TLDR: Is it possible to transfer to another city even though I missed the Fall transfer request window?
I’m coming up on the conclusion of my first year in JET. I’m not happy with my CO. There have been many breaches of trust with them since I moved here last year. Their negligence has also costed me a significant amount of money and headache. They also refuse to move me to a house that’s closer to the center of town or lower my rent to take into account the fact that I don’t have a car and am pretty far removed from any public transportation.
I’ve made the best of it, but nonetheless I’ve been pretty miserable over the last year due to my living situation and relationship with my CO.
I opted not to renew my contract in July of this year. However I enjoy teaching and have lived in other areas of Japan without a problem.
Is there any way to request a transfer to a different city outside of the Fall window? I’d like to stay in the program after July, but I cannot nor do I want to stay with my CO.
Thank you in advance.
7 comments
If you opted not to renew your contract, then how can you stay on the programme after July?
Anyway, transfers are very rarely given and usually only in the case of a medical issue which requires being close to a specific hospital, or in the case of marriage.
If you already submitted your not-recontracting papers, I’m not sure you can “undo” that. I’ve heard of people transferring to a different CO/prefecture in summer (i.e. when their original contract ended) but all of them did so because they wanted to do JET for 5 years, and were only offered 3 at their CO. I think your best option at this point would be to talk to a Prefectural Advisor, if you have one.
Also, unless it’s in your contract, you should be able to move to another apartment? It’s one thing if your CO is encouraging you to use their housing, but I’m not sure they can *force* you to live anywhere. (Correct me if there are circumstances where this is the case. I just know of multiple ALTs who have left their assigned housing with little issue.)
If you missed the window then no unfortunately. You’d be better off contacting interac and applying to them, you’d have more control over your location
Good luck with that…
Start applying to other teaching positions
Is transfer even a thing?
Even if you were applying for this at the right time you wouldn’t get a transfer unless you had an illness that needed a special hospital or if you got married. Not liking your situation is not grounds for a transfer.
You opted to not recontract anyway. That paper gets sent to CLAIR so you have to leave in summer. Just look for another job?