stupid visa situation. need urgent advice!

Hi!

I obtained a 3 year humanities specialist visa valid until May 2012 but quit my job since I was offered a better one. It did not work out so I am now jobless but I have an offer to work as an ALT until April with possibility of renewal.

The catch is that they want me to change to an instructor visa. Here are my questions:

1. If I change to an instructor visa, do I lose the 3 year specialist in humanities visa?

2. I am hoping to get an offer to teach French for JICA through Interac (who is also offering me the ALT job). If I have an instructor visa but want to switch with JICA in April, is it easy to reverse back to a specialist in humanities?

3. one thing I do not understand: on the MOFA site it says it takes at least 1 month to change residence status but the interact people want me to start the ALT work next week and said very casually "we'll change the visa the day before you start". If it takes at least a month, how come I can start working immediately? Would the same apply if I wanted to revert back to a specialist in humanities to work with JICA (who offers only 3 months renewable contracts)

4. what about getting a 28 hour work permission?

I am very confused and quite angry that I should lose my precious 3 year humanities visa if I may (but nothing sure) need it in April. I have to give my answer tomorrow thursday jan 7th... I need advice.

Thank you so much!

I am not entirely certain, I just know that you do need to change your status anytime you change to work in a different field. And it is not that the visa goes away it just alters a little and is another way for the government to suck some money out of you. And as far as the starting dates of work goes.. i would say it is your employers discretion. This is just my understanding though so it is not necessarily gospel.

dtaquet said:

1. If I change to an instructor visa, do I lose the 3 year specialist in humanities visa?

3. one thing I do not understand: on the MOFA site it says it takes at least 1 month to change residence status but the interact people want me to start the ALT work next week and said very casually "we'll change the visa the day before you start". If it takes at least a month, how come I can start working immediately? Would the same apply if I wanted to revert back to a specialist in humanities to work with JICA (who offers only 3 months renewable contracts)

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I can only speak from my experience switching from an instructor visa to a spousal visa, so I can't answer with complete certainty, but...

1. Yes. You can only have one visa at a time. I had 2 years remaining on my instructor when I switched to my spousal visa, for which I only got one year. I have to make the 3-hour round trip trek to the immigration office in another 6 months. Since you don't have a humanities job anymore, you don't technically qualify to possess the humanities visa anymore.

3. It seems that when you apply for a change of status, they put a stamp in your passport to say you applied for a change of status, and you can essentially go about your business as though you have the visa until it is approved or denied. However, if you leave the country, you will have to go about getting the visa from scratch, so make sure not to do that. If you're still unsure about this point, I'm sure your potential employer can give you more definitive answers than anyone on this site.

1. If I change to an instructor visa, do I lose the 3 year specialist in humanities visa?
yes.

2. I am hoping to get an offer to teach French for JICA through Interac (who is also offering me the ALT job). If I have an instructor visa but want to switch with JICA in April, is it easy to reverse back to a specialist in humanities?
Yes.

3. one thing I do not understand: on the MOFA site it says it takes at least 1 month to change residence status but the interact people want me to start the ALT work next week and said very casually "we'll change the visa the day before you start".
Interac cannot change any visa. That's the responsibility of immigration and the Ministry of Justice.

If it takes at least a month, how come I can start working immediately? Would the same apply if I wanted to revert back to a specialist in humanities to work with JICA (who offers only 3 months renewable contracts)
It might take a month or just a week or 2. There is no way anyone, including immigration, will guarantee anything in that regard. As long as your application is in, and there is no major hindrance in getting it (in your qualifications, that is), you may be allowed to work during that time. If you ask immigration about it, though, they will probably give you a non-answer, so don't ask.

4. what about getting a 28 hour work permission?
Are you talking about the special permission to do work outside the realm of your current visa? Immigration Services Agency of Japan
I was going to suggest that as an option, mostly because I am very confused about how you can teach French at JICA while still being employed at Interac. Interac doesn't know all there is to know about visas, so don't rely on them.

Sorry if this info didn't arrive in time.

Thanks for your reply. After offering the job and asking me to hurry up (move out, go to the immigration office alone...), they ended up dragging their feet in giving an answer. I had to call them repeatedly to finally hear that they could not have time to apply for the permission before the supposed starting date as an ALT.

I understand the Visa situation is not their fault. I just regret that they first told me it was "sure", probably so that I would hurry things up and be ready for them. I wish they had been more honest and kept updating me. I have been teaching French and English for 7 years in 5 countries and it is the first time a company is so unprofessional.

I hope this means you are passing up on this "opportunity".