School for junior high and high school students

[1/2gaijinguy]

Here is the situation...I am currently on a tourist visa with my wife and kids but am contemplating staying here if I can get a spouse visa (which I'm told/read shouldn't be that hard). They're all Japanese citizens. I was in the Air Force (technically still am) and my wife and kids stayed here while I was in the States. After this year, my kids won't be able to go to DODDS schools so we were looking at trying to get them in the local Japanese schools. My son is 12 (13 in Oct) and should be entering 8th grade. My daughter is 15 and should be entering 10th grade. My son is still going to be in junior high school so other than being behind since he doesn't speak Japanese fluently, it should't be a problem for him to get into school? My daughter on the other hand, is going to have to apply to a high school since that's how it works in Japan. I've visited numerous websites for schools (public) and the majority have "foreigner" tests which are still in Japanese but with hiragana/katakana as well as kanji. So any way, I guess what I'm asking is...Does anyone have a similar situation or know of someone who did/does? My family and I are really in need of some good information/advice. We've looked into private/international schools but the only ones I've found run about $20K a year (per student) and want the money up front. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

[Glenski]

If you are still in the military, you are not on a tourist visa. No such thing for Americans. Just a waiver. Are you stationed here or what? What does the military say about you getting a spouse visa? Seems unnecessary if you have SOFA. After you are out, consider it. Shouldn't be too hard. Find out how to apply. Should take only 2-4 weeks.

My son is still going to be in junior high school so other than being behind since he doesn't speak Japanese fluently, it should't be a problem for him to get into school?

Depends on the school. Where do you plan to live? Public school or private school or international school? How weak is his Japanese?

 

[1/2gaijinguy]

You're right about the SOFA status. I'm not stationed here, just on leave from the States...complicated. The military hasn't said anything because I haven't (and won't) ask them their opinion on the matter. The reason I need the spouse visa is so I can get residence status in order to get certain jobs here in Japan. If all goes well, I should be "out" by December/January. I just want to get the process started so I can have the visa in hand if and when I decide to stay here permanently. I heard it takes a little longer than 2-4 weeks...usually around 6-8 is what I was told and what I believe I read on a Japanese immigration related site. The "good" thing is that as long as my application is in work, I can "overstay" my visa (if not on SOFA status).

I plan on living in the Zama area. With private and international schools being so expensive, I'm pretty much left with public school for the kids. Unfortunately, the son and daughter's Japanese is fairly weak. They understand much more than they speak and have been taking classes in Japanese for a year or so but you know how that goes when the student doesn't really apply it on a daily basis.

 

[Glenski]

You're right about the SOFA status. I'm not stationed here, just on leave from the States...complicated. The military hasn't said anything because I haven't (and won't) ask them their opinion on the matter.

Well, you probably aren't going to get the full advice you need without asking them. Why are you shy? At the very least, as long as you are here and have a Japanese spouse, have your wife phone immigration or visit with you in person and inquire. Get your answers from the horse's mouth as much as possible, keeping in mind that a lot of their advice is guidelines (could be a case by case situation), not hard and fast rules sometimes.

The reason I need the spouse visa is so I can get residence status in order to get certain jobs here in Japan.

I take it you don't have a bachelor's degree or the minimum number of years' experience to get a regular work visa? What sort of jobs do you want?

If all goes well, I should be "out" by December/January. I just want to get the process started so I can have the visa in hand if and when I decide to stay here permanently. I heard it takes a little longer than 2-4 weeks...usually around 6-8 is what I was told and what I believe I read on a Japanese immigration related site.

Doesn't really matter. Once your application is in, you can stay until the decision is made to grant you the visa or not.

I plan on living in the Zama area. With private and international schools being so expensive, I'm pretty much left with public school for the kids. Unfortunately, the son and daughter's Japanese is fairly weak. They understand much more than they speak and have been taking classes in Japanese for a year or so but you know how that goes when the student doesn't really apply it on a daily basis.

I don't know Zama, but your kids are going to have a tough time getting through the day without knowing what the teacher or their classmates are saying, and without knowing what is written on paper (and trust me, there is a LOT of paper doled out daily!). Again, if Zama is your destination, why not pay a visit to city hall or a few schools as long as you are here and see what they require? Make the most of your "recon mission".

 

[1/2gaijinguy]

We already plan on going to the local office and getting information/application. I don't want the military involved because they probably won't know much plus, every time I deal with them, my family and I get screwed. Trust me, if you knew my situation, you'd do the same.

I don't have a bachelor's but I do have an AA plus a wide variety of experience working jobs other than my military one. As a matter of fact, I used to teach English at a school here in Japan. I also speak sukoshi nihongo so that helps. Basically, I'll probably try teaching English first and then see what else is available.

I already knew about the overstay of the visa since I looked that up on some website. I don't think I'll have any problems getting it since my family are all Japanese citizens, my wife and her family will provide letters of support (I guess the ones that say they'll be responsible for me while I'm here?), and I've lived in Japan off and on for quite a few years.

My kids actually speak and understand fair Japanese and I'm sure will pick up more quickly when exposed to it daily. If we make the final decision (as a family) to stay here, we'll definitely check out the local schools and see which ones will provide the most support. I've also had a local youth (friend of my kids) check on some schools and he's recommended a school or two.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I really appreciate any help/advice I can get from everyone out there.

 

[Glenski]

It's your decision to cut the military out of your thought-making processes, but I would imagine they have experience in people doing what you want to do. Have you asked at the consulate/embassy?

Speaking "sukoshi nihongo" and having an AA degree will not be enough to get a work visa. Minimum requirement is a bachelor's degree or equivalent, or a certain number of years experience in the field for which the visa is designed. Three years for teachers, 5-10 years for most other jobs. What do you want to do? I can understand why you want the spouse visa, but don't think that it is a "gold card" to grant you anything more than an interview at any job. Any job, mind you, compared to work visas which are particular to certain fields. With the SV, your foot would be in the door, but it is still up to you to convince the employer you are a match. Teachers are in excess here at the moment, in case you hadn't heard.