Hey all,
Been planning to attend a language school next year and taking on the daunting task of trying to get all that sorted out.
IDEALLY, I’d like to keep working for my current employer who is open to the idea but just as unsure of how things will work as I am. I reached out to both GoGo Nihon and GaijinPot in hopes they might have some readily available info. Still waiting for GP response, but GGN says that continuing my work would be fine and not be subject to the part-time rule. They make it sound like it’s just ezpz, but I’m seeing lots of conflicting info, including in this sub, about if it still has to be part-time, that there’d lots of tax issues on my employer’s end, how I’d only just need to make sure to report my earnings with JP taxes, how it would only work if I changed to contract, etc.
I’m hoping to see if anyone has any first-hand experience with this.
We’ve also talked briefly about going through a GEO/PEO to “re-hire” me in order to just get a work visa (or at the very least get rid of the tax/legal issues) and avoid the restrictions of the student visa. Curious if anyone has experience with this? Especially if it was for a company you already worked for.
Also, not to throw another thing into the mix, but, since we’re already here, if anyone has any recommendations for agencies they’ve used to find cat-friendly housing, I’d be super appreciative!
1 comment
For the working on a student visa, it doesnt matter if your work is remote for a company in another country or not, the 28 hour limit applies. Any work you do while physically in Japan, on a student visa is capped to 28 hours, GGH saying it would be fine are very much incorrect in saying that.
Secondly, Tax purposes.. yes, if you are working for a company they are liable for paying your taxes etc in Japan, companies usually arent too keen on this. The best alternative in cases like this is to work as a self employed contractor, so you work and invoice your company, then you are responsible for taxes etc in Japan, and can generally just pay a fee to an accountant if you want to handle that for you.
GEO etc are an option (provided the GEO has the right to sponsor visas too as not all do), though they usually do take pretty hefty fees for their service, so youde end up working full time but likely taking a hefty pay cut, not actually sure which GEOs can sponsor visas in japan as ive not looked into that.