Monday, September 14, 2009

Can someone live in Japan without obtaining a Japanese citizenship

Can someone live in Japan without obtaining a Japanese citizenship?
Live as in House owning, marrying, etc. Basically nearly everything you would do just without a citizenship? As long as you speak the language, of course.
Japan - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
They probably have a "permanent resident" status like the U.S. does. Marrying a citizen would almost certainly give you the ability to live there indefinitely without having to take Japanese citizenship.
2 :
You usually need working or student visa to live in Japan. For working visa, you have to get a job offer from a Japanese company. But you can't look for a job in Japan without a visa. So you need it before you enter Japan. For student visa, you have to be admitted to a Japanese college. You need to pay tuition and living cost for 4 years. It could be about $80,000. If you want to become a Japanese citizen, you have to keep living in Japan for more than 5 years without a pause. Then, you will be eligible to apply for citizenship. But you need more like stable income, sufficient reason, Japanese language skill and so on if you want your application to be accepted. You can apply for Permanent Residence of Japan under the same condition. And this is relatively easier than citizenship.
3 :
If you're an American you can only stay 90 days as a visitor.This visitor visa can only be renewed once in a 12 month period. The Japanese government requires you have a reason to be there.You would need a work or student visa, or one of the other visas available.You just can't move there and set up house.A house is very expensive there.Even if you had that kind of money,you can only stay as long as your visa is good for. If you happened to marry a Japanese person,you wouldn't have to worry about a visa. Actually citizenship is very hard to obtain.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Suggestions for an American wanting to live in Japan

Suggestions for an American wanting to live in Japan?
My bf wants to live in Japan for a year. We live in Hawaii right now. He loves the Japanese who come over because they are so nice. He is learning Japanese himself. Is it easy for an American couple to live in Japan for a year, speak almost no Japanese, and work and support ourselves?
Japan - 5 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
First you can't simply move over to Japan and start living for a year and working without proper visas. Thats the hard part. Just qualifying for a visa. To get a work visa in Japan you BOTH will need bachelors degrees (in any subject field) and a job already lined up (eg someone is ready to hire you). Without Japanese language skills you're really limited to English teaching. English teaching is not as great as it used to be right now, as NOVA, which was the largest employer of English teachers in Japan went backrupt, so now you have thousands of English teachers in Japan out of the job, looking for new jobs, so in that sense it will be harder to find a position, but if you find one, meet the qualifications then you shouldn't have a problem getting a work visa then.
2 :
TokyoE is right. It's not that easy to find work teaching English in Japan. However, there are jobs available. I would recommend you go to the following websites and see if there's something that interests you:
3 :
Bah! I lived there for two years. Other than the girls, who are ready and willing at any time, there's not much else that's enticing about living there. The Japanese are fiercely ethnocentric and really don't like foreigners living there, EVEN THOUGH they have massive 'western envy'. Everything is expensive and even tho the Japanese spend millions on English education, hardly anyone will speak it. Japanese is just a combination of Chinese and English. There are about 20,000 English words in use in the regular Japanese vocabulary, but the funny thing is, the Japanese think they are Japanese words. So, it's pretty easy to pick up the language. My advice, go for a visit, but don't stay.
4 :
To make this short, I don't think it's very easy to get on a plane, land in Japan, and start a new life. 1. Getting a job -- do not look after you arrive. get hired BEFORE going 2. language -- boy, you're gonna have a lot of trouble getting to places in the trains. 3. transportation-- i suggest a taxi if you're rich. about 15 minutes is around 1200 yen (12 dollars) well good luck i'd just go and visit in the summer though
5 :
Japan does not have an open immigration policy. Which means you just can't move there and say "here I am". A tourist visa is only good for 90 days. To get a work visa you need a solid job offer prior to your entry to the country. No,it is NOT easy for a couple to move to Japan, period. You'll need a four year degree just to teach English. This is no longer the dream job it used to be. Due to poor management, schools like NOVA are about to go under. They are being sued by both teachers and students. Unless you have a special skill a Japanese does'nt have, the chances of getting a job are none. The only exception to this is back breaking factory jobs that few Japanese want. There is also a language problem. Most Japanese don't speak English. And many Japanese landlords will not rent to a non-Japanese. Rents are high, and apartments are very small compared to American. A friend of mine ( Japanese ) was paying about $750 a month for his "apato". It's so small you could'nt fall down without hitting a wall.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

what kinda of visa and how do i go about getting one to live in japan

what kinda of visa and how do i go about getting one to live in japan?
my bf is in the military and stationed in japan for the next 3 yrs. i want to know what kind of visa to get to be able to live there with him. we have alittle girl together. we have talked about getting married but we arent ready for that yet.
Immigration - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Check this Dept. of State Web site... http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1148.html You may need to consult the Consular Section of the Embassy of Japan at 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel. (202) 238-6800, or the nearest Japanese consulate.
2 :
Without a SOFA stamp in your passport (given to family members stationed in Japan) you will find life totally impossible. Even the child, his dependent, will not get health care from the military unless he/she's command sponsored. You will not be able to work. You will not even be allowed on the base. He will not be allowed to live off base on the local economy and he won't be able to afford that without an Overseas Housing Allowance. To go there with him you need to get married. Then he needs to get you and the kid command sponsored and the both of you put on his orders to Japan.