So
On practically a dare i sent an application to a major gaming company in Tokyo.
Not gonna say the name, but your first guess would probably be correct. Okay, maybe second or third. It’s not Nintendo.
They put me through the process, and i got an offer. They seem very convinced, and even upped the salary when they knew i had another, higher-paid offer elsewhere.
I have experience with a very uncommonly used part of the standard industry toolset, that they really need apparently.
Thing is.. i hadn’t really researched it, and due to some language barrier my CV has been misunderstood and they thought the \[Partial Credit\] university part was a full degree.
I have quite a bit of work experience, but that’s only roughly 7 years in full-documented experience, with 3 more years of freelance work – that i can prove with letters and pay stubs, but still freelance work.
They referred me to an Immigration Lawyer, hired by the company, who definitely expected me to have a bachelor’s degree and is very nonplussed about the whole situation.
Is this gonna work?
If it doesn’t, what should i do?
Finishing the degree is an option, but that would still require a \~year or so. I passed selection once, but i have my doubts i would again in trying in a year.
I’m very near the 70 points required for the points visa, but the only way i see to get more is either argue for 10m salary (Unlikely to happen in the games industry) or get a NPL1/2, which is probably longer than finishing the degree.
I am from a country with a WHV agreement, so maybe first year working for them on that and then retry the work visa?
The position is “fully remote from Japan” – i could argue to getting hired from Europe branch of the company and wait for a transfer?
I’m really looking for somebody who has a bit of experience with Japanese companies on what option to propose to them – i see many ways this can work out, but haven’t much confidence the company would be willing to make special arrangements for me if it’s complex.
9 comments
People throw around the 10 year number (myself included) but the reality is a lot more vague than that. It boils down to your employer being able to convince immigration that you possess the skills that they need. Larger more famous companies have a lot more influence than smaller ones.
Talk to the immigration lawyer that your company has hired. It’s their job to figure out how to make it work.
My guess is that you’ll be fine.
Your time spent in school, even if you didn’t graduate, counts towards the experience. Also, from personal experience applying for visas for staff, if most of your experience is documented but a small amount is not (company no longer exists, it was freelance fork for clients hard to track down, etc.), a letter swearing to that experience is also accepted by Immigration.
Finally, if it’s a big Japanese company that everyone knows, you may have a slightly easier time of it as well.
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>The position is “fully remote from Japan” – i could argue to getting hired from Europe branch of the company and wait for a transfer?
If it’s one of the companies I’m thinking of, their JP/EU/US branches are separate companies. Therefore you likely wouldn’t be hired by the Europe branch and work on a JP team.
And if it’s the company I think it might be, they’re big enough that they can advocate for you to immigration and use good lawyers/scriveners.
>Is this gonna work?
That is less an immigration question and more an ***employer*** question.
Like /u/Benevir mentioned, the 10 year rule is somewhat flexible if your company has enough lawyer muscle to bring to the table.
The bigger question is whether your employer still wants to employ you in this situation. You’ve got plenty of experience, so in *theory* the degree shouldn’t be super important, but… If they decide that they think you were “deceptive” in re the degree, no amount of negotiating is going to save this job offer.
Your first step needs to be talking to the *company* about the degree/lack thereof. Make sure they are aware of it first.
A lot of people already brought up the fact that the 10 years experience is just a guideline and not a rule. The other “trick” to immigration is that the company making the request matters.
If you are being hired by a name-brand company then your application will get less scrutiny. This system isn’t limited to immigration either, while working at this company you’ll get credit cards more easily, better house/car loans, and other perks like that because the system has chosen you.
Well it wouldn’t be Nintendo since they are in Kyoto.
2 acquaintances got a visa with 6 and 7 years of experience and without a degree. If the company is big enough and do a lot of overseas hires they can work around some of the visa requirements.
No additional advice to offer as everything seems to be mostly covered, but I did want to wish you good luck!