Hi everyone! My boyfriend and I are hoping to move to Japan within the next couple years and I'm trying to sus out what options would be the best for us. I'm 26 and he's 29.
I graduated in 2021 with a double major in Japanese and Business, and I passed N3 but failed N2 when I studied abroad in Chiba for a semester. Since graduating, I haven't really been keeping up with my studies, but I can still easily get around whenever I visit Japan. My boyfriend doesn't have a degree, but he's super interested in learning Japanese and living there for a bit. We're planning on getting married before moving.
I've been feverishly researching our options and have settled on these two:
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We save up a bunch and both go on student visas to a language school for a year or two. If we like it and want to stay, then I would job hunt in Japan and hopefully find something to be able to switch over to a work visa and get my boyfriend (or spouse at this point) a dependent visa since it looks like he most likely wouldn't be able to get a work visa without a degree.
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I job hunt from the US until I find a company willing to hire from abroad so I can get a work visa and get my boyfriend a dependent visa, and we move over that way. Then I could start having income right away and wouldn't have to worry about having a full year of expenses saved before leaving.
I'm leaning towards option 1 since it seems pretty difficult to get hired from abroad and my Japanese right now is not to a level where I could get a marketing/office job similar to what I've been doing for the past 4 years. I would like to avoid the English teaching stepping stone if possible.
Aaand my boyfriend is basically getting dragged along for the ride.
What do you guys think? Do either of these options even sound viable, or am I missing a secret third option? I would love to know if there is anyone in a similar situation as well.
Thanks in advance!! 🙂
by TML_Machetes