Hello All,
I apologize in advance as this may be a long post, but I sincerely appreciate any help you all can offer. I may be overthinking some of this stuff.
I posted here a while back that I was job hunting under my 1st ALT contract. I have finally received and accepted a job offer for a new role in a different industry and prefecture. While my contract does not end until March, I understand legally only 2 weeks is required and as an ALT the dispatch company is unlikely to pursue damages. I feel bad about it, but I could not pass up this opportunity.
I will be going from Miyagi to Chiba. My start date is not until early next year, which I am hoping gives me plenty of time to take care of all formalities between now and then. I also need to go home to the US to tie up some loose ends there as well.
Currently I am drafting my letter of resignation and I am thinking I want to give 30 days notice and work until the end of November. I want to make the transition as smooth as possible and I am looking for advice on best timing.
**Problem 1 – Current Apartment**
I am currently living in an apartment arranged by my ALT dispatch company. If I resign effective COB 11/30, can I expect that I must vacate the apartment that day? Or is it reasonable to think I could stay through December as long as I pay? I am supposed to take the N1 JLPT on 12/04 so I am hoping I can stick around here at least until then for convenience. Should I just work through 12/05 in this case? Can they legally force me to leave the apartment if I resign in the middle of the month?
**Problem 2 – New Apartment**
As mentioned above, my current apartment was arranged by my company. I will be on my own this time for the first time and I am not sure how quickly I can expect to secure and move into a new apartment in Chiba. Is it reasonable to think I can go through the whole process within 30 days? I have been looking at some places on SUUMO and planning to get started with applications immediately, but given the distance (Miyagi\~Chiba) and the fact that I’ll still be working full time and only available to travel there on weekends I have concerns. I do not want to end up in a situation where I am kicked out of my current apartment before securing a new one. Do I need to alot for more time in my notice?
**Problem 3 – Visa Type Change**
My new company has already reached out requesting the information from me to start the process of changing to the appropriate visa type. As I am still currently teaching at least through November, is it okay to submit the change request in advance of my last working day? I was just reading that you can be fined up to 5万円 for working under the wrong visa type so I want to be careful. What is the timing usually like when you are switching jobs and giving such advance notice?
Also, my visa expires in March. Is it possible to apply for the change of type and extension at the same time? Or just a totally separate process?
**Problem 4 – Changing Address**
In order to update the address for each of the following, I need to first have my new address confirmed and then visit the issuing entities here in Miyagi to request the changes right? I would not be able to make the changes from Chiba? Given the distance, I am concerned about potentially forgetting something important and having to make another long trip.
* Driver’s License
* My Number Card
* Residence Card
* Post Office / Mail Forwarding
* Bank Account
These are all the concerns I can think of currently although I am sure I am forgetting something. I look forward to your advice and suggestions. Thank you for reading and よろしくお願いします！！
3 comments
1. IANAL but just be assertive, formal evictions in Japan take months. Just say “I am staying through December”, end of story, don’t agree to pay any additional fees. Anything they could pull to get you to move will be pretty toothless.
2. Maybe find something cheap and short-term to fill the gap, a monthly mansion, sharehouse etc. Get settled and then take your time securing a proper place. 6 weeks in a sharehouse won’t kill you and there is nothing worse than rushing into a lease on a place you don’t actually like that much.
3. Submit the change request ASAP, then go and collect the visa between jobs. It is OK to keep working the previous status whilst the application is going through. DO NOT work the new job until you have collected the new visa.
4. I think you have got everything there.
1.) It will vary place to place but usually they will have some kind of option to let you stay. (It isn’t in their best financial interest to kick you out right away when you are willing to pay anyways). Some places might allow a name change on the contract, although one shitty place I have been with, forced us to pay reikin and start up fees once the apartment was no longer in the company’s name.
2.) If you can judge by pictures alone, then go ahead and take a risk. Or if you want to stay at like a sharehouse while you find a more permanent location, that is also an option.
3.) You should submit it a few weeks in advance. Your new residence status takes effect on the day you pick up the card so you can still keep working through november while you wait for your new card.
4.)
You get a teni todoke from Miyagi precture. Bring that to the city hall in Chiba, then you update, my number card and the residence card.
Driver’s license, update that at a police station or a license center, but I think the police station is easier to get to, as there is only one license center in Makuhari Chiba. Show your updated residence card to get this fixed.
post office Mail forwarding just turn in a form at the post office.
Bank Account at the bank branch when your residence card gets updated with the new address.
For number 2, what I did before when I moved from Kobe to Tokyo is I moved into a sharehouse for a few months while searching for apartment. Better than signing a lease blindly.
I have no answer for your other questions tho 🙁