Changing employer while applying for a work visa? (Stuck with a shady company, but need the visa)

As the title says, I need advice on how to deal with a sensitive matter.

Background: I’ve lived 6 years in Japan, first as a student then one year of full-time work on the work visa (the Humanities one). My work contract ended on April 11th and my visa expired just one day after (April 12th). I applied for the 出国準備 (Short Term visa, preparation to leave) on April 10th just in case which granted me an extra 30 days. I was told if I were to get a 内定, I could come again to consult at the immigration as they knew I was already job hunting at the time.

I ended up getting an offer from a company on April 12th. I went again on Monday to confirm that I would be eligible to change back to work visa. The consultation window approved my request, but all I needed was the documents from the company (I have the 内定通知書, but I need the organization application forms, and some company info). Here’s where the problem starts.

The 社長 is very rude and the workplace is your stereotypical bad Japanese workplace. After a back and forth of convincing him to give me the documents, he finally said that he would give the documents if I work for about a week (in exchange for the trial period/試用期間), and that he’d give the documents based on the evaluation. It’s only been 3 days and there’s been so much drama. He would basically berate staffs every single day, just basically a bully, and I would’ve left if only I had any other option.

It’s 3 more days before he would give me the documents. But after making the application, I know I shouldn’t work until the work visa is granted, but they’re making me come to work anyway and said the hours would be added to my first salary once the visa is granted, which I know is illegal.

FYI, this is a company that dispatches foreign workers so they definitely know the rules.

My questions are:

– Is it possible to change employer/sponsor once you apply for a work visa? (The company is so bad so I’m still taking on interviews and sending out applications to other places)

– Is there a way for me to avoid coming to work illegally like they asked? (Not only it’s illegal, but I’d avoid going there if I could as I plan to quit once my visa is out. I worry if I notify immigration, they’d get a call or something and know it’s me and revoke my visa application)

FYI, I know going back to my country first is always an option but I’m hoping to continue my continuous residence as I’m aiming for PR/naturalization in the long-term.

Thanks for the help!

by Vivid_Strength_1147

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