Certificate of Eligibility Drama

Hi,

I a bit concerned, I'm due to move to Japan with a major ALT company on the 19th of October and have flights booked on their advice, it's now the 7th, they applied for my Certificate of Eligibility on the 4th and according to their advice it should have come through by now but it hasn't. At no point was I lead to believe that this might be an issue, and although I doubt very much whether it's the company's fault (probably just immigration being slow), I'm still very, very worried because I've seen on the net that some people actually get turned down.

The problem is that I seem to be running out of time; I'm assuming it will take about three days to courier it from Tokyo to the UK? And I notice it three days to process the visa itself during which time will presumably need to retain my passport during such a period?

I'm slightly concerned that there might not be enough time to process the visa before I depart from the UK. This worries me somewhat because it seems possible (even probable) that I will either not have my Certificate of Eligibility before I go (I've heard in some cases in can take 3 months), or I will but the Japanese Embassy will still be in possession of my passport on the date I'm due to fly out - which would makes it inadvisable to attempt to process it before my departure?

Being a UK citizin I understand that I can visit Japan without a Visa
at all, but I'm not sure whether it's possible to acquire a Working
Visa whilst actually present in Japan?

Is there a chance my Certificate might get turned down? Has anyone been in this position? I'm worried that I stand to lose a substantial amount of money on flights, needless TB chest X-Rays and face amongst my friends who have organised a big leaving do. Please advise!

You can probably come here (passport in hand, of course) and get the COE from your employer (Intera....?), then trot down to immigration and finalize the process.

People get work visas in Japan all the time (and don't have to leave the country).

Your employer has definitely cut things close, and at the moment there is darned little you or he can do to hasten the process. If they contact immigration, they can explain any urgency, but that's it. Immigration will do things in its own sweet time, so you are not the only person to worry about this. I'm sure if the employer (Intera......? or someone else?) needs you for a certain start date, they are equally on edge. Let it happen. Be more concerned about doing whatever job they have planned for you.

Is there a chance you could be denied? Of course! But nobody has stats on how often this happens, so don't worry about it. If you are qualified to meet visa regulations, that's all you can do.

Well the company phoned me this morning and have asked me to re-arrange my flight for the 3rd of November, another 2 weeks... A bit gutted to be honest, was really looking forward to it.

What are you so "gutted" about? They didn't turn you down for the job.

I'd just rather be out there doing the job than stuck here treading water wondering what to do in the between now and then...

Have the laws changed? I thought going from tourist to work required you to leave the country.

He can still go to a neighbouring country such as Korea and re-enter =)

MikeBurke10 said:

I'd just rather be out there doing the job than stuck here treading water wondering what to do in the between now and then...

Click to expand...

1. Study for the work you will be experiencing.

2. Study Japanese.

If you're wondering what to do now, with all the home country amenities afforded to you, what are you going to do between classes here? If you're like a JET ALT, you waste so much time surfing the Net, posting inane stuff on BigDaikon.com, and complaining about it.

GaijinPunch said:

Have the laws changed? I thought going from tourist to work required you to leave the country.

Click to expand...

Not any more. Things changed about 3-5 years ago.

Glenski said:

1. Study for the work you will be experiencing.
2. Study Japanese.
If you're wondering what to do now, with all the home country amenities afforded to you, what are you going to do between classes here? If you're like a JET ALT, you waste so much time surfing the Net, posting inane stuff on BigDaikon.com, and complaining about it.
Not any more. Things changed about 3-5 years ago.

Click to expand...

Hahahaha, doing the above and have also searched the internet to death, still not pulled up BigDaikon.com though, will have a look now! I guess I'm just worried that the certificate of eligibility will be denied, although my company assures me that this will not be the case and they've got lots of experience in this sort of thing!

Oh and by the way, this is my first thread on any forum regarding any Japanese matters at all...

Anyway, the company is now expecting that I should get my C of E through this week....

Fingers crossed!

Okay got my visa through this morning, am over the moon! Had this horrible feeling it was going to get declined!

I mean certificate of eligibility...