Question From initial application to arrival in the mail, Certificate of Eligibility timeframe?

Hello everyone

I'm just wondering as to an approximate timeframe (nothing specific but a rough guess/average) that it would take for a Certificate of Eligibility to be applied for, awarded and then be mailed/posted to the UK. From cradle to grave as it were, what would be a fair timeframe should one be applied for from such as Monday the 30th of January?

I've been offered a job and I don't think the company has been to the immigration office yet even though I accepted on the 3rd of January and gave them all CoE documents a week later, yet they stated a training start date of the last week in March so I would need to arrive a couple of days prior to that I would have thought.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated, thank you.

Eigo said:

Hello everyone

I'm just wondering as to an approximate timeframe (nothing specific but a rough guess/average) that it would take for a Certificate of Eligibility to be applied for, awarded and then be mailed/posted to the UK. From cradle to grave as it were, what would be a fair timeframe should one be applied for from such as Monday the 30th of January?

I've been offered a job and I don't think the company has been to the immigration office yet even though I accepted on the 3rd of January and gave them all CoE documents a week later, yet they stated a training start date of the last week in March so I would need to arrive a couple of days prior to that I would have thought.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated, thank you.

Click to expand...

Is it an experienced company that hires many foreigners? If so they should understand the procedures well and how long it takes. Issuance can take 1-3 months but not sure what is current timing. And it may vary by company. From the company's standpoint they may not care if they have to delay your arrival even though it may be disruptive to you if you have to worry about moving. Years ago when I was getting mine, the company didn't want to wait for it so I went on tourist visa first and then when the COE was ready they flew me to Hong Kong to get the proper visa.

mdchachi said:

Is it an experienced company that hires many foreigners? If so they should understand the procedures well and how long it takes. Issuance can take 1-3 months but not sure what is current timing. And it may vary by company. From the company's standpoint they may not care if they have to delay your arrival even though it may be disruptive to you if you have to worry about moving. Years ago when I was getting mine, the company didn't want to wait for it so I went on tourist visa first and then when the COE was ready they flew me to Hong Kong to get the proper visa.

Click to expand...

Thanks for replying.

Yeah they're an experienced TEFL company, ALT that are well-known. I just feel that since they gave me the March training date and haven't yet been to the immigration office, what could be the hold up given the need for haste?

mdchachi said:

Is it an experienced company that hires many foreigners? If so they should understand the procedures well and how long it takes. Issuance can take 1-3 months but not sure what is current timing. And it may vary by company. From the company's standpoint they may not care if they have to delay your arrival even though it may be disruptive to you if you have to worry about moving. Years ago when I was getting mine, the company didn't want to wait for it so I went on tourist visa first and then when the COE was ready they flew me to Hong Kong to get the proper visa.

Click to expand...

How did that work, flying you to Hong Kong? Do you mean your working visa could only be produced by submitting the CoE overseas after receiving it in Japan? Is that the only way around it if you take the Tourist Visa route? If so, I can't see my company doing that.

Eigo said:

How did that work, flying you to Hong Kong? Do you mean your working visa could only be produced by submitting the CoE overseas after receiving it in Japan? Is that the only way around it if you take the Tourist Visa route? If so, I can't see my company doing that.

Click to expand...

I didn't have to receive the COE in Japan but it just wasn't ready. So I went on tourist visa and worked illegally for a couple of weeks. The work visa had to be issued by a Japanese consulate office. Hong Kong was closer/cheaper than going back to the U.S. That was almost 30 years ago. Back then you couldn't get a different visa inside the country because the whole point of the visa is to enter the country. But I think they may allow change of status within the country now. Not sure.

mdchachi said:

I didn't have to receive the COE in Japan but it just wasn't ready. So I went on tourist visa and worked illegally for a couple of weeks. The work visa had to be issued by a Japanese consulate office. Hong Kong was closer/cheaper than going back to the U.S. That was almost 30 years ago. Back then you couldn't get a different visa inside the country because the whole point of the visa is to enter the country. But I think they may allow change of status within the country now. Not sure.

Click to expand...

In your opinion (or anyone else that reads this) if someone is offered a job in Japan and the offer was made and accepted on January 3rd/4th and lives in West Europe or the UK, what would be a realistic timeframe for that company (not Tokyo based) to apply for a CoE, send it to the person that's been offered the job and get everything in order (obtain a working visa card from the consulate, buy a flight ticket etc etc) ready for a given training date of late March?

It's February on Wednesday and I still haven't heard anything from this company by way of having been to the immigration office yet to apply for a CoE and frankly, I'm beginning to feel this job's going to fall through.

Any thoughts anyone?

Probably a month is enough but that's best case. Doesn't leave room for any delay. What does the company say? How do you know they haven't submitted your documentation yet?

mdchachi said:

Probably a month is enough but that's best case. Doesn't leave room for any delay. What does the company say? How do you know they haven't submitted your documentation yet?

Click to expand...

Thanks for replying again. The best answer I was given was about a week ago which was to the effect of "our staff will go to immigration shortly..." which was none-specific so, as of last Sunday Jan 22nd, they hadn't been but I guess it's possible they went last week but...there's no real way of knowing. I'll need to email them Monday or Tuesday and definitely get to know because as you say, no room for delay from here on in throughout February. My reason not to email them before this weekend is just to basically not be breathing down their necks and allow them to do what they need without me popping up every 5 minutes nagging...but now the time has come I need to know things!

I think its OK to get a bit more clarification from them on the timing. And you can phrase it so that they know you have your own concerns and details that you need to take care of - so it won't sound like you are pointlessly nagging them.

Something to the effect of, "I will start preparing my departure from the UK (or wherever you are). To arrive in Japan to meet our agreed upon start date, I will need to apply for a visa by early February, so time quite limited" or something to that effect. Or, "In the event I am unable to obtain my visa by our agreed upon start date, will that cause any issues on your side?".

Majestic said:

I think its OK to get a bit more clarification from them on the timing. And you can phrase it so that they know you have your own concerns and details that you need to take care of - so it won't sound like you are pointlessly nagging them.

Something to the effect of, "I will start preparing my departure from the UK (or wherever you are). To arrive in Japan to meet our agreed upon start date, I will need to apply for a visa by early February, so time quite limited" or something to that effect. Or, "In the event I am unable to obtain my visa by our agreed upon start date, will that cause any issues on your side?

Click to expand...

Thank you.

Yes I agree, I really should contact them to get to know things by this stage. I've stepped a little from doing that as I know they will absolutely be snowed under with HR and admin things.

It dawned on me that since my position will be as an ALT, do they need clarification in regards to contracts secured for the local Board of Education per prefecture they're in contact with. I think yes, they do. If it's the case certain BoE's haven't yet returned solid yes's and no's to things, that would mean my company are themselves in the dark and unable to pass on any information at all. I've seen this before a couple of years ago when I did a short stint as an ALT with a different company. I was told certain placement decisions were still outstanding because final negotiations were still taking place into February in quite a few prefectures. I think this could be the case with this company too.

The thing of all this is, since I'm not in Japan, it's making me quite insecure as to whether there's still a job or not.

I'll email them tomorrow.

I hope it works out. Please let us know how it goes.

mdchachi said:

I hope it works out. Please let us know how it goes.

Click to expand...

A cog has turned with my job situation in Japan and the company has said they're underway with visa/Certificate of Eligibility applications for everyone. This email seemed designed to speak to all incoming teachers, not just me. It seems as though the company must have started this 3 - 8 days ago (my best guess) so, it's now a waiting game.

Having lived in Japan and was awarded a new working visa in the last 12 months and having paid all my City Tax etc already, not never having been arrested, deported or anything negative, plus my company's taxes etc are in good standing and all information I provided for the CoE is true and evidencable, I don't see why a CoE wouldn't be issued now. I needed to return to the UK last year and what with not having a job already lined up, when I was asked in Narita Airport if I'd be returning to Japan anytime soon, I had to say no so at that point the officer put a hole through my Residence Card making it invalid. So, no matter what I guess I'd have had to have applied for a CoE in the event I want to return, I just hadn't anticipated it being so soon.

For those that know about English teacher visa types, my last was a Specialist in Humanities for an eikaiwa but the new application is for Instructor.

I guess it's from now, the moment of application my question of "how long" is directed. I've known a turnaround time while I was in Japan of 5 - 10 days when going in person myself for a new visa card.

I think the application process for the CoE is underway but I have a question...

I've been looking at things as though the company will visit the immigration office and submit documents in-person. It dawned on me they may submit everything online. Does anyone have any experience with online CoE applications? I'm just wondering as to whether online applications are faster than visiting the immigration office in-person.