Military personal moving to Japan

Ocasio

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Hello, I'm new to the site, but I've reading a lot post and really listen to advice given here. I was going through this site: " MOFA: If your objective is work or a long-term stay [Guide to Japanese Visas] " and I couldn't find/or understand which visa to apply for. Right now I'm currently finishing my last year in the U.S. Army ( spent already 7 years in ) and I will be graduating College. Earning my bachelor's degree in Game software and design, I also spent 3 years working on idie and some AAA games as a programmer just as a assistant. I know I have the requirements, I would like know before I head to the Japanese Embassy so I could quickly get the paper work started. Also I was station in Okinawa for a couple of years so I've experience living in Japan.

Edit: I forgot to mention I wanted to move to japan to work in the game industry there.
 
You are going to have a college degree. Good, you'll need it unless you are married to a local.

However, the degree alone will mean very little unless you have strong J language skills. Do you?

I know I have the requirements, I would like know before I head to the Japanese Embassy so I could quickly get the paper work started.
On what? A work visa? You have it all backwards. You get hired first, and then you apply for the visa. Or do you already have a job here?
 
You are going to have a college degree. Good, you'll need it unless you are married to a local.

However, the degree alone will mean very little unless you have strong J language skills. Do you?

On what? A work visa? You have it all backwards. You get hired first, and then you apply for the visa. Or do you already have a job here?

Sorry I wrote this pretty late, to answer your following question.

My J language is good, I can hold a conversation and read; Kanji is still a little hard for me though.

I do have a job right now as a assistant engine programmer at CryTek. I apply for a Job at Sony and GungHo Online Entertainment, I also wanted to go to Japan and do more Job searches be able to go in person and show my portfolio an skills I gain over the years.

I wanted to go to Japanese Embassy cause I wasn't so sure which work visas I would be applying for. Also for future references if I decided to stay in Japan working on games.
 
If you have a great portfolio and experience, you don't need the Japanese language. At least, it depends on the company, but there are many non-fluent foreign workers in skilled areas like programming. But, that means it'll be very hard to get a visa first to come here. The main way to get a visa is through sponsorship with a company. It's very hard to get the visa based on your qualifications alone. Japan isn't much of an 'immigration' country.

One work around you could do, if you have a university degree, is get a one-year contract teaching English. It would get you a work visa, get you in the country (many companies set you up with so so apartments), and you could hit the ground here, looking for companies that are hiring.

I don't know your portfolio, and I'm not a great judge, so that'll be up to you to know that your work sells itself in a competitive market.

btw, welcome to the forum. I lived in Naha, Okinawa from 2003-2011. Nice place! Beautiful islands.
 
One work around you could do, if you have a university degree, is get a one-year contract teaching English. It would get you a work visa, get you in the country (many companies set you up with so so apartments), and you could hit the ground here, looking for companies that are hiring.

I'm not going for a degree in teaching English or anything the same. So I don't that would be a option for me. I'm very realistic person so I can see where you're coming from.

And thanks I'm glad I signed up. Naha, Okinawa That is a nice place. I spent a lot time there when I could. I love visiting Wakasa Park did a lot PT there on my off duty time

I don't know much about company sponsorship, but I'll get it on and do more research.

Thanks again for reply and I'm glad I joined these forums. A lot good information and very knowledgable people
 
To teach English, in basic, low paying schools, you don't need a teaching degree, simply a general university degree to guarantee you have a solid grasp of your own native language.

Once you have that visa, which will be either in teaching or in humanities, depending on your company, it's transferable into whatever other visa you want (within reason) if you get employed in a different field.

Teaching is a very easy way to get your foot in the door in the country.
 
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If you have a great portfolio and experience, you don't need the Japanese language. At least, it depends on the company, but there are many non-fluent foreign workers in skilled areas like programming.
Please, nahadef, be very explicit that what you have written here is very case by case! You might want to give him high hopes (I don't know if that was your intention), but I prefer to give caution.

But, that means it'll be very hard to get a visa first to come here.
As we know, he has to get hired first, and the employer's requirements are the first step. They may or may not include a serious understanding of the J language. Once that is done, as long as he has a degree related to his proposed job, it's not all that hard for him (an American) to get the visa. I'm not sure what you meant above, though.
My J language is good, I can hold a conversation and read; Kanji is still a little hard for me though.
Not knowing you at all, Ocasio, I feel obligated to ask what you mean by "good". Have you taken a JLPT exam? The way you wrote, it could be interpreted as that you can only speak just enough to discuss minor points of the day, not work-related matters.

Moreover, you may very well be expected to attend weekly meetings where you have to understand a different form/level of the spoken language, and certainly during the week you will be exposed to a plethora of emails and office memos which will probably be all in Japanese. The language used in them is also not simple textbook stuff.

I do have a job right now as a assistant engine programmer at CryTek.
I assme that is in the U.S., right?

I apply for a Job at Sony and GungHo Online Entertainment,
Again, presumably these are in Japan...?

I wanted to go to Japanese Embassy cause I wasn't so sure which work visas I would be applying for. Also for future references if I decided to stay in Japan working on games.
So, now you realize that you have to get a job first, then apply for a visa, ok? Either find a rare employer who will hire you blindly from abroad (unless they have an overseas office), or come here as a tourist and look around (when are you hoping to start work?) but don't tell that to customs/immigration or you will be put back on the plane, or do as nahadef suggested and find some other work first to give you more than 90 days to look around. On that last point, though, it might be hard to adjust to a career like that and simultaneously look for work.

One thing I noticed in your writing is a few grammatical (verb tense) mistakes. Whether these are happening just because you are typing casually for a forum, or you really have a problem with the grammar, I don't know. But these caught my eye and will to an employer, too, especially if you are supposed to write proper English for work applications.

Once you have that degree, which will be either in teaching or in humanities, depending on your company, it's transferable into whatever other degree you want (within reason) if you get employed in a different field.
nahadef, be very careful here, too, about your advice. If Ocasio (or anyone) has a degree in the humanities, they are not likely to get a job as an engineer. The point is moot for Ocasio's specific situation since he is going to get a degree in game design, but others might misread what you wrote. Frankly, I have no idea what you mean by one type of degree being "transferable" into another degree. Could you explain?
 
Please, nahadef, be very explicit that what you have written here is very case by case! You might want to give him high hopes (I don't know if that was your intention), but I prefer to give caution.

As we know, he has to get hired first, and the employer's requirements are the first step. They may or may not include a serious understanding of the J language. Once that is done, as long as he has a degree related to his proposed job, it's not all that hard for him (an American) to get the visa. I'm not sure what you meant above, though.
Read the rest of the paragraph, and you might understand that point better.
 
Sorry, still confused. Can you please explain it again?
 
[MENTION=61499]Ocasio[/MENTION] - as you appear to be in NY, you could check out the New York Career Forum next February.

Games companies might not be there but there are likely to be some companies looking for programmers of various stripes.
 
Sorry I'll be more clear:
[MENTION=2398]Glenski[/MENTION]
I've taken the test in military called the DLPT for Japanese and German. I passed German ( since it's my native language ) and Japanese I passed by DoD standards with 2+ on all parts, which to them is "good enough". I will look into the JLPT and take it too cause I know the DoD DLPT would probably not count outside the military.

As for CryTek Yes it is here in the US. As for Sony and GungHo those I applied here in the US, but for positions in Japan.

For my writing skills, I'm writing "relaxed" since it's a forum, but I do understand your point and believe me I wouldn't want to or would make those kinda mistakes on job applications or emails.
[MENTION=43778]nekojita[/MENTION]

Thank you for the link and I will look into it.

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I'm not sure about how my degree would be "Transferable" since it's a degree in Game Software and Development. I wouldn't put my hopes up for it.

Edit: For starting work I'm going with sometime during the end of next year if I can. I'm not rushing ( like most people ) I just wanted to get the right information. I rather spend sometime visiting Japan and checking out my opinions before making the leap.
 
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