[dougp]

I have a friend who has just been told her work visa is not going to be granted because she can't prove her previous experience (English teaching). She has her qualification certificates etc, but her last job in the field was several years ago in Japan, and the school has since folded, so no way of getting in touch and no documentary evidence that she worked there.

Is this normal? Any suggestions on what she might try?

Thanks.

[KnowItAll]

Pay stubs? Bank records?

[PDLM]

Japan Immigration Department? Presumably they must have records that they granted her a visa?

[sylvesterjay]

I was told letters of recommendation from past bosses might help.

[discobay]

I think those letters would be more useful if they were on official headed-paper.

[dougp]

Sadly a lot of paperwork was lost in the Great Garage Flood of '04, so no pay slips, references etc. Thanks for the suggestions.

I was just surprised at the absolute requirement for previous experience - how do you ever get started?

[PDLM]

But why can't she request an affadavit from the Japanese Immigration Department stating that they granted her a visa to work as an English teacher in Japan for a specified period?

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people teaching english in Hong Kong whose only qualification for the job is that English is their mother tongue. Quite a number actually failed the English language competency tests which the Government introduced a couple of years back! So ImmD not unreasonably likes to see some evidence that you are actually competent to teach.

It is rare for any country to grant Employment Visas to foreigners who cannot prove that they have any relevant experience for the job they wish to take.

[dougp]

Yes, japanese immigration is an idea I'll certainly pass on. Thanks.

[sylvesterjay]

You can fake letters of recommendation. In fact every letter I got from one one of my managers for my visa applications, they told me to write myself for them to sign. Oddly enough, I was absolutely indispensible and the bedrock of the department...funny that eh!

[Louiseamanda]

Hi
agree with the others. It might be worth getting somebody she encountered in Japan (a colleague? or ex-boss, even flatmate) to write a 'testimonial' stating that she worked for a certain period and state which language school and when it closed etc etc. Or one of her official referees who know her CV and that she did, indeed do this job. Put as much info as possible.
This is obviously not a reference in the normal way from the school itself, but that will not be possible so it is at least the nearest she can do, to try to 'aid' the visa people do their job. She must play ball a bit.
Good luck