which I cherish today. Before moving in Japan, I got involved in the Japanese-Canadian community, practiced the language daily, and met a Japanese girlfriend. She had a permanent resident visa and lived in Canada for a number of years studying. After graduating, she wanted to remain in Canada, but despite her efforts, she couldn't get a job and decided to move back in Japan. Since I was hoping for a chance to live in Japan for so long, I thought that was my opportunity. Speaking Japanese and dealing with the culture within the small local Japanese-Canadian community became a routine, so moving in Japan seemed to be the next natural step. I was planning to go by myself someday on a working holiday visa anyway, so the timing was just right. After the initial struggles, many months later, I'm now enjoying my life here. I lost my girlfriend (that seems to be the path of most foreigners here), but I am happy nevertheless. I even have a job in Web development and design at a great start-up company, with an atmosphere reminiscent to the mix of Canadian and Japanese I dealt with back home. The sad part is my new life here may be cut short because of one thing: a visa. Frankly, I do not want to go back to Canada ― at least not now ― but I may have no choice. I spoke with two immigration lawyers from different firms my company hired. But with my lack of legal vocabulary in Japanese and their lack of English, I feel there still might be some stones unturned, which is why I'm asking for your advice today. A one-year college certificate in a “Webmaster” programme ― a term used back then for a mix of Web development, Web design, and server administration ― and several years of experience are under my belt. The earliest project I worked on for a client was for a government programme back in 1998. But since this project predates my college time in 2000, the immigration office will most likely not consider it. They are not considering my experience during my working holiday, thus truncating my experience down to 8 or 9 years. I've heard numerous times that the “easiest thing to do” is to get married, which is most likely not an option for me right now. If I marry someone I've just met a month ago, the immigration office will most likely reject my application for a spouse visa during their verification. Frankly, I'm not comfortable marrying someone just to get a visa. The only alternative for me to stay and work here would be to get a work visa. There are two kinds of visas that were suggested by the lawyers I spoke with: The first one is the engineer visa. In Japan, a Web developer is considered to be an engineer (even if I don't). For this, a 2-year degree or 10 years of experience are required. The second one is the “Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa”. It is used by teachers and designers. Only 3 years of experience are required (or a 2-year degree, I think). But the lawyer doesn't know if a Web ‘designer’ can get such a visa. Finally, if I do have to leave Japan and return to Canada, would it be best to get an extra year of experience or bite the bullet and go get a 2-year degree? I'm looking forward to read all your comments. Thanks in advance for your help and support!

  • Answer:

    I know where you are coming from - I recall myself back in the 90s finishing one working holiday stint, returning briefly to Canada, applying at the consulate in Vancouver for a second working holiday and then returning to Japan. I'm not sure if this works any more. The second one is the “Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa”. It is used by teachers and designers. Only 3 years of experience are required (or a 2-year degree, I think). But the lawyer doesn't know if a Web ‘designer’ can get such a visa. This seems like your best bet, and the only way you can find out is by applying. I'm curious why your company is not providing more support, although they probably realized that with your Working Holiday visa you would only be there for a short period of time. Applying for a visa is not too difficult and generally does not require a lawyer. Just go to the immigration office, get the paperwork, fill it out, and hope for the best. By the way, suggestions about teaching or doing JET are not realistic, because all of these require 4-year degrees. I also spent time in Japan on a tourist visa, and I while I didn't work, I was taking correspondence courses to get a second Bachelor's degree. If you can fund yourself to do this, why not try it? However, in the grand scheme of things it's not the end of the world if you have to return to Canada to finish up your education. The labour market in Japan (and in Canada) is going to get increasingly "kibishii", so having basic credentials will provide you with at least some security. Japan will be waiting for you. Trust me - when I left with my family in 2004 I didn't think I would ever make it back, but I did. And don't get married just so you can get a visa.

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Your company is definitely who you should talk to first. If there is a way to help you stay there, they'll help you find it. If you have trouble at all communicating with lawyers about visas, pick up a copy of any foreigner targeted publication, like, say, Metropolis. They usually have a couple ads for bilingual immigration lawyers, if you need to go that route. As for getting a different visa, you really need to know the ins and outs for the different types of visas. For example, getting a student visa prohibits you from working full-time (no more than 20 hours a week, I believe). The specialist in humanities visa (the standard eikaiwa teacher visa) allows you to do all manner of teaching, and is usually good for three years, but would require you to enter into an industry that's barely hiring, and pays pretty poorly. You'd need to stay long enough to get your visa, and with rules becoming stricter, it's possible that if you grab the visa and run, the company can call immigration and notify them that you're no longer working there. If you change jobs, you're required to notify immigration, even if you don't change your visa. If your new job doesn't match your visa, you'll have to get a new visa, and from what you're saying, that's the whole point anyway. tl;dr Talk to your company. Find an immigration lawyer that specializes in working with English speakers.

Ghidorah

i know nothing of japanese law - but, if you need a 2 year degree, can you get a student visa for japan, get hte degree, and then get an engineer visa?

nadawi

I'm thinking that the lawyer your company consulted isn't really willing to think out side of the box on this one, which is common. I know there's a lawyer with offices near Shin-Osaka station that has helped a friend of mine, but I can't remember the name. Besides that try contacting the General Union (or the branch that administers the area in which you live) who might be able to steer you towards a better lawyer. I have friends who have lived and taught here for years with only a high school degree. It's possible to get a visa if you show that you will be making enough money to pay for your living expenses it seems. If you have to go back to Canada, you'll just have to bit the bullet and get the equivalent of a 4-year degree. I got a friend in Quebec who is studying hard just so he can come back.

sleepytako

It seems like your company is the one to talk to about this. They should be better informed about the possibilities, and probably just as motivated as you are to solve the problem.

Chocolate Pickle

There are all sorts of web sites about teaching English in Japan. A good friend of mine has been there for the last 3 or 4 years now, she's moved from one program to another, and there are definite advantages between being in the city vs the inaka and which program. She wasn't pleased with her initial housing while other people she knew in the program had great places to live. I believe most of them require that you go through their training program, so it's not as simple as walking in and starting to teach. Some of them have specific methodologies. I had always wanted to do something like that, which is why I am so up on the details despite it being something I will now never do.

micawber

Would your employer keep employing you if you were based outside Japan but making frequent business trips back? If you did this for a year, would Japanese immigration consider this as qualifying work experience? If the answer to these questions is yes, would you consider traveling around that part of the world (staying wherever's cheap with reliable WiFi) for 12-18 months with frequent trips back inside until your qualifications and visa are squared away to resume full time onsite work? You'd really want to nail things down with a fluent immigration attorney since immigration authorities all over have a habit of changing their rules and requirements without much warning. Nadawi's suggestion is possibly best. I know nothing of Japanese education (or immigration, or anything) but is there a chance someone at your company knows someone at an educational institution there with whom you could talk to about entering an advanced degree program (for which you are qualified for by real-world-experience, not previous degree qualifications) tailored to your needs (learning skills/developing projects for the job you have) instead of doing a perfunctory 2-year course walking through stuff you already know?

K.P.

I would also add that if you can get work doing anything but teaching English in Japan, such as web development, you are already ahead of the pack. English teaching is just not viable in Japan any more.

KokuRyu

Application of Japanese laws is often capricious. Bureaucrats have a lot of latitude to grant or not grant things like visas. If you are on the edge in terms of years of experience, go ahead and apply for the visa, go to the immigration office, wear a suit, smile a lot, tell them how much you love Japan, and you might get the visa. Are you a tall white guy? There's +10 points in your favor automatically. Unfair but true.

zachawry

A temporary option would be to teach English at one of those English Language schools, or perhaps the JET program. I would do some internet research to find one that is reputable(some of them are pretty shady) but I imagine if you just walk in and demonstrate your language knowledge you could get a job.

satori_movement

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