Hi folks,
I wonder if anyone had some insight into this specific question I have. I’ve done some research and found conflicting information about this.
I’m not recontracting and my contract will end on July 31st. The handbook states that participants must change their visa to a 90-day tourist visa if they wish to stay beyond their period of stay after their contract with JET ends (or to submit a notice that they are seeking employment). However, my period of stay is until April 2025, long after my contract ends in July this year.
I’d like to do some travelling and volunteering after my contract ends (WWOOF or WorkAway) and I won’t take the flight home as I want to do more travelling in East Asia.
Is it a necessity to switch to a tourist visa? Technically my period of stay on my zairu card (and thus technically my visa – right?) continues for 8 months or so after my contract expires. Could I theoretically stay for that long?
I’m still working out my post-jet plans and in reality it’ll probably be only a few weeks or months – I’m just curious as to what is legally permissable. Would rather not be left high and dry!
I live in teachers housing so I would move out from it pretty soon after finishing to make way for my successor, so housing is irrelevant (my address is also not on my zairu card).
Some people have stated I must notify immigration within 2 weeks after my contract has ended and change to a tourist visa (which differs from the handbook which only mentions period of stay). Others have suggested the period of stay states how long I can stay in the country for – but surely that can’t be the case for 8 months?
Also, a second question – some of these volunteering opportunities I mentioned offer payment (mostly for people on working holiday visas) – I suppose this would technically be illegal as my visa is specifically an instructor visas and forbids other types of work? Especially after my contract has ended. Volunteering seems to be somewhat of a grey-area though.
Any help is appreciated!
Thank you.
Update: Thanks for your responses. I’ve concluded that, as I intend to travel and volunteer for longer than a few weeks, I will change my visa to temporary visitor. The period of stay on my zairyu card is somewhat irrelevant once you finish the programme, it seems. I think the handbook should be updated to phrase this better to be honest.
by BathroomDog