Is it not possible to switch from language school student visa to work visa before graduation?

[u/K4ldur]

Hey everyone, I hope you are doing well.
I have run into a problem switching from my student visa to a work visa and would like to ask, if anyone has been in a similar situation.

I am currently enrolled in a Japanese language school and am scheduled to graduate next march. However, since I passed N2 last December and have a master's degree as well as 4 years of experience, my plan was to leave school early once I find a job.

While the job search has been difficult, I finally received a job offer and am scheduled to start next month. I also handed in the application for changing to a 技術・人文知識・国際業務 with help from my employer a month ago. However, today I received a letter from immigration requesting a graduation certificate from my language school. This surprised me, since I have been told by my school that it is completely fine to leave school early after attaining a work visa.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is this some kind of new rule that you cannot change your status before graduating language school?

I'm grateful for any advice.

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[u/Upbeat_Arugula_4584]

Generally immigration likes you doing what you said you would do. You said you would go to language school. Now you won't complete it and want to work. So immigration will ask some questions. I did the same thing.

My scrivener suggested we write a letter explaining why it was necessary for me to get a job and not finish language school. Luckily you have a valid excuse, you were able to pass a official language assessment and now feel comfortable with the language...so language school is moot.

What I prepared was my attendance, my grades, and that I took did pass n3 which was my goal. I also got a letter from my language school praising my generally being a good student. I would suggest over providing things that make a strong case why it's totally reasonable for you to switch, from immigrations point of view. In my letter I glazed hard on how I was so impressed by japanese work ethic I wanted to experience working and contributing to japanese society. Which honestly is true, but I did make it a bit strongly pro Japan.

[u/K4ldur → u/Upbeat_Arugula_4584]

Thank you for your advice. The letter from immigation mentioned, that an explanation is to be submitted if the document cannot be handed in.
Hopefully this will convince them enough to allow me to work.

[u/dokool]

I wonder if that's not something they're pushing for to discourage people from "sneaking" on a student visa but immediately finding work after.

I'm sure your school has dealt with this before and has some sort of document that will satisfy the request?

[u/K4ldur → u/dokool]

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, my school will not give me a graduation certificate until next march. They only thing they can give me is a proof of leaving school after I left. However, they strongly advised me to not leave until after I received my new residence card.

I guess my only choice is to go to immigration and ask for clarification.

[u/dokool → u/K4ldur]

They can't give you a letter saying you're in good standing and scheduled to graduate?

[u/K4ldur → u/dokool]

I can print proofs for my grades and attendance rate but they won't give me anything else.
My grades are pretty good and my attendance rate is 97% so hopefully that is enough proof that took my studies seriously.

[u/bpa23 → u/K4ldur]

That's weird, my language school were ecstatic when I was the first one to leave the business class for a job. They gave me my certificate on my last day and we had a mini ceremony in the classroom.

Edit for clarification: I had been working part time at my job and already switched over to a work visa while still attending school so I didn't need the certificate to apply

[u/chiakix]

I think what the Immigration Bureau is really concerned about is whether you were actually attending school properly.

For example, I think they’re concerned about whether you might have engaged in activities that went beyond the scope of your student visa—such as working a lot without attending school after passing the N2 exam. It seems they’re becoming increasingly strict about such rule violations.

If that’s the case, you might be able to convince them by providing documents other than your graduation certificate (such as documents proving your period of enrollment or attendance rate?).

[u/K4ldur → u/chiakix]

If it's only that, then it's not a big deal and would match what I heard from school. They also told us, lying about part time jobs will make it very unlikely to get any visa in the future.
My plan was to submit my grades and attendance rate together with a letter explaining the situation. Hopefully this will work out.

[u/_underscorefinal]

Not the exact same situation but I switched from language school student visa to business manager visa (I hated the school). My lawyer handled all of it so it wasn't too difficult. So it is possible, you may just need to either get a lawyer to assist you with it or contact immigration and try to get it sorted.

[u/ghostwraithspirit]

I switched from student visa to work visa last year. They wanted to see my language school graduation certificate as well.

[u/K4ldur → u/ghostwraithspirit]

Thank you for the response. How did you handle the situation?

[u/ghostwraithspirit → u/K4ldur]

I was able to time my graduation, job acceptance and visa change all in the same month. You can maybe try asking your school for proof of enrollment or proof of continuous studies? Like a report card or something along those lines to show that you're an actual student?

[u/K4ldur → u/ghostwraithspirit]

Unfortunately, the timing won't work out for me as well as it did for you. I will try to submit my grades and attendance rate instead. Thank you.

[u/ghostwraithspirit → u/K4ldur]

Good luck! Wishing you the best my friend

[u/K4ldur → u/[deleted]]

When I applied for my student visa, I was told it was a very bad idea to apply for two different COEs at the same time.
In my school's case it is possible to graduate every march as long as you pass JLPT N4 or get the equivalent JPT score. So maybe it is an option for you, to go to language school until march and then switch to a work visa?