Obligated to a company?

[caraten]

Just a quick question about visa laws and employment.

I just arrived in Japan last week to work for an ALT contractor. After almost a week of "training," I've decided that I really don't want to work for this outfit. I have not yet signed a contract with this company. My question is, since this company was the guarantor of my visa, am I under any kind of obligation to work for them? Can I work legally for another company? I have another job offer, in another English school; do I need to go through any channels to change my guarantor before I can work for them?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Glenski]

If you have the visa now, it's yours until it expires. You can quit or be fired, but it's still yours. Find another employer and change jobs. No problem. The only channels you need to go through are to get a Letter of Release from your current "employer". (I put that in quotes because you said you hadn't yet signed a contract. Sounds ridiculous to me, especially since they are putting you through training.)