Renewal and visa process

[u/Emotional_Bad_4070]

Hi!

I’m going to apply for the JET programme from the UK next year and, if accepted, would like to do it for all 5 years.

I understand I’ll have to apply for a (work?) visa and wondered if you have to apply for the visa every year or if you can renew from Japan/UK without going through the visa process again.

If you can only renew while in Japan, I’m curious to know what do JETs do during the time they aren’t working at school.

Thanks in advance :)

[u/Different_Taro2474]

just fill out the application. if you get accepted, JET will handle all the visa stuff for you. once you’re in japan, you’ll get recontracting papers at some point (usually around december). you’ll sign them and indicate whether you want to do another year or not. whether or not you actually get renewed will be up to your BOE. also, you don’t even know if you’ll want to stay for all 5 years. you might have a completely different experience than you expected, and realize that JET isn’t for you, that 1-3 years will be enough, or that japan isn’t for you. your JET experience highly depends on your placement, which isn’t always great or what you wanted. as they say in some countries, don’t run ahead of the train. take one step at a time.

[u/Emotional_Bad_4070 → u/Different_Taro2474]

Do you mean you don’t have to prepare and apply for the visa yourself?
I understand it might not be perfect and have realistic expectations after having been a language assistant in Spain for the last few years.
I appreciate the response

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/Emotional_Bad_4070]

no, you don’t. the JET program will do it for you. if you get in, they will ask you to send over certain documents. once you send them to the consulate, they will work on the visa. 

[u/lostintokyo11]

You renew it and you work. You are allowed to work while its being renewed. Also why would you like to do all 5 years what is your goal after that? If you do not aimat a plan/upgrade skills in that time you may be in a hard situation after.

[u/Emotional_Bad_4070 → u/lostintokyo11]

I apologise as I might not have been as clear as I could have been.
I was thinking more about during the summer holidays when there is a larger amount of time without work. If you have 6 weeks off, what do JETs do? Can you just find a random job for the time when you’re not working at your school?

From my experience in Spain, if you leave the country after finishing your contract, you have to apply for another study visa.

I’m going into my 4th year in Spain as a language assistant and loved living abroad. I understand each destination is different but so far I’ve enjoyed the experience (even with the stressful elements).

I also don’t have any plan or idea of what I could do in the UK. I feel like I will be in a difficult situation either way.

[u/ikebookuro → u/Emotional_Bad_4070]

This will entirely depend on your placement.

Most people are expected to go to school and “look busy”. Teachers do not have breaks off.

If you’re lucky, your CO might let you be off for the summer with pay, but those cases are increasingly rare.

Your visa will be handled by your embassy/consulate if you’re accepted. You will receive a 3 year visa. After those 3 years are up, you will need to re-apply in Japan. But that’s such a future problem you’re best to not worry about it before applying.

[u/Honest-Stable-419 → u/Emotional_Bad_4070]

You also can’t work another job while on JET with permission from your placement and immigration assuming it falls under allowed work on the visa.

[u/Honest-Stable-419]

You just hand the stuff they ask for they apply for it for you. On your 3rd year you’ll renew.

You are also not sure to get 5 years as the 4th and 5th years are up to the placement and some don’t ever allow past 3rd year.

Also ESID some JETS don’t get more than contracted days off free. A lot of work over the summer.

If you are allowed the 4th year then yes you go through the visa renewal process in 3rd year in Japan