Immigration: Impossible? Interac Responds. House Work Damn Well Better Happen
Good afternoon. I'm here with some more updates about the logistics of moving a family to Japan.
So, I'll start by saying that in my last post, I complained about having to pay the full costs of the hotel stay during training, despite the fact that Interac are paying for all the individual ALTs' room and board costs. Well, I emailed to politely request that they give me my share of the money, equal to what they were paying for the others, not really expecting a positive response. To my great surprise, they offered to book a suitable room in the hotel and pay for my share (and do the same with onward transport to Sendai), if I paid the remaining balance for my family when I arrived. Which seemed very fair, and shows a degree of trust which I appreciate. I cancelled my room that I had originally booked (free cancellation), as I realised it was the wrong size bed anyway. I've yet to receive any confirmation that they have booked a room for us, but I hope they will get back to me soon. 🤞
Next on the agenda: immigration. In the beginning, before I got the job, I did a lot of research into Japanese visa law. I called the embassy, emailed the Immigration Bureau of Japan, and Googled around for answers. I knew that companies like ECC, and Interac would not help you with dependants, and I had mistakenly believed (due to some miscommunication with the above sources) that this was because they were literally unable to under Japanese law. I had come to the conclusion that the only way to travel to, and enter Japan with my family, would be to get the husband and child to obtain tourist visas, and once in the country, convert them to dependants visas at the local immigration bureau.
Fast forward to last week, I have booked a one-way ticket to save money, and I thought I would just call the Japanese embassy again, on the off chance there was any way to get some legal visas for my family before we leave. Things go a bit like this:
Embassy: Oh no, you can't arrive with a one-way ticket, you won't be allowed a tourist visa, they'll be deported!
Me: I can't have my family deported! How can I avoid that?
Embassy: You need Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for them from your employer to apply for their visas.
(It becomes apparent at this point that my employer are able to and are choosing not to provide COE)
Me: My employer refuses to provide COE for my family.
Embassy: Well I'm sorry, that's the only way. Can you perhaps persuade them....? Can your husband get a job instead? Can you bring them later?
Me: Erm.......
(At this point, I put the phone down in despair, terrified that my family will be deported, or my dream is dead. Interac has been clear about not providing COE. But, I thought I'd try my luck one last time. I email Interac with the story, and practically beg them to provide COEs.)
Interac: We won't provide COE for your family, but you can apply without one. Here's a web page from the US Japanese embassy that shows how to apply for dependent visas without a COE. We're already aware that we need to send supporting documents with your COE when it arrives.
(I am profoundly confused as to why Interac know more about Japanese immigration law than the Japanese embassy does, so I call them back with the new information)
Embassy: Hmmm, that's very interesting, let me see that web page you were given...oh, ah, hmm... Okay, let me speak to the consul and get back to you.
(Over an hour later, I receive a call back)
Embassy: We've had a long meeting, and due to the fact that you are completely unable to obtain COE, we will grant you permission to apply for dependent visas without COE. Be warned this should take at least a week, but likely longer due to the complexity of your case.
Me: *Breathes immense sigh of relief * Thank you so much!
And that was that. Eventually, a solution was found. Well, providing they accept the applications. Now I just have to hope that my COE and the important proof of employment documentation arrives quickly and I don't have to reschedule the flights (at least I booked flexible flights) and annoy Interac by missing training. Things will be alright in the end.
In other news, a large sum of money has been paid as deposit to the builder, so let's pray he's not a cow boy and work actually gets done. Fingers crossed things start as planned on Wednesday because I don't really have the time to find someone else.
Watch this space for placement updates in July
Bye for now.
So, I'll start by saying that in my last post, I complained about having to pay the full costs of the hotel stay during training, despite the fact that Interac are paying for all the individual ALTs' room and board costs. Well, I emailed to politely request that they give me my share of the money, equal to what they were paying for the others, not really expecting a positive response. To my great surprise, they offered to book a suitable room in the hotel and pay for my share (and do the same with onward transport to Sendai), if I paid the remaining balance for my family when I arrived. Which seemed very fair, and shows a degree of trust which I appreciate. I cancelled my room that I had originally booked (free cancellation), as I realised it was the wrong size bed anyway. I've yet to receive any confirmation that they have booked a room for us, but I hope they will get back to me soon. 🤞
Next on the agenda: immigration. In the beginning, before I got the job, I did a lot of research into Japanese visa law. I called the embassy, emailed the Immigration Bureau of Japan, and Googled around for answers. I knew that companies like ECC, and Interac would not help you with dependants, and I had mistakenly believed (due to some miscommunication with the above sources) that this was because they were literally unable to under Japanese law. I had come to the conclusion that the only way to travel to, and enter Japan with my family, would be to get the husband and child to obtain tourist visas, and once in the country, convert them to dependants visas at the local immigration bureau.
Fast forward to last week, I have booked a one-way ticket to save money, and I thought I would just call the Japanese embassy again, on the off chance there was any way to get some legal visas for my family before we leave. Things go a bit like this:
Embassy: Oh no, you can't arrive with a one-way ticket, you won't be allowed a tourist visa, they'll be deported!
Me: I can't have my family deported! How can I avoid that?
Embassy: You need Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for them from your employer to apply for their visas.
(It becomes apparent at this point that my employer are able to and are choosing not to provide COE)
Me: My employer refuses to provide COE for my family.
Embassy: Well I'm sorry, that's the only way. Can you perhaps persuade them....? Can your husband get a job instead? Can you bring them later?
Me: Erm.......
(At this point, I put the phone down in despair, terrified that my family will be deported, or my dream is dead. Interac has been clear about not providing COE. But, I thought I'd try my luck one last time. I email Interac with the story, and practically beg them to provide COEs.)
Interac: We won't provide COE for your family, but you can apply without one. Here's a web page from the US Japanese embassy that shows how to apply for dependent visas without a COE. We're already aware that we need to send supporting documents with your COE when it arrives.
(I am profoundly confused as to why Interac know more about Japanese immigration law than the Japanese embassy does, so I call them back with the new information)
Embassy: Hmmm, that's very interesting, let me see that web page you were given...oh, ah, hmm... Okay, let me speak to the consul and get back to you.
(Over an hour later, I receive a call back)
Embassy: We've had a long meeting, and due to the fact that you are completely unable to obtain COE, we will grant you permission to apply for dependent visas without COE. Be warned this should take at least a week, but likely longer due to the complexity of your case.
Me: *Breathes immense sigh of relief * Thank you so much!
And that was that. Eventually, a solution was found. Well, providing they accept the applications. Now I just have to hope that my COE and the important proof of employment documentation arrives quickly and I don't have to reschedule the flights (at least I booked flexible flights) and annoy Interac by missing training. Things will be alright in the end.
In other news, a large sum of money has been paid as deposit to the builder, so let's pray he's not a cow boy and work actually gets done. Fingers crossed things start as planned on Wednesday because I don't really have the time to find someone else.
Watch this space for placement updates in July
Bye for now.
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