opportunity

[PRADOgy]

Stuck in a pickle. My girlfriend is from Sasebo and we actually have the opportunity to head on over. One very obvious problem stands. Income, is there really an opportunity for an American for work out there?

[fliprayzin240sx]

English teacher is the easiest thing to do to get you there with a job. Or if you're really slick, getting a job on one of the military bases. Gets you SOFA status and pay should be enough to support you. Or back to teaching again, get hired as a DODDs school teacher and get paid bank with the benefits.

[PRADOgy]

Looks like teaching English will be out of the question for me as I do not speak fluent Japanese. As far as working on base, there just so happens to be a base in Sasebo! hmmm..

Thanks for the info brotha.

[TOMKAIRA93]

Just to clarify what was said above. Not all jobs on base offer SOFA status, so don't bank on that. I work as a DOD civilian and do have SOFA and I will tell you that for those that don't have, it is really hard. Those teaching jobs don't pay all that much and DoDDS jobs aren't that easy to get, but if you do land one you will be set with all the bennies. Just do your homework man and ask questions until you get all the possible answers.

[Biggamehit]

check out usajobs yea people hold on to that SOFA I am a new Sofa member on the civilian side if I didnt plan early id be screwed.

[familycar]

you do not need to speak a lick of japanese to teach english here. in fact you'll be asked not to speak any japanese in class actually.... if you could get a SOFA job on the base in sasebo that would be pretty ideal, but that is a hard thing to get into without being a dependent/spouse of an active duty member

[Darren]

Originally Posted by familycar

you do not need to speak a lick of japanese to teach english here. in fact you'll be asked not to speak any japanese in class actually.... if you could get a SOFA job on the base in sasebo that would be pretty ideal, but that is a hard thing to get into without being a dependent/spouse of an active duty member

Actually, they prefer if you DON'T speak Japanese

[Midnight Shift]

If you want to teach English, you will need to have a university degree and a job offer (your employer will act as your sponsor) in order to get a visa to work. You can always marry your lady and get a spouse visa, but obviously, you'll have to get married first. You can always come on a tourist visa, look for a job (you'll still need a university degree,) and then change your visa status from tourist to educator or specialty in humanities visa, which you can do without leaving the country.

If you do get married and get a spouse visa, you can do any job, as long as its not a job only reserved for Japanese citizens (police, firefighter, etc...)

You would not have to speak a word of Japanese to teach English in most Eikaiwa schools. You could also open up your own school w/ your girl and make bank that way! (chances are someone already beat you to it though...)

Good Luck