Moving to Japan (Questions)
 

So right now I'm 19 and renting an apartment from my father (it's on the same property as the main house). The reason I am paying my own rent is to build financial credit and learn to be independent. However, my dad's company is moving him from his current location (California) to Japan and ideally I would like to move with him.

So my first question is, if I do not have a degree or very proficient Japanese language skills will I be able to move there with him since I am over 18? Right now I make my money selling handmade clothes and accessories in my online store and I would like to continue to do the exact same work but I am not sure if I would need a work visa and who to file taxes with. Where he will be working is very out of the way and I'd like to live closer to the city. He has the money to purchase a place for me upfront (without needing a loan) that I could rent from him (like my current situation) but obviously this would all depend on if they would even let me stay in Japan for more then the allotted 90 day tourist stay to begin with.

I have relatives (on my mother's side) in Japan (who are Japanese citizens) and have been to Japan many times before (although the last time I was there was in June/July 2007 for almost a month) and was wondering if that would even mean anything.

Thanks!

So what you are saying is your mother is Japanese, correct? I know that half Japanese qualify for descendant visas, but I don't know about quarters, eighths, and sixteenths. Check out what you to qualify for the descendant visa. If that is not a possibility, find out about a dependants visa and when the cut off for that is. I know a guy who owns an English school, and his kid is 18 plus and he can still stay in Japan. Google something like descendant visa Japan and MOFA's website should come up. If you have questions after that, just let us know. Also, a descendant visa will free you up for just about any type of work such as teaching part time at Gaba or something. A dependant visa you have to get some special stamp or something so you can work, I believe.

Unfortunately I'm only one quarter Japanese (my mother is half). I was looking at all the visa types at the MOFA website and could not find anything about visas for Japanese descendent's coming from overseas. I learned that I am already too old to apply for a new dependent visa and so I'm not sure what else I could qualify for.

Contact the nearest Japanese consulate and ask them about applying for a descendant visa. I would also work on your Japanese ability. That would help convince to give you the visa. But I think you should be able to get the visa.

The best info I can find is this, http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/visiti...nikkei-jin.pdf. It is from the Phillipines, but the process should be similar where ever you are. I think being a quarter makes you 2nd generation, but I have no idea. And honestly, the person stamping the visa probably has no idea either. Just get to work on getting your documents in order. Family trees, marriage certificates and birth certificates are going to take some time to put together. Good luck.

OK, I didn't read the whole thing and I was gonna say that you could apply for dependent visa. But it seems like it is out of the case.

What you could possibly do for time being is to attend a language school in Japan and get a visa that way. If you want to live in Japan, you need to learn Japanese anyways.

Or if you did well in high school, you could apply to universities like Sophia in Tokyo where they offer classes in English so you might have a chance to get in.

Anyways, you should contact the embassy or the closest consulate to find out more about the visa options. I think there might be something equivalent of dependent visa as I know many people like you who are old enough to be disqualified as a dependent spouse but still get a visa anyways so there are definitely options.

Overall, Japan is not an easy place for foreigners with no college degree and very little Japanese skills. Only people who can survive easily are those who are artists, engineers, and investment bankers.

Only advise I can give you is to come to Japan prepared. Don't come here if you can't speak some Japanese because it's not that easy. I have seen way too many people who come to Japan with such high expectations but unprepared and unfit to survive in Japan.

RIGHT OK!

I read the previous posts and i have absolutely no idea what the F**k anyone is on about. i plan to move to japan and have no idea what im supposed to be doing. im 18-19 this year. I can speak quite a bit of japanese and i plan to go to college their for studying art. So i need ALOT of help on this one PLEASE!


*stares blankly* -__-'

I don't understand what you don't understand. You need a Visa, plain and simple. The information in this topic, as well as others around here, are very helpful. If you want more specific help, make a topic asking all the things you are curious about.

That is because the posts in this thread are in response to a certain person's individual situation. Are you partially Japanese? Is your father moving to Japan? If the answers to both questions are no's, then you will just get a degree. In the US you would need what is called a bachelors degree. In the UK you will need whatever the four year equivalent is. Art majors are welcome as English teachers so just do what you enjoy. Make decent grades and you should be fine.

Oops, forget everything I just said. I realized that you said you want to go to school in Japan. Sorry, can't help you.