23 Year Old; Previous Teaching Experience, However No Degree..
 

I'm 22, going on 23 years of age.

I've taught and volunteered before at local elementary and middle schools here in the United States, while also teaching English at a high school in Xiaoshan, China before.

This time around however I would love to visit Japan. I've been in Narita before, but only for a few days, allowing me to visit Tokyo and enjoy only a day's worth of activities.

I'm currently in between my 2nd & 3rd year of university, so have no bachelors degree yet...

But at least I do have an array of previous teaching experience.

Currently at the time of this post it's February, and am wanting to leave to Japan very soon. I'd be willing to leave as soon as a week or two, considering the right program or opportunity was to come along. Aside, I plan on being in Japan till as late as August or September of this year. Meaning a good 6 months at the most.

This is the reason why I began this thread and decided to create an account on this forum; of which am glad such a forum exists. Just looking for some information and guidance. :rolleyes:

What you want is a Working Holiday Visa, which is not an option for Americans.

You cannot legally work in Japan without a work visa, which means you need a sponsor, which means you need a four year degree. Unless you have some inside track, it is doubtful an employer would hire for less than a year.

As MMM says, it is hard to find an employer who will hire you for only 6 months, the standard labor contract in Japan is for on year. Occasionally short-term jobs come up, but these are only available to those who already have a valid work visa.

The Japanese government requires a 4 year or better university degree, or three consecutive years teaching experience verifiable by tax payments to qualify for an instructor visa.

wow?
 

you mean....we can get a legal job in japan...after we have completed 4 years in a university?? a graduate gets a job in japan?? :eek:

a graduate is eligible for a work visa, if he meets the other requirements, medical check, criminal record check, has a job etc

At the risk of hijacking someone else's thread . . . I've heard a couple of posters mention a medical check in the past, but nowhere on the visa sites or school application pages have I found mention of a medical being a requirement to get a visa. I'm just curious if a medical is necessary to get a visa, and if so are there any blood tests involved?

I had to do the medical examination to get my Working Holiday, I forget if I had to do a blood test.
Once already in Japan, swapping from Working Holiday to Work to Business visa there were no tests or checks.

I had to get a full physical as part of my acceptance to JET. At least one time in those three years I had to get another one that included a blood test.

yes when I applied for business visa, and engineer visa I have to have medical certification stating that I am fit to travel.

I don't think there was a blood work though.

Interesting about the medical check. Does anyone know some of the medical conditions that would cause you to not qualify for the visa?

^ HIV/AIDS cases and also Tuberculosis, I think those who have Hepatitis illness are not allowed to travel as well, and maintain your blood pressure to moderate-level just to make sure.

Thanks RealJames and Samokan, that's actually rather reassuring to find out. In response to MMM, was the full physical/blood work just because you were with Jet, or is it a requirement for a work visa regardless of employer? Just I have an extreme phobia and really would like to avoid them if possible. Also - as someone else asked - what medical problems would prevent one from getting a visa?

Hello everybody :ywave:

I'm hoping to find someone who get give me some information. I have been teaching ESL for 3 years now, so I have a wide range of experience. I have read up and found out information about SHIS visa. In the absence of a degree (Which I dont have - only diploma) a SHIS visa can be obtained by providing proof of 3 years solid experience in that subject. I guess the hard part is finding someone who is willing to sponsor me.

I would be happy to hear from anyone "with" "experience" regarding going through this process/situation.

Kind regards.