Hello, I recently completed all the steps of a recruitment process for a tech company in Japan. I’ve received a formal Notice of Employment for a developer position, and the immigration procedures have started with the help of a lawyer.
Here’s where it gets complicated: I don’t have a university degree. However, I have 6 years of full-time experience in a tech company, and during that same period, I was also freelancing on the side so essentially, 6 years of additional freelance experience, overlapping with my salaried job.
The company is fully aware of my background and is ready to support me throughout the visa process.
I’m aware that the official criteria usually require either a university degree or 10+ years of relevant professional experience. But after speaking with several people including immigration lawyers the consensus is that this is a gray area. Immigration may assess it on a case-by-case basis, and while there is a risk of refusal, it’s not automatic.
My question: Have you or anyone you know been in a similar situation and successfully received a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) for the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” visa?
Any insights or experiences would be greatly appreciated!
by AlarmingScene6276