Dreaming Japan

[alf5523]

Ever since I can remember I have dreamed to be in Japan, live there, work, study, and even start a family and every time I can, I spend hours learning about this mysteries and amazing country.

I would like to take your time, and ask a few questions, please.

I'm originally from South America (Venezuela), but currently living in USA.

What do I do to go to Japan, and work there? in the same content, I'm fluent in Spanish and English, what would be my options here (hardly know Japanese yet I'm working on it currently).

If the latest question could be answer, how much should I shoot for as far as salary? (I know a lot of people have talked about the average salary here and there, but the truth is how much I need to leave in Japan. I'm not looking to be in the best place, something average for a single guy to live comfortable, be able to go to school (to learn Japanese), and have access to the regular services (water, electricity, gas, etc)).

If the latest was answer, where would be my best bet to go? I always had in mind Kyoto , but in reality i want something between traditional and somewhat modern).

How is the naturalization system in Japan? How does it work, is it possible to go there work and study preferable in a legal manner?

 

[Mike Cash]

First question to be asked and answered is that of visa eligibility. If you're not eligible, then the answers to all the others are sort of moot.

 

[alf5523]

First question to be asked and answered is that of visa eligibility. If you're not eligible, then the answers to all the others are sort of moot.

True to that, I'm working on getting everything I need to get there legaly. Be side I love the things I ve learn about Japan and I would find it personally offencive if I don't go there with the correct paper work to stay...

 

[hideway]

Did you tried some long term vacations just to check the country before deciding to move?

If you haven't already, it could help you decide if you really want to move there.

 

[alf5523]

Did you tried some long term vacations just to check the country before deciding to move?

If you haven't already, it could help you decide if you really want to move there.

yes before moving I will go on a vacation. Yet there is something you can't do on vacation time, and that is experiencing day to day living. When I moved to USA, I started by coming on vacation, everything was fine, cool and dandy if you know what I mean, but the reality is that after living here all changes to work, work and more work (nothing wrong with that, but if I'm going to spend my time doing so I want to do it in a place that I enjoy <<new to me>>).
Beside I would need to go there to find an apartment, and get to know where I would be going and so on, but the reality is that I am so crazy to go there that it wouldn't even matter if I go straight there without visiting first .

Speaking of moving, is $25000.00 currently enough to live there for about 6months?

 

[Glenski]

What is your nationality? Venezuela or American?
What sort of work do you feel you are qualified for?
What is your educational background?

Answer these before any other questions are even attempted. Mike Cash was too brief in his request for info on visa eligibility.

Yes, US$25,000 will be enough for basic necessities (assuming the following:
80,000 yen/month rent with 4x that for "key money" deposit,
20,000 yen/month utilities
25,000 yen/month local transportation
5000 yen/month phone bill (with Internet) plus 10,000 setup charge
30,000 yen/month for groceries)

It does not take into account whether you can actually stay here that long. The visa status will determine that.

Why are you interested in naturalization? What is your purpose for becoming a Japanese citizen?

 

[alf5523]

What is your nationality? Venezuela or American?
What sort of work do you feel you are qualified for?
What is your educational background?
Answer these before any other questions are even attempted. Mike Cash was too brief in his request for info on visa eligibility.
Yes, US$25,000 will be enough for basic necessities (assuming the following:
80,000 yen/month rent with 4x that for "key money" deposit,
20,000 yen/month utilities
25,000 yen/month local transportation
5000 yen/month phone bill (with Internet) plus 10,000 setup charge
30,000 yen/month for groceries)
It does not take into account whether you can actually stay here that long. The visa status will determine that.
Why are you interested in naturalization? What is your purpose for becoming a Japanese citizen?

Thanks so much about the Info, thats what i was thinking I was counting on 6 month without a work, yet if i ever go there I would make sure to get there with a job and ready to go. The money I'm planning on taking is a just in case kind of thing, if by any chance things don't work out the way I wish them to.

I'm a System Engineer in Venezuela; my Background is Hardware, with a minor in Spanish. I'm a citizen from Venezuela, but a resident in USA. I feel qualify to be a teacher or an IT/tech support in an IT company as well.
Now to go over why I am so interested on becoming a citizen of Japan, well it would be long to just say it here and kind of personal as well. Let's just live it in I have been around Japanese culture ever since I was in Venezuela.

And in case you are wondering, my ultimate gold would be to start a restaurant business western style of food (I'm finishing my chef carrier here in USA).

 

[nice gaijin]

perhaps it would be good to sit on those thoughts of naturalizing until after you've experienced what it's like to live and work in Japan for a while. The 6-month trip you are talking about is just a long vacation; great for seeing the country and experiencing the tourist life, but you would not come away with much understanding of what it's like to really live in Japan. Much like your experience in the US, maybe Japan won't turn out to be the paradise you are dreaming of...

Also, your options will be extremely limited if you lack proficiency in Japanese. If you really want to live there, you'll need to get moving on learning the language.

 

[alf5523]

perhaps it would be good to sit on those thoughts of naturalizing until after you've experienced what it's like to live and work in Japan for a while. The 6-month trip you are talking about is just a long vacation; great for seeing the country and experiencing the tourist life, but you would not come away with much understanding of what it's like to really live in Japan. Much like your experience in the US, maybe Japan won't turn out to be the paradise you are dreaming of...

Also, your options will be extremely limited if you lack proficiency in Japanese. If you really want to live there, you'll need to get moving on learning the language.

I'm working on it, it wasn't until now that I got the chance to enter a school that teach it here close to where I live, really excited about it.

But as I said before, I would like to go there and work, since visiting is only going to be the beautiful part of Japan, I want to be into the culture, the people, and the life styles, surround myself and learn as much as I can. Tourist it's fine if I wanted to meet a new place and leave, but my point of going to Japan are deeper than a simple dream. Yes I want to achieve my dream, but I want to achieve it in a quality way not the easy.

I would like to go there if possible to open the business that at the moment I'm prepare to do here in USA. I know by personal experience that going on a "vacation" and going to resided in a new country is 2 different things, but also it would make a bigger different if I go to a country that I've always wanted to go ever since I can remember.

I been working on this for a while, and I'm going there prepare. It is not a out of the blue idea or dream, its something that I been thinking very seriously for the last 2 years and since then I been working on achieving this goal. Sooner or later I'll be able to communicate in Japanese, the next step will be to go there and put it on practice.

Another thing, it was misunderstood about the 6 month. What I was talking about is that I wanted to take some money (personal) for expenses that money was to cover the necessary setups in the country and cover me for sometime, if things happen (lost of job, etc). I wanted to have an idea on how much the expenses were so I can plan ahead just like Glenski broke down, I needed to know basic services cost, apartment rental cost, transportation, food, entertainment time (counting on going out once or twice a week), etc. I'm pretty sure that car will be out of the options since that would carry a full new gamma of expenses (insurance, gas, maintenance, etc).

 

[Glenski]

You are not going to be able to stay here 6 months without a proper visa. Tourist status is 90 days max, and only certain countries are allowed to renew that.

I'm a System Engineer in Venezuela; my Background is Hardware, with a minor in Spanish.

Do you have a bachelor's degree or is it some other sort of degree? How long did you study? How much work experience do you have? These are important questions for immigration.

Assuming you have a bachelor's degree, try to imagine getting a job where electronics and computers are king. Locals speak the language and are willing to live cheaply (often with their families for no rent). You don't have those options, so you are going to have to offer them something the locals can't do, PLUS learn the language! I write all this from the employer's and immigration's standpoint.

Starting a business requires a different visa than an engineer. Look here for the visa types and requirements. VISA Go to www.gaijinpot.com and the Small Business SOHO forum (trust the woman called Trip Hop). Read the Small Business SOHO FAQ link on the first page of the site, too.

If you are serious about establishing yourself, I would think twice about going out twice a week for entertainment. You could easily spend 50,000 yen per month doing that. Focus on your language skills, learning the market, networking, etc. Besides, vending machines and supermarkets carry alcohol, if that's what you're interested in. Yes, a car would probably be unnecessary and too expensive. There are mandatory safety checks which cost a lot, plus you have to pay for a parking space in order to own a car. And, public transportation in most cities is excellent. Insurance. Figure on using travel insurance until you start working, then go to national health insurance.

All this assumes you can get a job, of course.

 

[alf5523]

Cool thanks for the info. as I said before I'm working on the language trying to get as much as I can outside of Japan (the true form of learning a language is getting to practice it 24/7 on my experience since I did that when I came to usa). Now regarding the business, thanks for the idea on the site I didnt know about it im currently checking on it. and in regards to entretainment, well I'm not saying right away go out ever week or something im saying more on a stablish point of view, once i got my apartment, job and priorities done. hey but don't get me wrong every now and then u need to get some air . I'm really glad to have found this site/forum since I was able to learn alot more than I could have on my own.

Education I'm Bachelor. I got 4 years of experience in the job and 5 with related computer jobs (IT). Currently I'm following one of my dreams of becoming a chef almost done with the bachelor in Culinary Arts and the business I'm almost sure will be related to restaurants.

 

[Mike Cash]

What is your nationality? Venezuela or American?
What sort of work do you feel you are qualified for?
What is your educational background?

Answer these before any other questions are even attempted. Mike Cash was too brief in his request for info on visa eligibility.

I wasn't making a request for info on his visa eligibility. I was pointing out that visa eligibility is the first hurdle he has to clear. And for that, my post was just about the perfect length.

 

[Glenski]

Mike,
I know. I saw your post merely as an abbreviated form of what I asked more directly. No sense in beating around the bush, and I certainly can't deal with nonspecifics to help people.

alf,
Ok, so you have a bachelor's degree and almost 10 years of computer experience. Make a beautiful resume, study Japanese like crazy, and look for anyone who is willing to sponsor your work visa. That is the simple way of putting it. I make no guarantees about who will hire you, or how many employers are that willing. Like I wrote earlier, you have to prove you can do things a local can't. If you can't find work directly from employers in Japan, look for foreign (e.g., American) companies with a presence here, and see what they offer. They may have openings directly here, or you may have to put in time in the USA to come first. An intracompany transfer visa, for example, requires that you work a year in the company abroad before coming to Japan. So, there is more than one route.

Also look up www.daijob.com and read everything Terrie Lloyd wrote on his links.

 

[alf5523]

Once again thank you a lot for the help. I needed some guidance in regards of what to expect and what to do. I'll continue doing what I'm doing learning as much Japanese as possible and then work my way into a visa status that would let me go there and work. Hopefully I can get myself together to even start a business instead of just work there (I would like that a lot more than just working for the man, hehe).

Hopefully I'll be able to get my things together in a period of 1-2 years and then go there. One more thing, I was checking out the Japanese embassy website and I found some University class that I found extremely interesting, and I wanted to ask for your opinion I was wondering if it would be a good idea if I'm able to go there to go and study in the University Japanese Language (major) with a miner in Culture? Since like a good Idea to me and also something that I would enjoy very much.

 

[Glenski]

If you're able, get a student visa to do that. You can get special permission easily enough to be able to work part-time, too.
Immigration Services Agency of Japan

 

[alf5523]

If you're able, get a student visa to do that. You can get special permission easily enough to be able to work part-time, too.

Yeah I was contemplating that option for a while the only problem is that I will not be able to pay for education, and living expenses in that way making it a really difficult one. My family is not well enough to support a person over sea in that way (at least not that I know of).

 

[nice gaijin]

You asked if 25 grand is enough to live in Japan for 6 months... but you can't afford an education?

 

[alf5523]

You asked if 25 grand is enough to live in Japan for 6 months... but you can't afford an education?

I work for myself, going to study in another country means (with visa only to study) that you will have to spend more than only 25000, tuition, rent, services, food, and misc educational needs (books, notebooks and what not) this can easily add to more than 75000 a year. I know this because I'm helping my cousin with her studies here in USA her tuition is 50,000.00 dollars a year, 15,000.00 living expenses and another 5,000.00 for misc. Beside me her parents are paying for food and some other basic needs and as far as I understand she is receiving from them about 10,000.00 dollars a year.

So If you work for yourself and no one else to support you (scholarship, or family, or even an employer) then it becomes really hard almost impossible for a person making 50-70,000.00 dollars a year. Getting a part time job after you start your education means that that's personal care money (if you want to go out, pay for a book you were not counting on, and misc everyday situations)

Take that in consideration before asking a question like that. It would be different if I could get a job there and then start school, since it by far easier than going with a full time student visa. And btw the numbers above are a yearly thing so if the carrier is over 5 years long then multiply all of that by 5
(Easily between 350,000.00 to 400,000.00 for a 5 years carrier). Now I would clarify that I do not know what's the average tuition cost there but even if its 1/2 of that still pretty hard on those conditions.

 

[Glenski]

First of all, how much will it actually cost to attend a school that has a program you're interested in? If you say you haven't looked into it, DO SO and report back here.

Secondly, you talk about "ifs" (if no scholarship, if no job to bring in extra money). Why is that? GET the scholarship and GET the part-time job here! You are certainly allowed. Figure out how much you can earn with the PT hours (max are listed on the immigration guidelines) allotted. Immigration Services Agency of Japan (That's 28 hours per week.) Heck even a minimum wage job here rakes in 700 yen/hour or so, so 28x700x4 = 78,400 yen per month or 940,800 yen per year.

It would be different if I could get a job there and then start school, since it by far easier than going with a full time student visa.

Yes, it WOULD be easier, but I think the odds of you landing a job are fairly slim. At least do the research I suggested above (or point out the figures if you have already done so), instead of brushing it off before you even start.

 

[nice gaijin]

I'm not just talking about getting an education in Japan, but how about one in the US? You can easily go to a public university to earn your degree, pay a fraction of what you claim your cousin is paying (at 50k a year I hope she's going to an ivy league), AND get an opportunity (or multiple opportunities) to study abroad in Japan or other countries. I did just that and spent less than a third of what you claim it would cost to live in Japan for a year, without scholarships or grants. You don't have to live beyond your means to get a decent education; make it work.

If you plan on living in Japan on your savings alone then you are just talking about taking a long vacation.