Hello! 🙂
I would love to move to Japan and study in a language school for 1.5-2 years, and if I like it, would love to stay and word there after finishing school.
The student visa process is very confusing and stressful since I don’t know what I will encounter once I’m in Japan and I would love some advise from people that also moved to Japan with a visa (student or WHV)
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In my case it would be a Student Visa since I can’t wait to learn Japanese and I wanna commit to it. But I have a few questions.
As I read online and watched in Youtube (from people that have been though this), it is apparently possible to get a job and switch from the Student Visa to the Work Visa, and it’s pretty easy to do so.
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1º Does teaching English (or another language), count as one of those jobs that allow you to switch visas? I have a bachelor’s degree and apparently that the only requirement to get the work visa.
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2º To switch to work visa, do you have to show proof of funds/income again? or it is not necessary this time? (you have to do this for the student one)
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3º What is the minimum stay in Japan to be able to “find a job” and be able to switch to a work visa? (of course, if the company hires you). Is there a minimum stay in Japan for this? Maybe you have to be in Japan for 2 years to be able to do this? Or can one do it after 1 year or 1.5 years also? (I’ve seen people do this with their 1 year WHV but I’m a bit confused)
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4º Is it easy to be able to stay more in Japan after your current visa ends? (let’s say the 1.5 years Student Visa), or at least extend or something, or how does this work if someone wants to stay more years after Student Visa expires?
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I’m sorry if I sound dumb, going to Japan and learning the language in the country would be a dream come true for me, it’s been a dream for over 25 years. I’m just a bit stressed out with the possible outcomes one may encounter and just wanna know how to play my cards.
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Of course, I wanna go study Japanese for at least 1.5 years, and know how to speak before getting a job (I don’t know what type of job), I’m very passionate about the culture and language and I wanna be able to learn it properly.
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5º I’ve seen people on Youtube saying that to be an English teacher in Japan, you do not have to know Japanese. is this true? (either way, I do want to learn Japanese, I don’t wanna go there and work without knowing the language)
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6º For example, in my personal case, If I go with a student visa to study in a language school for 1.5-2 years, will it be possible for me to stay more and switch to a work visa? I mean once I finish school of course. (like, to stay living in Japan instead of leaving). What would be the best option to do so? What would you recommend?
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7º For people that already got their student visa (I would sponsor myself in this case), what is the “tax return” document they ask? What is it exactly for and what type of documents serve as “tax return” document? Would payslips work? (since they show the taxes I’ve been paying up to a date).
Here in the UK, I asked HMRC and [Gov.uk](https://Gov.uk) and told me said document is only given to people with lands, businesses, very very high income etc… A “normal” worker like me is not eligible, so that’s why I’m confused on which document I’m supposed to show as “tax return”.
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8º I’ve seen there’s 4 schools periods, Jan, April, July and Oct. But for example, to study 2 years, you have to start specifically in April and not any other months, to start in July, you can only study 1 years and 9 months and so on. It’s a bit confusing.
Starting in April, is it possible to enrol for 1.5 years? or do I have to start in Oct. to be able to study 1.5 years?
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Thank you very much, I apologize for making so many questions, I have an ocean of doubts and since this is new to me, I wanna do it the best I can and make the best decisions.
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Any extra advise?
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Thank you!!!
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by Niha_Ninny