Conquering the Visa
One of the best ways to deal with a problem is to learn more about the problem itself. I think many of us lost track of that simple concept somewhere along the way. And we end up wasting so much energy just stressing ourselves over… nothing, lol.
At least that’s how I felt after I went with the Sally Roberts to an immigration information center today in order to learn more about the visa process from the company side.
I’m not sure why, but the internet is flooded with rumors relating to the visa process, and sorely lacking accurate information. And while I need to spend some time to look more closely at the details in depth, here’s the gist of it:
- There’s a couple of informational items that are needed for the process. All which the company will already have, provided they are legit.
- As long as the company is doing at least fairy well and doesn’t look to go out of existence any time soon, then they are eligible to sponsor the visa.
- The total cost comes out to be around 4500yen.
And that’s about it! The company can be big or small, new or old, owned by natives or foreigners… it doesn’t matter. If it’s a legit Japanese company, that’s financially stable, then it passes!
The company has no particular responsibility over having sponsored the foreigner, and so if the person stops working at the company, then that person is on their own. It’s just like hiring a normal employee, almost.
So what’s the big deal? Same big deal as it was for me. No one wants to bother to find out. And lawyers love it, because they charge fees ranging from 100,000 to 200,000yen to take care of visa sponsorship for an individual.
And heck, as the individual being sponsored, you can even take all the required documents to the immigration bureau yourself and cut out a step for the business. It says so right on this document I have that outlines all the required materials for visa sponsorship.
Geez.
I’m going to make something happen!
Categorized as Storyline
Seems we were discovering this at the same time. I just went get my visa renewed a few weeks ago. Picked up the new one on Wednesday. I was a bit surprised when I tried to give immigration “an important document for [my] visa renewal” from my bosses… and immigration just looked at it, tilted their heads from side to side and went, “Huh? We don’t need this.” Then threw it away.
The only real complaint I had was that I asked for a 3 year visa and they only gave me a one year. I didn’t realize it until I got back home to give my boss a copy. She told me with irritation in her voice, “They pretty much choose whichever they want.” She obviously had problems with this in the past.
Congrats, by the way, on your progression toward your dreams! Can’t wait to hear more!
@Chris
Lol Chris, we’ve been had.
Wow with the 3 to 1 years, though. I have heard that apparently, there isn’t much that’s actually written in stone, and so apparently what you get out of the process can simply depend on who you’re working with at the time.
Because apparently, someone decided for you that you didn’t need 3 years.
That makes sense. People are very ignorant and I guess “Immigration” makes us picture a very long and hard process. Did you find a place you want to work at yet? If you did, then it’s smooth sailing from there.
@Hiroaki
Seriously. I guess ignorance can be bliss, but sometimes it’s just plain dumb.
I actually don’t think there’s a place to work that aligns exactly with my dreams, but I think I would like to work for Mark, the guy who owns his custom suit business. I’m gonna talk to him about it.